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	Cali Colombia Compliments of

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Santiago de Cali is the capital of Valle del Cauca, a department in southwestern Colombia. It was founded on June 25 th, 1536 by Sebastián de Belalcázar. Its spring-like weather during most of the year and the warmth and gaiety of its people are part of its characteristic qualities. It is known as the sucursal del cielo (a subsidiary of heaven). The presence of salsa rhythms is so strong that it is also called “The Salsa Capital of Colombia”. Its gaiety and festiveness are especially evident during the last days of the year when they celebrate their “magnum event”: The Cali or Sugar Cane Fair. The capital of Valle del Cauca is the third largest city in the country, the center of sugar cane production, and one of the most important industrial and commercial centers in the country.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location

Cali borders with the municipality of Yumbo to the north; Jamundí, to the south; Palmira Candelaria and the Department of Cauca, to the east; and Dagua and Buenaventura to the west.

· Extension: 564 km2

· Population: 3,474,695 inhabitants

· Average Temperature: 23° C (73.4°F)

· How to get there: The Panamerican Highway connects central Colombia with Cali. By car, the trip from Bogotá takes about eight hours; by bus, about ten. From the Coffee Triangle or the Department of Antioquia, the Panoramic Highway takes you to Valle del Cauca crossing several municipalities in the northern part of the department. From the south, the departments of Nariño and Cauca are also connected by the Panamerican Highway. The trip from Popayán to Cali lasts only two hours. The Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport, in the neighboring town of Palmira, welcomes flights from practically all over the country.

A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TO DO AND PLACES OF INTEREST:

· The Cali Fair

This festivity has been celebrated in Cali since 1957. The locals consider it the best fair in America. It is celebrated every year between December 25 th and 30 th. On some occasions, it has been called the “Sugar Cane Fair” and also the “Salsa Fair”, although international orchestras participate with all kinds of tropical rhythms. For this reason, some call it the “Rumba Fair”. Concerts with the participation of orchestras from the United States, Cuba, and the Caribbean, and naturally, Colombia, have become the main attraction of the fair. It has not always been like this, because the Feria de Cali began as a bullfighting fair. Open-air dances and orchestras were gradually introduced to provide entertainment to the people during the month of December. The main activities during the fair are: a horse-back riding parade along the main streets on the opening day, contests and beauty pageants, orchestra competitions, and the selection of the musical theme of the fair.

· Delirio

Delirio is a show presented by the acrobats of La Calle Orchestra and the dancers of Latino Swing. It is an excellent production with 50 artists on stage, which takes place in the tent of the Circo Para Todos foundation. This foundation is made up of youngsters from the country’s conflict zones, some of whom are also part of the famous Cirque du Soleil and other circuses around the world. All these youngsters have found a life opportunity and brilliantly display their talents in Delirio. The show, accompanied by lights, robots, costumes, scenery, and the best sound, awaken in the caleños a delirium of sorts for their city. One of the novel things about this feast is that while the public dances to the rhythm of salsa, so do the acrobats, but way up in the air. It is possible for women to dance with professional dancers on the main dancefloor of any of the side platforms. Thus, to the rhythm of Cali Pachanguero, Cali Ají, No hay cama pa’ tanta gente, Detalles y Monteadentro, the public enjoys an unforgettable experience. This show is presented in Cali on the last Friday of every month.

· Monument to the Gato del Río

The idea of placing a monumental sculpture near the river margin is part of a plan to rescue and beautify the Cali River. Renowned painter and sculptor Hernando Tejado donated his Gato del Río sculpture to be cast in bronze. The huge sculpture is 3.5 meters high, 3.4 meters wide, and 1.95 meters deep. It weighs three tons and was cast in Bogotá, where the roof of the workshop had to be removed for the operation. The sculpture was unveiled on July 3 th, 1996. To honor Maestro Tejada, a national contest was organized to find a girlfriend for the cat. Fifteen female cats are now exhibited in the Valle Events Center of the Pacific. They, too, are a source of regional pride for the caleños. This sculpture of the Gato Del Río, or River Cat, is located on the left margin of the Cali River at 4th Avenue Northwest.

MAIN TOURISTICAL PRODUCTS OFFERED

· Health and Beauty

In recent years, Cali has consolidated itself as one of the most important centers in South America for the provision of health services, due to the quality and professionalism of its doctors and the development of a complete and modern hospital infrastructure, including diagnostic apparatuses, at truly competitive prices. The hotel infrastructure is suitable for backing these services. The medical centers offer esthetic treatments, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and the services of an eye clinic, among a few others.

· The Religious Route

Religious buildings are the most important part of the architecture of the municipalities of the Valle del Cauca. Among many others, we find the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe; the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist (a national monument) in the jurisdiction of El Bohío in the municipality of Toro, and the Chapel in the jurisdiction of El Overo in the municipality of Bugalagrande. But, undoubtedly, the most important and influential one is the Basilica of Our Lord of the Miracles in the city of Buga. Over three million pilgrims and tourists visit it every year. The majority come to make their petitions to the Black Christ, to whom they attribute hundreds of miracles. Along the route there is a total of 28 religious monuments to visit, including the Chapel and Convent of La Merced; the Church of San Francisco, with its mudejar-style steeple; the Cathedral of Saint Peter; and the Chapel of Saint Anthony (this last one in Cali).

· Ecotourism

Thanks to the location of the department of Valle del Cauca on the Pacific coast, whale-watching is possible in Bahía Málaga, only 24 miles northeast of Buenaventura, Colombia’s main sea port. Bird watching is also possible in dry forests, cloud forests, páramos, lagoons, and the coastal areas, where 818 bird species live; that is 44.7% of the Colombian total.

Some important sites are the following: Yotoco Forest Reserve, Laguna de Sonso Natural Reserve, San Cipriano Forest Reserve, Escalerete River Forest Reserve in Buenaventura, Nirvana Natural Reserve in Palmira, Juan María Céspedes Botanical Garden in Tuluá, Pance River eco-park in Cali, and Bahía Málaga marshes in Buenaventura.

· Sports and Adventure

There is a substantial offering of facilities for nautical sports in the Calima Lake, where competitions and the practice of several sports are carried out. Windsurfing, kitesurfing, sunfish and catamaran sailing, laser sports, and diving are practiced surrounded by in lovely rural scenery known as “The Switzerland of America”. Kayaking, rafting, and canoeing are allowed on the La Vieja, Tuluá, and Cauca rivers.