CALI Región Sur Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Cali Tourism in Santiago de Cali

Discover the magic of Santiago de Cali, the world capital of salsa and a tourist gem of Valle del Cauca. A vibrant city full of culture, exquisite cuisine, historical heritage, the refreshing afternoon breeze, and the unmatched warmth of its people.

Founded on July 25, 1536 1,018 m above sea level Climate Dry tropical
View gallery Places in Cali
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Cali Tourism in Santiago de Cali: The Capital of Salsa

Status after the earthquake (checked on 27 September 2026): the earthquake of 10 August 2026 damaged several places in the historic center. The San Pedro Cathedral remains closed and its repair could take up to three years; La Merced church and convent, the Teatro Municipal and the Centro Cultural have restricted use or closed areas, and in mid-September 14 Catholic churches were still closed. La Ermita church is open and hosts the Cathedral’s masses, and Cristo Rey Eco-Park reopened on 22 August with Tramo 3 closed. Before you go, check the status of each place in the Alcaldía de Cali’s official repository (in Spanish).

Santiago de Cali, or simply Cali, is the capital of Valle del Cauca in Colombia, located in the southern region of the department. It is the third most populous city in the country and the main urban, cultural, economic, educational, industrial, agricultural and social center of southwestern Colombia. It is one of Colombia’s leading sports hubs and is also internationally renowned for salsa music and its brilliant dancers.

Other names The Branch of Heaven (La Sucursal del Cielo), The Sultana of the Valley, World Capital of Salsa, Colombia's Sports City, The Sporting Branch
Motto
The Very Noble and Very Loyal
Demonym: Caleño, caleña (person from Cali)

Gallery of Cali Tourism in Santiago de Cali

Algunos lugares de Cali:

Population
2,471,474 inhabitants
Climate
Dry tropical
Altitude
1,018 m above sea level
Founded
July 25, 1536

Local food

What you can't leave without trying

Appetizers, snacks and fruits
Empanadas Aborrajado Pandebono Marranitas Fried plantain toasts Chontaduro (peach palm fruit With salt and/or honey) Green mango
Main dishes
Sancocho de gallina (hen soup) Tamal valluno Arroz atollado (creole rice stew)
Drinks
Lulada Cholado Borojó juice Champús Masato
Desserts and sweets
Manjar blanco Chontaduro ice cream White and black gelatin Natilla Rice pudding Gooseberry preserve Desamargado Mamey preserve Cocada Cholado
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Tourism in Cali

12 ways to explore the city. Open each category for details.

Shopping malls +
Chipichape, Unicentro, Cosmocentro, Centenario, Jardín Plaza, Palmeto Plaza, Pacific Mall, Premier Limonar, La Estación, and more
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs +
Menga, Granada, El Peñón, Downtown, Ciudad Jardín, Centenario, San Antonio, Calle 66, Calle 5ta, Avenida 6ta, Calle 9na, Avenida Roosevelt, Parque del Perro, El Ingenio, La Alameda, Kilómetro 18, Valle del Lili, Bulevar del Río, and more
Historic and religious sites +
Downtown Cali, Plaza de Caicedo, Cali Metropolitan Cathedral, Plazoleta de San Francisco and its religious complex, the San Antonio neighborhood and chapel, La Ermita church, the Cristo Rey monument, Tres Cruces hill, the Sebastián de Belalcázar viewpoint, the CAM government building, the Valle del Cauca Governor's Office
Salsa schools and venues +
Cali has academies for learning to dance salsa, plus nightclubs and dance venues playing salsa, crossover and other genres
Health +
Health and wellness tourism has become a thriving sector internationally
Museums, exhibitions and galleries +
La Tertulia Museum, La Merced Museum, the Departmental Museum of Natural Sciences, Caliwood, the Bank of the Republic's Gold Museum
Events, concerts, conferences +
Cali hosts a wide range of cultural, sports, academic, artistic, musical, theatrical, corporate and medical events
Ecotourism +
Nature tourism in Cali can be enjoyed around the Farallones de Cali or the Pance River to the south, and toward the Kilómetro 18 road to the west
Alternative lodging (Airbnb) +
Cali has a wide offering of vacation rentals and rooms on Airbnb
Urban hotels and lodging +
In Cali you'll find everything from 5-star hotels to budget hostels. Major hotel chains include: Intercontinental Cali, Hoteles Estelar, Four Points By Sheraton Cali, Marriott Cali Hotel, Hampton by Hilton Cali, Spiwak, Dann Carlton, Dann, NH Royal Cali, Torre de Cali Plaza Hotel, City Express, and more
Transportation +
MIO buses, taxis, ride-hailing apps (Easy Taxi, Uber, WayCali, Beat, Cabify, etc.), minibuses, intercity buses at the Cali Bus Terminal, flights from Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport (Palmira), and mototaxis and bike-taxis in some areas
Supermarkets +
La 14, Éxito, Jumbo, Metro, Price Smart, Super Inter, D1, Comfandi, Ara, and more

Fairs and festivals of Cali

The cultural calendar that moves the city

25-30 DEC
Feria de Cali (Cali Fair)
Every year from December 25 to 30, Cali celebrates the Feria de Cali, also known as the Feria de la Caña (Sugarcane Fair). Its most important events are the Salsódromo parade and the Super Concierto. It is organized by Corfecali and centers mainly on salsa music, though people also enjoy a variety of Latin and world rhythms.
SEP
Festival Mundial de Salsa (World Salsa Festival)
Held in the final days of September each year, it draws large numbers of visitors from different countries to Cali, with all the city's salsa schools and dance academies from other cities and abroad taking part — a tribute to the creativity and speed of Caleños' footwork.
AUG
Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival
Held every August in Cali to celebrate Afro-Colombian composers, researchers and musical groups.
International Theater Festival
Held annually in Cali since 1999, with participation from registered countries all over the world.
International Poetry Festival
Held annually in Cali since 2000, with local, national and international poets taking part.
SEP
Ajazzgo Jazz Fusion and Experimental Music Gathering
Started in 2000 and held every September in Cali, this event is dedicated to showcasing and promoting artists of this genre nationally and internationally.
OCT
Cali International Book Fair
Launched in October 2015 with the goal of positioning Cali as Africa's gateway to the Americas, it continues to take place every October.
OCT
Cali International Film Festival
Created in 2011, it is held every year between October and November and is known for its curated film selection.
Cali International Dance Biennial
Created in 2013 as a project to promote culture and dance, it is held every two years.
Blues & Folk Festival
Held in Cali every year since 2013, bringing together top performers of this genre from Colombia, the United States and other countries around the world.
29 JUN
Festival de Macetas (Flowerpot Festival)
A tradition native to Cali, celebrated every June 29, honoring the bond between godchildren and godparents by gifting them macetas — pots decorated with alfeñique candy sweets.
Mercedes Montaño National and International Folk Dance Gathering
An annual event held to promote Andean and Pacific folk dance.

Borders of Cali

Neighboring municipalities and territories

North Yumbo and La Cumbre
Northeast Palmira
East Candelaria
South Jamundí
Southwest Buenaventura (rural area)
Northwest Dagua
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