Hacienda El Paraíso
The setting of the Colombian romance novel 'María,' a 19th-century sugar hacienda and garden in excellent condition.
Hacienda El Paraíso lies in the Cauca River valley near El Cerrito. It was built in the early 19th century and is the original setting of Jorge Isaacs's classic romance novel 'María,' often described as a shrine of Latin American Romantic literature. The white-walled, red-tiled house displays period furniture arranged according to scenes from the novel. The garden contains the roses and streams mentioned in the book. Nearby, the Sugar Cane Museum offers insight into the valley's sugar-making history. The drive from Cali takes about 1 hour, and the hacienda is often combined with the museum into a day trip. Closed on Mondays.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun about 09:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, Buga
- Juanchito Salsa Clubs
- La Ermita Church
- Plaza de Caicedo
- Bulevar del Río
- Torre Mudéjar & San Francisco Church
- Lake Calima
- Calima Gold Museum