HONEYMOON CALI, COLOMBIA
VISITING COLOMBIA Colombia on the whole has been deemed “megadiverse,” meaning its biodiversity is rich beyond belief. There are the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, desert landscapes, Indigenous cultures, and coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific. While its climate is tropical, it’s also altitude dependent, so some areas are a balmy 86-degrees while others are a comfy 64-degrees year-round. With all of this natural diversity comes diverse tourist destinations and activities, like surfing, whale watching, cliff jumping, hiking, and more. The extra-beautiful thing about Colombia? It’s affordable, in terms of both time and money. Distance wise, Colombia is just 2.5 hours from Miami, or 3.5 hours from Houston. It also lands in a U.S. time zone, so jet-lag is virtually nonexistent. Peak travel season spans from early June to late September. A BIT ABOUT CALI Santiago de Cali, Cali for short, is Colombia’s third-largest city by population and second-largest by area. It’s the capital of the Valle del Cauca department and the only major Colombian city with access to the Pacific Coast. Cali is known by the rest of Colombia as the Rhumba Capital, but the world calls it the Salsa Capital, thanks to its signature street parties and dance. THE SALSA CAPITAL Salsa is the perfect dance for honeymooners. With salsa, you get to cozy up, move together in rhythm, and have incredible amounts of fun in the process. When you’re dancing together in a foreign country, it’s as good as dancing like nobody’s watching. After all, you’ll never see these folks again, so why not give it a whirl? PREMIERBRIDEFLORIDA.COM
Going out on the town at night to salsa clubs is the best way to experience this tradition. You can even book private salsa lessons during the day, then dance with the locals at night. The Juanchito area is a solid destination, with plenty of places to get your feet moving. Just remember, whenever going out at night, to exercise some caution and always be aware of your surroundings. FOR THE ANIMAL LOVERS If you love nature and animals, a great place to start is the Zoológico de Cali, recognized by many as one of the best zoos in all of South America. As the zoo focuses on wildlife found in Colombia, here you can see a wide array of exotic animals that you’d otherwise only find in the Amazon. For a more intimate interaction with some of nature’s creatures, visit the Andoke Butterfly Farm. The farm is more of a garden, thoughtfully and beautifully curated to attract all manner of butterflies and tropical bird species. ART & MUSEUMS If your passions intersect at “art” and “cats,” the Parque de Los Gatos is the spot for you. It’s a public space centered around a three-ton bronze cat sculpture created by artist Hernando Tejada. The park now boasts many cat sculptures by other artists. Walking through the lovely green space, taking in the scenery and many unique works of art, would be a nice way to spend an hour or so in Cali. Cat sculptures not your thing? If you’re at all fascinated by historic planes, trains, and automobiles, the Museo Aereo Fenix, the aviation and transportation museum, is a fun destination. The Museo de Arte Colonial is attached to the Merced cathedral and highlights colonial religious art. The Museo Arqueológico SUMMER/FALL 2022 • PREMIER BRIDE • 137
