Cali

A city built around music, Cali lines up bustling streets, daytime cafés and plenty of salsa dancing to go around. Set in the Cauca Valley with low mountains serving as a backdrop, this hilltop town has a more relaxed feel than some of the country’s larger cities, but the energy is just as strong. You can spend your mornings getting lost in colourful neighbourhoods and taking photos at viewpoints, or spend your evenings moving between dance spots, bars and open-air spaces where music spills into the street. Cali is a top choice if you’re looking to get authentic Colombian culture that feels active and social.

1. Learn salsa and experience the nightlife

Cali is the capital of salsa, and it’s part of everyday life. And, the best part is you don’t need any experience to get involved. You can take a beginner class in the afternoon, then head out in the evening to places like San Antonio or Granada, where music plays late, and dance floors stay busy. Even if you’re just people-watching, the speed and precision of local dancers make it worth your time. It’s less about performance and more about joining in. After all, the atmosphere is really contagious.

2. Walk through San Antonio and check out the local viewpoints

San Antonio is one of the city’s most characterful neighbourhoods, with pastel-coloured houses, small cafés and a hilltop park that looks out over the cityscape. You can wander the streets, stop for a drink and head up to the viewpoint in the late afternoon when the light softens, and the city begins to shift into evening mode. It’s a good place to slow down before the pace picks up again at night.

3. Try local food and street snacks

Food in Cali is simple, filling and easy to find on the street. You can try empanadas or pandebono, a warm cheese bread that’s a local staple, often eaten fresh from the oven. Drinks like cholado, made with shaved ice, fruit and condensed milk, are popular in the heat. Meals tend to be casual, with small restaurants and street vendors serving food throughout the day and into the evening.