Cali

Cali is a city with a real zest for life that draws you in and stays with you long after you leave town. Beyond a handful of churches and museums, Cali is light on sights – but the city's main attraction is its beguiling, electrifying atmosphere. If you make the effort you will find great nightlife, good restaurants and plenty to do, especially in the evening, when a cool mountain breeze dissipates the heat of the day.

Cali is rich in Afro-Colombian heritage; nowhere is the nation's racial diversity and harmony more apparent. From the barrios to the big, slick clubs, everyone is moving to one beat, and that beat is salsa. Music in the world's salsa capital is more than entertainment: it is a unifying factor that ties the city together.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Cali.

  • Church

    Iglesia de la Merced

    Founded in 1545, this is Cali's oldest church. It's a lovely whitewashed building in the Spanish-colonial style, with a long, narrow nave, and humble wood…

  • Gallery

    Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia

    Presents changing exhibitions of contemporary painting, sculpture and photography from both local and South American artists. Look out for works by…

  • Museum

    Museo Arqueológico la Merced

    Housed in an 18th-century annex to La Merced, this interesting museum contains a collection of pre-Columbian pottery left behind by the major cultures…

  • Museum

    Museo de Arte Religoso La Merced

    Housed in La Merced convent, Cali's oldest building, this museum has an extensive collection of colonial religious paintings and relics. It's worth a…

  • Viewpoint

    Cerro de las Tres Cruces

    The views are spectacular at these three crosses high in the mountains overlooking the city, and the hike up here is a popular outdoor activity among…

  • Museum

    Museo del Oro Calima

    One block east from Iglesia de la Merced, this excellent museum displays more than 600 pieces of intricate gold jewelry, as well as ceramics used in…

  • Church

    Iglesia de la Ermita

    Overlooking the Río Cali, this striking neo-Gothic church houses the 18th-century painting of El señor de la caña (Lord of the Sugarcane) that survived…

  • Church

    Torre Mudéjar

    This unusual brick bell tower is one of the best examples of Mudejar architecture in Colombia.

  • Architectural

    Hacienda El Paraíso

    Escape the city for a day and head to the old sugarcane plantations to see how the Colombian elite lived in the 19th century. Hacienda El Paraíso, a…

  • Zoo

    Zoológico de Cali

    This large zoo is the best in the country. It has a good collection of species indigenous to Colombia, including chiguiros (capybaras), oso hormigueros …

  • Monument

    Cristo Rey

    Resembling a scaled-down version of Rio's famous monument, this towering Christ statue atop Cerro las Cristales affords panoramic views of Cali. At the…

  • Church

    Iglesia de San Antonio

    Constructed in 1747, this small church is set atop a hill, the Colina de San Antonio, west of the old center. It shelters valuable tallas quiteñas, 17th…

  • Church

    Iglesia de San Francisco

    This neoclassical church dating from the 18th century is most renowned for the adjacent Torre Mudéjar, an unusual brick bell tower that is one of the best…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Cali.

  • Activities