Department of Cauca - Colombia

Capital: Popayán
Altitude: 1.738 meters over the sea level (Popayán)

The valley of Cauca is located to the southwest part of the country.  Its main activities are cattle breeding, agriculture and forest and sugar exploitation.
Talking about tourist places, the zone contains beautiful locations plenty of valleys, mountains and natural lakes.

Popayán

Popayán is the capital of the region, a beautiful city with a colonial style; it is also known as the white city beacause of the color of its houses from the beginings of The XX Century.  It counts with many historical, cultural and architectonic patrimonies like churches and museums.

Besides, there are other interesting places to visit: El Morro del Principal, an archaelogical center, it is composed by a pyramid that was built 500-1600 B.C.; The Caldas Park; The Bridge of Humilladero; The Tower of The Clock.

Tourist places

The Chapel of Belén, The Bridge of Humilladero, The Museum of Religious Art, Casa Caldas.

Tourist attractions

El Parque Nacional Puracé (National Park)

This is a rainforest covered by lakes, bushes, mosses, plants and a variety of animals: cóndor, eagle (de copete), ducks (de los torrentes) and others.
It is a volcanic zone.  The main natural attractions are: 30 lakes of clear water, thermal waters, falls and geysers.

Parque Arqueológico de Tierradentro (Archaelogical Park)

This is one of the most exotic tourist attractions of the region.  It is a long area plenty of underground tombs that are painted of different tones.  The most important locations are: El Duende (The Elf), Alto de San Andrés and El Aguacate.

Parque Nacional de la isla del Gorgona (National Park of The Island of Gorgona)

This is an island covered by a dense rainforest.  It is possible to arrrive there by boat.  It presents abundant streams like The Tunapuri Lake, an amazing location plenty of flora and fauna.  Walkings are organised through the zone of Yandigua, Las Palcas or The Hill of The Trinity.  Other famous places are the beaches of La Azufrada and El Cocal.
From this place, it is possible to observe The Crooked Whale that arrives from The South Pole.  It is a marvelous experience to observe its spurts of water and the fabulous movements of its tail.

Volcán nevado de Huila (Volcano)

This is the biggest volcano of the Colombian Andes.  It is the habitat of various types of birds like the eagle (real) and the cóndor.  It is an ideal place for climbing.