Tuluá, Valle del Cauca Department, Pacific Region, Colombia

🇨🇴 Tuluá, is a city located in the heart of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. A major industrial and commercial centre, it is the region's fourth-largest city after Cali—the department capital—Buenaventura and Palmira. Founded around 1741 by Juan de Lemos y Aguirre, it is also known as the Corazón del Valle, as La Villa de Céspedes and Tierra Fácil. It is well known throughout Colombia and many parts of South America as a major centre of salsa dancing.

Geography The Tuluá River runs through Tuluá's urban area. The city is located 269 miles from Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, 63 miles north-east of Cali and 108 miles from the important harbor city of Buenaventura, which lies on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Although it has a relatively small urban area, Tuluá's metropolitan area is comparatively big. The city lies between the two westernmost cordilleras of Colombia, about 50 miles east of Buenaventura.

Education The University of Valle has a branch campus in Tuluá. The main campus is based in Cali, the department's capital. UCEVA (the Central University of Valle del Cauca) has its main campus in the city.

Transport The closest airport is Cali's international airport—which in fact is in Palmira—Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) or Palmaseca. Nine airlines provide service for the airport, including American Airlines, AeroRepública and Avianca, Colombia's largest airline. Tuluá also has a regional airport, Heriberto Gíl Martínez Airport (ULQ).

Places of interest Botanical garden (Jardin Botánico) called Juan María Céspedes in Mateguadua village. Chillicote lake is famous for its herons. The soccer stadium 12 de Octubre has a capacity of 17,000. It is used by the local soccer team Cortuluá, which plays in the Colombian first division.

Guadua Park (Parque de la Guadua) Bamboo and heliconias (plants often mistaken for birds-of-paradise), nature trails, a waterfall, and natural pools of warm water are some of the attractions at the Guillermo Ponce de León Paris Guadua Park in Tuluá. This 12.5-acre site is overflowing with greenery; visitors can also enjoy a large playground with their children. Sarmiento Lora Park (Parque Sarmiento Lora) It offers a great kiddie pool (complete with little water slides) and adult pool area, restaurant, shelters and play area. Civic Plaza Boyaca (Plaza Civica Boyaca)

The Tuluá Festival (Feria de Tuluá) takes place every June in the second or third week. Music plays an important role with bands, artists and singers performing. A music performance is held every night.