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 in Cali during the feria—and deep Afro-Colombian heritage. There's an undeniable energy that's attracting more and more tourists, and the restaurant and hotel industry is responding by offering exciting new options around Cali's colonial heart, San Antonio, or the trendy, upscale Granada, which is the center of the city's restaurant and nightlife scene.