Best-things-to-do-in-Cali

25 best things to do in Cali, Colombia (Your Ultimate Guide)

Last updated on August 22nd, 2026 at 12:37 pm

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You cant help but fall in love with the Cali vibe!

While most travelers flock to the walled streets of Cartagena or the mountain views of Medellín, Cali is a city that gives you more of a good feeling! As the undisputed capital of salsa, this tropical city has its own irresistible rhythm and vibe.

During the day, chill in boho-chic cafes, or pleasantly fresh rivers, and enjoy the surrounding nature. But in the evening, when a cooling mountain breeze appears on time each day at 5pm the locals come alive! So get your shoes on and join in on the city life with its salsa, food, and fresh lulo juice.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned salsa pro or a backpacker with two left feet (like me – although I think I have three), Cali will draw you in with its warmth, its flavors, and its grass roots soul.

Here is the ultimate guide to the absolute best things to do in Cali, Colombia!

Trip Planning Checklist

The best things to see and do in Cali – the Salsa Capital!

Day trips in nature from Cali you should consider!

Things I would skip doing in Cali – but you might be into!

A quick 3-5 day itinerary for Cali

Frequently Asked Questions about Cali

Travel Tips for Cali

Where to Stay in Cali

Related Posts

Wandering-in-Calis-San-Antonio-district
Wandering in Cali’s San Antonio district

These are the booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides – at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for the support! Cheers!

All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Accommodation – I use booking.com for hotels, Hostelworld for a hostel, and Vrbo for holiday houses.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. There are plenty of great tours in Cali that will show you the city and surrounds, and keep you safe, but these are the ones I’d put at the top of my list:

Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars

Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Thanks so much if you used one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

Of course I have to start with salsa! But I also cover the other great things in Cali so you will see its not all about Salsa – waterfalls and rivers, the city center, San Antonio, views and hikes, and more! On with Salsa…..

Cali is “the” place to give it a go!

If you are backpacking then free salsa classes come with the territory!! Even if you are not backpacking, check some of these hostels and their private rooms. You get free salsa classes in all of them, and some have other group nights out as well:

This will give you a great intro to salsa. Otherwise you can easily join a salsa class at a local academy. I do highly recommend this tour for everyone – it takes you to the Salsa Museum, covers the history of salsa, includes a salsa lesson, and a visit to La Topa Tolondra (an iconic salsa nightclub) or a street event.

This is the most legendary salsa club in the city. It’s a bit of a rite of passage for travelers to go and mis in with the locals – there will be everything from beginners to pros on the massive dance floor!

This Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, which of course includes La Topa and salsa, was set up by locals friends to show travelers Cali as they experience it!

Salsa-classes-everywhere-in-Cali
Salsa – its everywhere in Cali — Credit on right to the Salsa & Music Tour of Cali!

These are the top very local hikes – easy to get to from the city. Note that in terms of safety, Cali is not the safest so I do recommend tours in some cases – unless you are with a local that knows what they are doing. Even with a local, we could not do 6 without a tour – except in the weekend when there are lots of locals around!

You can see the big white statue from parts of the city, but you can see the whole city from the statue! Cristo Rey is a towering white 26-meter statue with 360-degree views of the Cauca Valley. Its worth going on a tour because of safety. I recommend this tour as it covers so much as well as Cristo Rey

This is another interesting option on a motorbike: Tour Cali on a high-capacity cruiser motorcycle – Cristo Rey & Yanaconas!

But if you want to go alone then note the following:

  • Do not hike the whole way alone or in a small group – this is highly discouraged for solo travelers due to long-standing safety and theft risks along the trails. I’m not being dramatic!
  • The best option is to take an Uber to the tourist welcome center at the top, or you can take a local jeep from San Antonio or the city center. You want a shared jeep heading toward Bellavista or Los Andes. They can drop you off right near the police station station at the base of the final hill. From that relatively safe point, it’s a direct, paved walk up to the entrance.
  • If you take an Uber or jeep up, it can be very hard to get one back down again – especially in the late afternoon. So go in the morning, and if you cant find a ride back ask the staff at the gates where to go to find a jeep – you will have to walk (not far) to the main road.
Views-from-Cristo-Rey-in-Cali
Views from Cristo Rey in Cali – and the size of it!

You can join in the local fitness ritual of locals – but once again, for your safety, only go on weekend mornings! On weekend mornings there are plenty of Police and on Sundays lots of vendors selling drinks etc. Otherwise take a tour:

This is a shortish but rougher track up a hill to the three giant crosses you can see from the city. To get there independently on weekend mornings, take an Uber directly to the trailhead – don’t wander around trying to find the entrance. (You are going to the “Sendero al Cerro de las Tres Cruces.”)

Note: If you have been to Cristo Rey and are not into hiking, then I would skip this! But if you love a fun hike, then definitely go for it.

The hilltop park in front of the San Antonio Church (the oldest church in Cali but not a major attraction in itself) is a fun evening hangout spot to grab an oblea (wafer snack filled with arequipe/caramel and cheese), drink and fruit, along with the locals. Its hot in Cali and after about 4-5pm you get a nice breeze up here – hence its popularity! You can watch the street performers and see the city light up below. Obviously keep an eye on your things!

You can enjoy the rivers, falls and water pretty much right in Cali by taking a short 1.5km walk from the Botanic Gardens to the Cali Waterfall / Cascada Rio Cali. But, for your safety, do not do this without a tour except on weekends when there are lots of locals around. Once again, I’m not being dramatic – ask anyone local – they will tell you the same!

This tour is absolutely the one to take: Cali River Waterfall and Great River Pools Tour!

Cali-river-and-waterfall-walk
Cali river and waterfall walk – and things you might see on the way!

I recommend exploring San Antonio on your own, or as part of a wider tour, but I definitely recommend, again, a city tour to get you to all the good spots in a shorter time:

If you don’t want to do a tour, I cover the key spots in the city below.

Colors-of-San-Antonio-in-Cali
Colors of San Antonio in Cali

Apart from the Cali vibe, you also cant help but fall in love with this area of the city! Its very friendly and full of colonial charm, as well as boho-chic. Think colorful colonial architecture (and many beautifully restored homes), quirky cafes (with the local favorite foods), wonderful street art murals (depicting Cali’s Afro-Colombian roots), and still authentic in that it is full of artisan workshops and shops! There are also plenty of co-working spaces used by locals – hint for digital nomads. Tip spend a day in San Antonio wandering and enjoying the cafes, and the evening in San Antonio Park with the locals.

This is one place in San Antonio to make sure you visit – its a historic, artisanal workshop that still uses traditional letterpress machines to create the absolutely iconic, vibrant concert and political posters seen all over Colombia!

Tip – When you go, speak to the staff as if they are not busy printing they will show you around the workshop and letterpresses.

La-Linterna-Printing-in-San-Antonio-in-Cali
La Linterna Printing in San Antonio in Cali

The Parque Paseo Bolivar is a nice green space on the edge of the river in the city center. You can see a statue of Simon Bolivar, and another marble sculpture dedicated to Jorge Isaacs, one of Colombia’s most famous literary icons. The main city government buildings are in the park as well as a neo-Gothic metal bandstand where free concerts are held.

La-Ermita-Church-in-Cali
The fairytale neo-Gothic La Ermita Church in Cali

You will want to check out the amazing ancient Ceiba trees in the park too. They have seed pods that look exactly like big “bombs” hanging on long thin stems from the branches. Because of the way they dangle they look like rustic Christmas ornaments!! When they open they are filled with soft white fluffy kapok – and the bombs look like cotton balls. When this happens the park gets covered in a white “snow” – its super cool to see them at any stage.

From the park walk over the Puente Ortiz (Ortiz Bridge). It is a lovely little bridge built in the 1840s by a Franciscan friar and was the very first stone bridge constructed over the Cali River!

Inside, there is an 18th-century marble altar from Italy and stained glass windows from Amsterdam – very international! It also has religious images 300+ years old, including the Christ of the Cane which is for sugarcane workers in the Valle del Cauca region.

When you have crossed the bridge you come to the very fairytale looking La Ermita Iglesia / La Ermita Church. Its a gorgeous neo-Gothic church based on the Cathedral of Ulm in Germany.

This is a great pedestrian zone along the river – and really good in the afternoon because it catches the breeze that starts up around 4-5pm. Alongside the river you will see plenty of interesting cats (statues) – read on for more about cats in the city!

But if you really want to see Cali city and this boulevard rocking at its best, then you have to go Friday night! On Friday nights the area near the Edificio Coltabaco and Café Bulevard turns into a massive street party, and the Calle del Sabor, an alleyway in between, becomes a packed open-air dance floor. You can join hundreds of people dancing salsa on the bricks under the streetlights – quite magical!

This historic main plaza of Cali is framed by the impressive National Palace and other historic buildings, and has huge palm trees within the square, along with a statue of a local hero – Joaquín de Cayzedo. ITs impressive to see but can be a bit grungy so you are not likely to stay long! Close by is the Cali Cathedral which looks most lovely at night (in my opinion).

The-Plaza-de-Caicedo-in-Cali
The Plaza de Caicedo in Cali – note the police presence in the tourist areas!

If you walk along the Bulevar del Río Cali to a pedestrian bridge here, walk over it and look down at the huge murals alongside the motorway below you. Then head uphill and you will get to a little green space. Look closely – you will see cat statues, but you will also see homes the locals have built for stray cats – which they also feed. Kindness plus!

From there, walk up onto Calle de la Escopeta (Shotgun street!) where you will find a funky little street with lovely hand weaving overhead and murals alongside you as you walk. It actually leads you to the museum area which I cover in19-21 below.

Calle-de-la-Escopeta-a-cool-street-in-Cali
Calle de la Escopeta or shotgun street – a cool street in Cali

I love this story!

Hernando Tejada, who is a painter and sculptor from Pereira, donated a big bronze statue of a cat – El Gato del Río – to the city. It was duly installed in a nice spot along the river. But then the locals felt the cat needed girlfriends. So now you can walk along the cat pathway and check out all his girlfriends – made by local artists! its a fun thing to do and has become quite the thing to do in the city!

El-Gato-and-some-of-his-friends-in-Cali
El Gato and some of his friends in Cali

Across the river from the cat walk is the Museum of Modern Art. It is rated well and has overr 2000 art works, but was closed when I was there. Do check the reviews. There is also a small art-house type movie theater and a small outdoor stage theater in the complex.

What was fun for me was seeing all the photography going on at night – especially of girls about to have their 15th birthday (a big deal in Colombia) and wedding photos! Its quite the atmosphere.

Night-vibes-at-the-Museo-La-Tertulia-in-Cali
Night vibes at the Museo La Tertulia in Cali!

Siloé is a sprawling, densely packed neighborhood built on the mountainside that is currently undergoing a massive social, artistic, and cultural transformation. It originally started as a neighborhood settled by miners from western Colombia and migrants fleeing rural violence and suffered severe poverty. For decades it was seen as one of the most dangerous, off-limits zones in Cali due to gang and guerrilla violence.

But now, the community is rewriting its story through street art, music, entrepreneurship, and community-led tourism. It has even got a nickname “El Pesebre de Cali” (The Manger of Cali) because, when you see it from below at night, the thousands of houses lit up on the mountainside look like a giant Christmas nativity scene.

You can take a tour where you go on a cable car up into Siloé, see the wonderful murals and artworks, and La Estrella (The Siloé Star). This is a big, illuminated metal star high up on the hill and is visible from almost anywhere in Cali – it adds to the Manger of Cali image!

Do not visit alone – take a tour for safety and to support the local community.

The city is about salsa so this is a one-of-a-kind museum worth popping into! Nearby in the little plaza is the Trumpet Monument is a super cool feature of Cali – stand inside and listen to the music of a very influential band – Grupo Niche. If you can read Spanish or use Google Translate then you can read all about them too!

Plazoleta-Jairo-Varela-and-its-Trumpet-Monument-in-Cali
Plazoleta Jairo Varela and its Trumpet Monument in Cali

Cali has its own specialities when it comes to food and drink! And there are three in particular that I fell in love with that are pretty much only found here (marranitas, aborrajados, lulada)! The worst part is they are all delicious and make you want more!!

I definitely recommend this The Cali Street Food Walking Tour!

Try pandebono, buñuelo, arepa, empanadas, marranitas, papa rellena, papa aborrajada, aborrajado, chorizo, champús, ice-cream, coffee… and some more!

Whatever you do make sure you try the very local specialities of marranitas (fried green plantains stuffed with pork) and the aborrajados (ripe sweet plantains stuffed with salty cheese, coated in a batter, and deep-fried).
Both are absolutely delicious, terribly filling – and no doubt very fattening! But oh sooo yummy!

And if you are into coffee this tour with Pablo might be for you! Coffee Tasting and Roasting Experience in Cali Colombia. I don’t drink coffee and had visited coffee farms already, but the reviews are great so check it out!

Drinking Lulada-in-Cali.
Drinking delicious Lulada – only in Cali!

You have to try these drinks!!

Lulada is deliciously refreshing! The pulpy flesh of the lulo fruit is mashed then mixed with ice, lime juice, and /or panela (brown sugar) or condensed milk! Sometimes people throw in a splash of local spirits like aguardiente or viche.
You really want it with condensed milk on the side to add to your taste. Trust me – it is the best, and way better than it might sound. The best place to have it is outdoors on the riverside at Club Colombia – just a few meters along from La Tertulia Museum.

Champús is another very refreshing local drink. It is made with white corn, chopped lulo, pineapple, and panela syrup. It is also most delicious!!
Try it at one of the traditional spots like Champús Albita (also great for marranitas) or the iconic Champús de Lola (also great for Lulada, marranitas, and aborrajados).

If you have been to the museums in Bogota you might want to skip these museums, but if you haven’t and you have an interest there are a few small museums with artefacts from the local area:

First on the list is the Calima Gold Museum of the Bank of the Republic. This is worth dropping into, even though it is small, as it is free and has pre-Colombian jewellery and handicrafts etc.

Just around the corner from the Gold Museum is the Museo Arqueologico la Merced which has pre-Colombian artefacts from the local area. Again it is small but well laid out and has a lovely garden in the center which gives you a nice breather in the city!

Alongside it is another small museum – the Museo de Arte Colonial y Religioso La Merced with some excellent religious artworks again centered around a pleasant central courtyard garden in the grounds of a beautifully whitewashed convent. The artwork is a rare collection of 15th- to 19th-century paintings alongside realistic religious sculptures, and intricate religious silverwork. Do go inside the church if you visit.
Note: This is the exact spot where Cali was founded in 1536!!

Across the road from the the Museo Arqueologico la Merced is the Casa de las Memorias del conflicto y la reconciliación. This is another free museum worth spending some time in – it explains the armed conflict that the country, and especially Cali, has experienced over recent times. It is a space that aims to promote community peace-building.

Pre-Colombian-Art-pieces-at-the-Museo-Arqueologico-in-Cali
Pre-Colombian Art pieces at the Museo Arqueológico in central Cali

Cali is surrounded by beauty – hills, rivers, waterfalls and plains. Its great to get out and enjoy some of this nature!

The Pance river area is a favorite with locals in the weekends. Its great – lots of water and falls around and its lovely to get out in a natural area.
Once again I strongly recommend a tour with a local guide – especially if it is during the week as this is a known area for criminals. In the weekend there will be lots of locals so you should be fine to go alone and there will be little danger because of the numbers of locals!

These are two great tour options for river and waterfall swimming:

However….

…the other option is to go all the way to Farallones Park (past Pance village). You can do this alone, but again only go on the weekend. You have to go with a guide in the park itself (not expensive) as there are still guerillas (it wont be a problem) in the area and they don’t want people swimming just anywhere to protect the environment. But if you are going to make a day of it in the area, this is definitely worth doing – we even saw the huge blue morpho butterflies! You can also try take one of these tours – swimming included.

Important tips if you go alone:
1. Get the bus to Pance but make sure you have the timetable if its a weekday – they are few and far between and its virtually impossible to get an uber from up here – trust me we had to hitch which is absolutely not a good idea in this area! In the weekend there will be lots of buses running as there will also be lots of locals. My best advice is a weekend trip or take a tour!

2. Don’t go just to the Indian Falls / Cascada El Indio. Take the bus all the way to Pance, then walk back in the direction you came from until you see locals swimming in the little natural pools in the river. Join them! You can walk back to Cascada El Indio quite easily in 30 mins.

3. If you are going in the weekend, add the walk up to Farallones Park from Pance into your itinerary (its not very far) and then walk back down to Pance and the river. Do this only in the weekend for safety and also there is a limit of 40 people in the park in a day and on weekdays it can be full with a school group!

Waterfalls-in-the-Pance-area-near-Cali
Waterfall in Farallones Park (left) and Cascade el Indio near Pance

San Cipriano is a long day trip, but a load of fun – complete with a ride ride on a brujita (motorcycle-powered wooden carts running on old train tracks), and tubing as well as swimming and waterfalls – on this: San Cipriano Rainforest – River, Waterfalls and Adventure Day

Closer to Cali and also a very fun option is to go to the Jordan River where you can walk along the river, through a cave, and relax at good swimming spots in hammocks! A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river!

Colombia is the bird watching capital of the world and Cali is the city of birds with about 562 species! For an urban birdwatching treat take this tour with a guide along the Cali river:

Cali: Birding | Birds of the Cali River – Bird Watching

Or for a trip out in the mountains around Cali – where you are guaranteed to see hundreds of hummingbirds, this tour takes you to a private cloud forest reserve near Kilometer18:

Cali: Bird Watching | Birding in the cloud forest at kilometer 18

Tip: You can get to the Bosque De Niebla San Antonio by taking a bus to Kilometer 18 from the main bus terminal in Cali, then walking to Finca El Paraiso from there (about 30-45 minutes). You will see the hummingbirds and a few others at the feeders that have been installed, but probably not as many as if you were with a guide. However it is still beautiful to see. The entry price for foreigners is 60k. Also the finca is for sale so this may not be available forever. You can stay overnight in a cabin here too. Go in the morning, as in the afternoon the clouds descend heavily!

Hummingbirds-in-Colombia
Hummingbirds – there are 165-170 species in Colombia!
At-the-Andoke-Butterfly-Center-in-Cali
At the Andoke Butterfly Center in Cali

If you want some peace and quiet and a place that is full of mindfulness, after all the salsa high energy spaces, and or if you are really into butterflies, then definitely go to the Andoke Butterfly Center! They have lovely gardens and other fauna but the attraction is the butterflies. You can see all the stages of the butterfly cycle and sit among them until they sit on you! You will also be supporting a local environmental education project which is good for everyone!

There are two options:

If you are the outdoors type or just want some time out of the city seeing a bit more of the countryside there are two great riding options!

This is a quick guide to help you put things together in a way to make the most of your time – i recommend at least three days!

Day 1 – Take a city tour including Christo Rey. Explore San Antonio and finish the day in San Antonio park.

Day 2 – Salsa! go on the Salsa & Music Tour of Cali or take a class – ask your hotel for the best. Take a food tour in the afternoon. Go out that night and dance!!

Day 3 – Take a day trip to rivers and waterfalls and enjoy the swimming!

Day 4 – Take a half day tour depending on your interests – butterflies, birdwatching etc. spend a half day visiting the things you have missed and museums. Relax in one of the excellent cafes eating and drinking the delicious local foods and drinks.

Highway-vibes-in-Cali
Highway vibes in Cali

Q: Is Cali safe for tourists?
A: Yes, in the tourist areas tourist, like San Antonio, Granada, and the city center – the tourist areas are highly policed and relatively safe. Just watch your things from opportunistic theft.

Q: Can I walk around Cali at night?
A: Only in well-traveled, well-lit restaurant and nightlife zones.

Q: Where is the best neighborhood for a solo backpacker to stay?
A: San Antonio.

Q: Is it safe to use Uber, DiDi, Cabify etc in Cali?
A: Yes, and definitely better than hailing a cab on the street which is a no-no. Only use a taxi if your hotel calls them for you – never off the street.

Q: I don’t know how to dance salsa. Can I still enjoy Cali’s nightlife?
A: Yes, absolutely! You can take a class – often free at hostels, and the locals love you giving it a try and are not going to care how good or not you are!

Q: How many days do I need in Cali?
A: 3 to 4 days is good. This gives you enough time to explore San Antonio and the city, enjoy the salsa and the rivers, waterfalls and nature outside of town.

Q: What is the weather like, and what should I pack?
A: Cali is hot (around 30°C / 86°F). Bring lightweight, breathable clothes for walking around and runners for day trips. But also make sure you have something to wear to salsa clubs – a pair of jeans/pants and closed-toe shoes – or you wont get in!

Q: What local food must I try in Cali?
A: See 17 -18 above, but Aborrajados (sweet plantain stuffed with cheese and deep-fried), Marranitas (green plantain balls stuffed with pork belly), and a refreshing Lulada (a drink made of crushed lulo fruit, lime, sugar or condensed milk, and ice) are essential to try!

Q: Is the Cristo Rey monument open, and can I hike up?
A: Yes, its open. No don’t hike up all the way – see 3 above.

Q: What is the best day to hike Cerro de las Tres Cruces?
A: Sunday morning between 6:00-10:00am. On weekends, thousands of locals do the hike, and there are plenty of police along the path. Avoid weekdays or afternoons entirely for safety.

The-flowers-and-hanging-bombs-of-the-Ceiba-tree-in-Cali
The flowers and hanging bombs of the Ceiba tree in Cali
  • Listen to the locals – if they say not to go there alone (which can mean two or three of you) then don’t go!!
  • Download InDrive – not Just Uber. You are more likely to get a ride and usually much cheaper. Uber drivers usually want you to sit in the front – this is not weird, its because Ride share apps like Uber are illegal (but flourishing) in Colombia so they don’t want to look like they are an Uber!!
  • Don’t wear flashy jewellery, or get on your phone out on the street. Go into a cafe or similar to call an Uber or look on maps etc – even if it means buying a coffee or small snack. Be super aware in Cali. If you have an old phone you can use for maps and apps, take it and leave your nice iphone / android in the hotel.
  • Have closed in footwear and decent clothes for salsa nights – or you probably wont get in!
  • A major safety warning re dating apps (especially targeting solo male travelers). If a gorgeous local matches with you and insists on meeting somewhere isolated or coming directly to your Airbnb/hostel right away, it is a trap. Just don’t even open the app in Cali!! If you really must, always meet in public, highly crowded spaces and be careful!
  • Never leave your drink unattended – same as any city – but definitely not here.
  • If street vendors and performers in places like San Antonio park are persistent or aggressive, say “no tengo efectivo” – I dont have cash.

Stay in the safer parts of the city – I recommend San Antonio or the city center. These are all good options to suit different budgets:

Higher End – Cali Marriott Hotel or Alko Hotel Casa Nispero

Mid Range – Hotel Intercontinental Cali by IHG or Sonesta Hotel Cali

Budget – Hotel Altana or Hotel El Peñon by Bithotels or Faranda Collection Cali – Radisson

Backpacker – La Chanca Hostel / Oasis Cali Hostel / Viajero Cali Hostel & Salsa School / La Palmera Hostel

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