Southwest Colombia: Places to Explore
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Cali
Tucked in the fertile Valle de Cauca, Cali is a lively provincial capital and an important agricultural center, responsible for a hefty portion of the country's sugar, coffee, and corn exports. The city's elevation of 3,000 feet contributes to the year-round springlike temperatures. Many people visit during the Christmas-New Year's feria, when the city unapologetically devotes itself to merrymaking. Caleños are known for their love of Cuban salsa—Celia Cruz and other famous salsa performers play shows in Cali during the feria.
Like Medellín, however, Cali is still a difficult city to enjoy wholeheartedly; the prevalence of street crime requires you to be cautious at all times. The mountains near Cali contain some of the country's most important archaeological sites. Sadly, the enigmatic statues of San Agustín and the painted tombs of Tierradentro are currently off-limits as tourist destinations due to the civil conflict. The violence makes it unadvisable to travel to or from Cali by bus or car.
Cali at a Glance
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