What to do in Cali, Colombia
What to do
in Cali
There is much to see in Cali and its surroundings. Be surprised by Colombia’s swinging city, which has so much more to offer besides its famous nightlife.
Fun things to do
14 tips
1. Go salsa dancing!
Throw your Dutch hips into battle on the dance floor! Dance schools, salsa bars and hostels are happy to give you your first salsa lesson. With a salsa tour and workshop, you are immediately initiated into the secrets of salsa. Ready to start dancing in Cali’s salsa hotspots? Check here the best salsa clubs of Cali! If you really want to experience salsa then visiting the annual Feria de Cali in December is a must: the whole city is completely in salsa atmosphere with a parade of dancers and performances in the center. Bring earplugs because the sound is at >100 db. At the Museo De La Salsa in Barrio Obrero, learn all about the history of salsa in Cali and the world. It is the oldest salsa museum in the world. Read about our own experience with salsa dancing in Cali.
2. Enjoy the atmosphere in the San Antonio neighborhood
San Antonio is Cali’s oldest neighborhood, with colonial architecture and narrow streets. Parque San Antonio is hugely popular with tourists and locals. If you are lucky there are street musicians. There is also a little church on the hill here and you have a great view of the city. The park is especially a hot spot on weekends, when the Caleños come here to relax. The park is also famous for its “cuenteros,” storytellers who draw a large crowd. On Saturday mornings there is a small organic market, where you can also have breakfast and buy tasty juices. Tip: spend the night at Magic Garden house, across from the park.
3. Take a guided tour!
Callejeros tours is a travel agency set up by Dutch Niels. He fell in love with Cali and set up a travel agency together with Colombian Vanessa in 2016. Their mission: to show travelers that Cali is more than just salsa! Among other things, you can choose from the free walking tour in the city center (based on tipping) or the street food tour; a fun way to get to know the city and visit places you wouldn’t normally visit easily.
4. Go to the Cristo Rey for a great view of the city
Outside Cali on a mountain is the huge 31-meter-high statue Cristo Rey (statue of Christ just like the one in Brazil). Great for a day trip outside of Cali. Then you have a great view of the whole city. A cab will cost you approx. COP50,000/€12.50 round trip. You can also visit Cristo Rey with a city tour, where you also visit other attractions, such as Parque El Gato De Tejada. You can book the city tour here.
5. Insider tip! Grab a bite to eat at KM18
KM 18 is a very popular neighborhood among Colombians to go out for lunch or dinner at night. It is located high on a mountain (1800m) and is full of hotels and restaurants with stunning views of Cali. Definitely highly recommended! You can get here by taxi (about 30 minutes), but the area around KM 18 is also beautiful to explore by rental car. The nearby rainforest is an important bird area with great biodiversity.
6. Spot birds in hummingbird "paradise"
If you go to KM18 and drive 10 minutes further, you can spot many hummingbirds and other birds in “El Paraíso de los Colibries” at Finca Alejandria. As many as 347 bird species are found here. Entrance to “El Paraíso de los Colibries” costs COP20,000/€5.
7. Take a walk along the Bulevar del Río
Along the river you will find plenty of choices for snacks and drinks, there is street art and you can see Cali’s main attractions such as El Parque de los Poetas, La iglesia de la Ermita and Parque de los Gatos, a park with statues of cats created by various Colombian artists. Especially nice in the afternoon, at night it can be a bit skechy. During Christmas, the Bulevar del Río is spectacularly lit up and you’ll find the finest Christmas atmosphere in all of Cali.
8. Act like the locals and visit Alto Pance
This is a beautiful green area and is known for the Pance River. Every week hundreds of Colombians come to the river to swim and picnic with the family. A lot of food is brought from home or they are barbecuing. It has a very special atmosphere and is beautiful to see. Highly recommended. Adventurous travelers can hike from Pance to the Pico de Loro in the Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali. This is an intensive hike, so good fitness is required!
There are minibuses going to Pance, for about COP2500. You can also stay overnight in one of the vacation rentals in Pance and surrounding areas.
10. Visit the beautiful neighborhood of Ciudad Jardín
Ciudad Jardín is a very nice neighborhood to see and is located in the south of Cali. It is a lot quieter than San Antonio and is surrounded by some beautiful parks (including Humedal La Babilla). Two well-known shopping centers, Unicentro and Centro Comercial Jardín Plaza, are also located near Ciudad Jardin. Moreover, if you drive towards the famous Pance River, you will undoubtedly pass through this neighborhood. Furthermore, you have all kinds of expensive and trendy restaurants in this neighborhood.
12. Take a day trip to Lago Calima
A beautiful piece of nature with an (artificial) lake is Lago Calima. The lake is 70 km above Cali and as the crow flies next to Buga…the place with the basilica and many church stores. It is like Switzerland there, the mountains…the houses with their half-timbered facades. There is a modern swimming pool with slides and also some water sports. But the area is so special because of the idea that you are like you have arrived in the Swiss hills. This is a popular vacation spot with the locals, so there are many places to stay overnight in Lago Calima. Because of the winds that blow there all year round, Lago Calima is also a hot spot with kite and windsurfers.
9. Shop in the imposing, upscale malls
Jardín Plaza with all its branded shops is one such upscale shopping mall. Other shopping malls include Unicentro Cali, Pacific mall, Cosmocentro and Centro Comercial Chipichape. Parque Artesanal Loma de la Cruz (across from Topa Tolandra) is one of the best local markets where you can buy artesanía from all over Colombia (besides the “made in China” souvenirs). Every Thursday around 7 p.m., people gather here to dance together.
11. Visit the Cali Zoo
The Cali Zoo is also very nice to see. Perhaps somewhat of a different class than Artis but good value for money. Admission costs COP27,000/€6.75 for adults and COP19000 /€4.75 for children (2022) Especially nice to get an idea of the animals found in Colombia and South America, but there are also animals from other parts of the world.
13. Explore the jungle around San Cipriano
The picturesque town of San Cipriano is located in the middle of the jungle and is a perfect base for activities like tubing, kayaking and hiking through the jungle. The easiest way to do these activities is as part of a tour, such as this day tour to San Cipriano.
Bonus tip
14. Spend a night in the rainforest
Need to escape Cali’s hot climate for a while? Then book a few nights in a glamping or nature reserve outside the city, such as at Bosque de Niebla birding and nature, 18 km. from Cali. With a rainforest setting, here you can enjoy the cooler climate and spot various bird species.
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