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Aviation and model enthusiasts will love the Fénix Air Museum (Museo Aéreo Fénix), an impressive museum appropriately located in Palmira, Colombia, near the airport that serves Cali.
Introduction to the Fénix Air Museum
The museum was founded in 1998 as the National Transportation Museum (Museo Nacional de Transporte). It initially focused on the development of transportation in general in Colombia and around the world. In 2010, the museum changed focus and rebranded as the Fénix Air Museum with a special focus on aviation. This private museum not only displays airplanes spanning the history of aviation, it also has countless models and memorabilia in a collection possibly unmatched the world over.
Visiting the Fénix Air Museum
The Fénix Air Museum can be found in the Zona Franca outside the city of Palmira, just north of the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport. Admission is COP$40,000 for adults, COP$30,000 for seniors age 65+, and COP$20,000 for kids under 13 (as of June 2025). It’s open daily until 4pm and includes a gift shop and cafeteria. A private vehicle is the easiest way to get there, but airport shuttles from Cali (Lineas del Valle or Lineas Rápido Aeropuerto) will drop you off in front if you tell them you’re visiting the museum. Check the official website for more info.
Outdoor Exhibits at the Fénix Air Museum
Before entering the museum you’ll notice some antique locomotives and cars. In a field beyond the entrance are a couple of large jets, including a Boeing 727-100 cargo jet that was used by AeroSucre.
Exhibits in the Hangar at the Fénix Air Museum
Museum exhibits are set up in a large hangar stuffed to the gills with all kinds of planes. An enthusiastic and knowledgable guide is happy to answer any questions and knows even the smallest details of every piece on display.
Highlights include a plane used by KLM and a Colombian military helicopter. There’s also a replica of the Wright Flyer, the very first airplane built and flown by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903.
Model Airplanes
Themuseum boasts the largest model airplane collection in the world. Two incredible displays of model airplanes sit in the southwest corner of the building.
Airline Memorabilia
Cutlery sets from international airlines line the walls of nearly the entire hangar. They’re labeled with the country’s flag and a small model of the plane on which they were used. A collection of wings is also on display as well as crew uniforms from different airlines.
Classic Cars and More
Planes aren’t the only highlights on the main floor. Classic cars, including a Ford Model-T and Buicks from the 1930s are also on display, as well as anti-G suits, and a NASA spacesuit. A small section upstairs contains a plethora of model planes, cars, motorcycles, ships, and more.
Model Railroad
After perusing the models upstairs, you’ll be treated to one of the most interesting parts of the Fénix Air Museum – the model railroad. It’s one of the biggest in the world. Trains pass through cities, industrial zones, and rural areas based on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The details are incredible.
