Guide to Cali

But for tourists or those organizing Incentives, the city is especially known for its surroundings and the many things to see, as well as being the capital of the “rumba”, the street party, the dance and the salsa”. The caleños, the inhabitants of Cali, have developed a playful and hedonistic culture, in harmony with the natural landscape and country life. It is said that in Cali feet are not used for walking, but only for dancing …… and in Cali in August the World Salsa Festival is held, which sees the participation of over 5000 dancers from dance schools all over the world.
Located at 1003 meters, between the Central and Western Andes mountain ranges, it enjoys a pleasant climate that has earned it the nickname of “city of eternal spring”. The climate is tropical-equatorial and the temperature varies between 26°C and 34°C. The minimums are almost never below 19°C. The dry season runs from December to March and from July to August. The rains occur from April to June.
Founded in 1536 in the full colonial period, it has lost over the years most of the ancient testimonies to make way for a modern city, but in Cali people go – not only for business because it is very equipped for events – but also for the “movida” and music. Here the chivas were born, a very colorful coach without windows where Colombians and also tourists get on to party. On board music and percussionists play throughout the journey. The Chiva stops at squares and in front of hotels to pick up residents and tourists and then head towards the salsa clubs in the most characteristic neighborhoods of the city.
The historic center includes various churches built in different styles: the Iglesia de la Merced; the church and cloister of the Clarisses, the Iglesia de San Francisco, and the Iglesia de San Antonio, built on a hill with a beautiful panoramic view of the city. The most typical neighborhood is SAN ANTONIO. For shopping, on the other hand, they will visit the shopping centers CHIPICHAPE, UNICENTRO, JARDIN PLAZA.
On Sundays the caleños (the inhabitants of Cali) all move to the countryside to bathe in the various rivers surrounding the city, especially the Rio Pance. While at night they are all dedicated to the cult of dance and in nearby Juanchito, (on the outskirts of Cali) the humble venues of the mulatto area have become real “danzodromos” very frequented by tourists and locals.
Airport. The Cali airport – Aeropuerto Internacional Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO) – is located in the municipality of Palmira, 5 minutes north of the city. It is the second airport in Colombia for passenger traffic and the fourth for cargo traffic. In Cali you can also arrive by car traveling the Panamericana. The trip takes 8/10 hours as you have to cross the Central Mountain Range. An important tunnel is under construction that will save a lot of time. The city is easily navigable thanks to an extensive transport network: 43 thousand public service vehicles, including taxis, buses, busetas (small buses), and colectivos.