Getty Images/iStockphoto
These two departments are home to Popayán, one of Colombia's most charming cities, plus two of the country's most important archaeological sites – San Agustín and Tierradentro. Here you'll also find the peculiar Desierto de la Tatacoa, a striking anomaly near Neiva, halfway between Bogotá and San Agustín.
In the days of river travel in Colombia, both Cauca and Huila were major hubs of commerce. The introduction of the railroad and highways in the early 20th century stunted their growth, and these days a sleepy languor envelops the region.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Cauca & Huila.
See
Dating back to the late 18th century, Popayán's largest colonial church is also its most beautiful. Inside are a fine high altar and a collection of seven unique side altars. The 1983 earthquake cracked open the ossuary, revealing six unidentified mummies. Two are left; ask in the office to the right of the entrance to have a look at them.
See
This 18th-century house is the home of world-renowned Colombian artist Edgar Negret, whose vast abstract iron sculptures dot plazas around the country. The Museo Iberoamericano de Arte Moderno de Popayán (MIAMP) section showcases notable works by Colombian and South American artists from the period 1940–1990.
See
You don't have to be an expert on religious art to be impressed by this collection of paintings, statues, altar pieces, silverware and liturgical vessels, most of which date from the 17th to 19th centuries. There's also a vault of valuable relics that is only opened during Semana Santa.
See
Behind the Universitario de Tulcán, this hill is topped with an equestrian statue of the city's founder, Sebastián de Belalcázar, and is said to be the site of a pre-Columbian pyramid. It offers panoramic views over the city center's tiled rooftops and it's a popular place to sit and watch the sunset. It's best to leave your valuables behind, though, due to the risk of robbery, and to not visit alone.
See
This interesting museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion that was once home to General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, who was Colombia's president on four occasions between 1845 and 1867. The original French crystal chandelier in the dining room was transported from the Caribbean to Popayán by mule. Note the urn in the wall: it contains Mosquera's heart. A short tour in English is possible.
See
One of the best of its kind in the country, this museum on the grounds of Universidad del Cauca is noted for its extensive collection of insects, butterflies, stuffed birds and other animal life in Colombia. There's a fascinating variety of endemic plant species, too. A guide can show you around.
See
Constructed in 1546, Popayán's oldest church is well worth seeing for its fine main retable and the fragments of old frescoes, which were only discovered after the 1983 earthquake.
See
This chapel on a hill just east of the city center offers fine views over the town.
See
Popayán's emblematic landmark, this 240m-long, 11-arch brick bridge was constructed in the mid-19th century to improve access to the center from the poor northern suburbs. It dwarfs the adjacent Puente de la Custodia, a pretty stone bridge constructed in 1713 to allow priests to cross the Río Molino to bring the holy orders to the sick.