The old lift, at Mérida, was built in 1958 but was withdrawn from public passenger service in 2008.
The ride took about an hour and often longer.
It was the longest run of successive cable cars in the world.
The new lifts replace the original four with the journey beginning at the Barinitas base station in Mérida's Plaza las Heroínas at an altitude of 1,577 m.
There is no skiing at the top but people go for the views and panoramas. Experts have been known to ski from the top but they need a special permit. Some people do go up with skis but they just pose for photographs at the top.
The upper terminal, Pico Espejo (4,765 m), has stunning views across the Andes and the Pico Bolívar peak (5,000m) that is Venezuela's highest mountain.
The first station is a large panorama restaurant, the second a museum, the third will be another restaurant and the upper terminal will include a small café and a large viewing terrace.
The air starts to get noticeably thinner by the third station, La Aguada at almost 3,500m.
Oxygen is available in the stations and cabins.
The new lift has 20% larger 60-passenger cabins with seats for 40 people.
It is being built by Doppelmayr.
And below is what a ride in the old one was like.
Artists impression of various substations for the new cable car.
For the spirit of the mountains
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