My Valle del Cauca: My Valle del Cauca

I´m talking about my region, one of the most beautiful of Colombia… my wonderful Valle del Cauca.

What is Valle del Cauca?

Valle del Cauca is one of the most important department of Colombia and you can find in the western side of the country. Its limits to the north border the departments of Risarda and Quindío, the department of Cauca to the south, Tolima to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west as well as the department Chocó. Its capital is Santiago de Cali and is so near of Pacific Ocean, for this reason is call The Pacific Door of Colombia. The department has 42 municipalities (cities and towns) such as:

Alcalá
Andalucía
Ansermanuevo
Argelia
Bolívar
Buenaventura
Buga
Bugalagrande
Caicedonia
Cali
Calima
Candelaria
Cartago
Dagua
El Aguila
El Cairo
El Cerrito
El Dovio
Florida
Ginebra
Guacari
Jamundí
La Cumbre
La Unión
La Victoria
Obando
Palmira
Pradera
Restrepo
Riofrio
Roldanillo
San Pedro
Sevilla
Toro
Trujillo
Tuluá
Ulloa
Versalles
Vijes
Yotoco
Yumbo
Zarzal

A little bit of History

The first village founded in Valle del Cauca by spanish explorers was Villa de Ampudia, in honor of one of them called Juan de Ampudia. Later, the village is moved to the rivera of the Cauca by Belalcazar orders. Then, the village was moved again to Lili Valley by orders of Captain Muñoz, was there where the city of Cali was founded in July 25 of 1536.

The second group of spanish explorers came from Cartagena and was headed by Juan de Vadillo, he and his group entered Cali in December 23 of 1538. Later, Vadillo returned to Cartagena, but many of his men stayed in Cali.

The third group of spanish explores was headed by Jorge Robledo, who advanced to north of the department and founded:

Anserma: August 15 of 1539
Cartago: August 9 of 1540
Antioquia: November 24 of 1541

In 1910 was created 12 departments in Colombia, between them Valle del Cauca, which was created in April 16 of 1910 and it was the result of union of Cartaga, Buga and Cali.

Representative’s places and institutions:

In this space, I’m talking about the places and institutions that are representatives like universities, art’s places, enterprises, libraries, hospital, etc.

Universities:

Universidad del Valle
Universidad Javeriana
Universidad Icesi
Universidad San Buenaventura
Universidad Autonoma
Universidad Santiago de Cali
Universidad Libre

Art´s places:

Teatro Municipal
Bellas Artes
Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia
Incolballet
Museo de Oro
Museo Arqueológico La Merced
Museo de la Cabaña de Azúcar
Museo de Ciencias Naturales Federico Carlos Lehman Valencia
Museo Rayo de Roldanillo
Museo de Historia Natural de Cali
Museo Nacional de Transporte
Museo del Oro Calima del Banco de la República de Cali

Hospitals:

Hospital Universitario
Clínica Valle del Lili
Clinica Imbanaco
Clinica Infantil Club Noel
Hospital siquiatrico universitario del Valle
Clinica Rey David
Clinica Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Clinica Versalles
Clinica Tequendama

Churches:

Capilla de San Antonio
Iglesia La Ermita
Iglesia La Merced
Templo de San Francisco
Templo de la Virgen de Inmaculada
Catedral de San Pedro en Cali
Iglesia San Juan Bosco de Cali
Iglesia San Juan de Dios
El Señor de los Milagros de Buga

Other representatives places:

La loma de la Cruz
La estatua de Sebastian de Belalcazar
Cerro de las tres cruces
La estatua de Cristo rey
Colonia de San Antonio
Hacienda el Paraiso
Zoologico de Cali

Economy

Valle del Cauca is recognized for the sugar cane, it’s the department with most sugar cane plantations of Colombia and is the only one in the world that you can cultivate 3 times per year. However, the department’s economy has other resources such as agriculture, biggest companies, for example Yumbo has many important companies; and port of Buenaventura, the place where import and export goods.

Companies:

Ingenios: Mayagüez, La Cabaña, Incauca, Providencia, Carmelita, Manuelita y Riopaila Castilla.
Colgate Palmolive
Carvajal
Johnson & Johnson
Harinera del Valle
Nestle
Coca-Cola
Unilever
Cartón de Colombia
MAC S.A.
Postobon
Cerveceria del Valle
Cadbury Adams S.A.
Bayer
Goodyear
Cementos Argos

What about the activities in Valle and the festivals:

Valle del Cauca is recognized for its activities and festivals, where the people is very kind and happy, you can enjoy in activities and festivals such as:

Feria de Cali: Is the most representative festival of Cali and its celebrate every december (25-30 december)
Feria de Tulua
Las Fiestas de Verano in Calima´s lake
Festival del Mono Nuñez
Feria exposición agropecuaria y equina
Reinado nacional del currulao

Our typical food:

Valle del Cauca is recognized for its variety and delicious food, you can find whatever you want such as:

Sancocho de Gallina: If you want a representative Sancocho, you can go to Ginebra.
Cholados: You can find in Jamundi or Cali (Canchas panamericanas)
Tostadas de platano
Pandebono
Champu
Empanadas
Chontaduro
Marranitas
Arepa de choclo
Macetas
Lulada
Manjar Blanco
Cocadas
Gelatina de pata