The City of Salsa – Cali

Cali, or officially the Santiago Cali, is a western Colombia and is the second-largest city here.

Best time to visit

Cali enjoys a tropical climate which makes anytime of the year suitable for a visit to Cali.

Getting there and around

Once you are in Colombia, Cali is just a bus ride away. The main entry point to Colombia is the El Dorado International Airport. It takes about 10-15 hours to reach Cali from Columbia’s Capital City – Bogota.

The Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport, 20 kilometers away from the city has flights coming in from major international destinations like New York, Miami, Quito, Madrid and Panama City.

Buses, taxis and car rentals are the usual means of transport to get around in the city.

Cali Colombia Tourist Attractions

There is plenty to see and do in Cali that makes it city worth visiting in Colombia.

Cali has a vibrant night scene. With restaurants, hotels and fashion stores line up on the streets; it’s only in the evenings that you will see Cali come alive. Like in any other city, start the tour of Cali from the city centre.

For some cultural treat, the Plaza de Caicedo is the place to go to. Some of historical monuments and landmarks here are the National Palace and Cathedral, the Monastery of San Francisco dating back to the 18th century, the Museo Archeologico and the Gold Museum. Also worth a visit is the Zoo that’s located by a river here, one of the best zoos of South America.

The Catholic City of Cali has a number of Churches worth visiting such as the San Antoni Church and the La Ermita Church.

For some fun, try exploring the city on the back of a horse and make attempts to learn Salsa here or watch the folk group perform the same. Mountain biking along the beach is also an attraction among the adventure- lovers.

For a day trip, you could go to Ecoparque del Rio Pance – a nature reserve 12 kilometers away from the city. Here you can go for hikes, swim in the natural pools and even camp around. San Cipriano – with waterfalls and rivers, is another good place to visit near Cali.

There are some good beaches not far from Cali. These include Buenaventura, beaches around Juanchaco known for the dolphins and whales here and the Landrilleros Beach.

The Cali River is worth a visit too.

Cali is also known for the Cali Fair, or the Feria de Cali. Held annually in the last week of the year, this fair has street festivities, Bullfighting Festival, live music performances and other interesting events.

Plan your itinerary to Colombia in a way that it includes a tour of Cali – the Cultural hub of Colombia with monuments and buildings from the colonial era, nature reserve with a variety of flora and fauna,  as well as a nightlife that’s in tune with the contemporary lifestyle. Cali trip is sure to leave you happy.