THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by Frank M. C 



The: approach to cau 



As one descends the eastern slopes of the Western Andes into the Cauca Valley, a turn in the 

 trail, just after crossing the foaming Cali River, reveals the city of Cali in the distance. 



largest city. We will therefore go to 

 Bogota, but over a far more interesting 

 route than the one up the Magdalena 

 River from Barranquilla, near its mouth, 

 usually followed by travelers to that city. 

 We shall be somewhat longer on the way ; 

 but time, I repeat, is not of the essence of 

 our journey. 



To visit Colombia and not see the 

 Cauca Valley would, in my opinion, be 

 an even greater omission than to fail to 

 visit Bogota. From Buenaventura, con- 

 sequently, we will cross the western 

 Andes to Cali, metropolis of the fertile, 

 healthful, and beautiful Cauca Valley; 

 sail down the Cauca River to Cartago, 

 whence we cross the Central Andes over 

 the Quindio Pass to Girardot, on the Mag- 

 dalena River. Here we may take the 

 train for Bogota, returning, if we like, 

 the same way, or, better, by mule to 

 Honda, farther down the river. 



From La Dorada, a few miles below 

 Honda, we begin our voyage down the 



Magdalena to Barranquilla, where we are 

 within 1 8 miles of Puerto Colom- 

 bia, whence we may take passage for 

 New York. It will be observed that this 

 route crosses two ranges of the Andes ; 

 takes us from sea-level in the Tropical 

 Zone to 11,000 feet in the Temperate 

 Zone ; requires no doubling on our tracks, 

 and makes all of our river routes down- 

 stream, a matter of no small importance. 

 (See the Map of South America, issued 

 as a supplement with this number of The 

 Geographic.) 



a fifty-days' journey from new york 



The actual traveling time from New 

 York and return required for this journey 

 is about fifty days, of which not less than 

 thirty may be passed in Colombia, where 

 our methods of transportation will afford 

 both time and opportunity to observe the 

 country, its products and people, en 

 route. 



Buenaventura, about half-way down 



