Cali has been recognized in many places around the world as one of the capitals of salsa in the world. The capital of the Valley keeps among its streets a great cultural, gastronomic and tourist value that is attractive to both national and international visitors.
Its tourist value is so great that there are a large number of plans that can be done in the city, without the need to spend a lot of money. Below we tell you the 11 plans you can do in Cali, with friends, family, as a couple and even alone, without spending a single peso.
1. Visit the Lago de las Garzas Ecopark
This ecopark is located in commune 22 of the city. According to the Mayor’s Office of Cali, this has a wetland that is considered an environmentally important site due to its connectivity to the Corazón de Pance Environmental Park, for preserving part of a tropical dry forest and for having a 0.8 hectare body of water.
Admission is completely free, although there are also some special plans offered to do other types of plans such as camping, picnics, access to fishing lakes, swimming pools, Turkish baths and jacuzzis. However, these plans do have a cost ranging from $45,000 COP.
If you want more information, you can contact the park here.
2. Tour the Hermitage Church
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This is one of the most emblematic and symbolic places in Cali. It is located in the historic center of Cali, more precisely on the corner of Carrera 1ª and Calle 13, and It is considered an architectural jewel for its Gothic style.
According to Colombia Travel, this temple It was built between 1930 and 1948 and has a marble altar, which would have been brought from Italy, dating back to the 18th century. Inside it, images from more than three centuries are preserved, such as the Virgin of Sorrows, San Roque, San José and Cristo de la Caña.
3. Walk through the San Antonio neighborhood
According to ProColombia, This place is iconic in the city because it seems “frozen in time.” It has a colonial architectural appearance, with narrow and colorful streets where you can see traditional iron windows and wooden balconies.
It is located on the eastern side of the city. From there, You can also go up to a viewing point from which you can see the entire city. In the neighborhood, there are a large number of restaurants to enjoy an afternoon with family, friends or your partner.
4. Church of San Francisco
It is located on 9th Street and 5th Avenue, in the center of Cali. According to the Mayor’s Office, it was built between 1803 and 1827. It also includes the convent of San Joaquín, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the Mudejar Tower, the Church of San Francisco and a religious art museum.
A curious fact about this place is that the Tower, which is 23 meters high, has been classified as “the most beautiful tower in all of America”by the renowned Spanish historian Santiago Sebastián López.
5. Go to the Pance River
It is located between the high peaks of the Farallones de Cali and is surrounded by pure nature that attracts dozens of people from Cali every weekend. It is a free and unmissable plan where you can plan barbecues (always be careful with the trash in the area) or exclusive trips to the river.
It is more than 25 kilometers long in a west-east direction and flows into the Jamundí River. Nearby, there are other restaurants where you can go after spending an afternoon on the river. It is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
6. Go to the monument of the River Cat and his girlfriends
It is located next to the river and is a recreational site, perfect for walking and enjoying with the family on a sunny afternoon.
Its main figure is a large-scale bronze sculpture made by Colombian artist Hernando Tejada. The monument was inaugurated on July 3, 1996. and now it is an important Cali cultural center in the city.
7. Loma de la Cruz Artisanal Park
This park was inaugurated about 24 years ago. and is located on Calle 5, between Carreras 14 and 16 in Cali. It is made up of three squares:
- The theater that is located on level 2 of the park and where cultural, musical, folkloric and children’s presentations are held.
- The main square
- The free space located in module 8 and which is used for training, workshops and outdoor meetings
8. Walk through the Jairo Varela Square
It is located in the small square in front of the Mayor’s Office and is also called the ‘‘Caleñidad Square’. In this place there are several restaurants, cafes and spaces for gatherings and chats among friends.
According to the Corporation for Popular Recreation, It is a place of about 15,000 square meters that was designed to reflect the Cali identity. Hence its name honors Jairo Varela, the creator and director of Grupo Niche.
9. Calima Gold Museum
The entrance to this museum is completely free and is located at Calle 7 # 4-69. In it More than 450 prehistoric objects were found of goldsmithing, ceramics, stone, wood, shell and other ethnographic objects, which belong to ancient societies of the region.
Opening hours are from Tuesday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM They also open on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM
10. Go to the salsa party on the River Boulevard
It is located in the historic center of Cali and, as Colombia Travel explains, It is an iconic work that is built on the longest urban tunnel in the country (with a length of 980 meters).
On weekends, especially Fridays, Unique salsa parties are usually organized outdoors. In addition, there are restaurants or places to enjoy the city’s typical food.
11. Get to know Christ the King
Finally, a must-do plan in Cali is to visit the iconic Cristo Rey. Since December 2023, it has opened with 6 kilometers of elevated trails and 8 viewing points that offer 360-degree views that rise over 1,4000 meters above sea level.
This place can be Visit 100% free of charge between the hours of Monday to Saturday, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
