'''Cali''' [http://www.cali.gov.co/] is a city in southwestern Colombia, capital of the Valle del Cauca department. It has about 2 million inhabitants and it is a significant industrial and commercial center of activity in Colombia. Being at around 1,000 metres above sea level, it has a warm, but not excessively hot climate.
It's best known for its salsa music.
Get in
By bus
From the ''Terminal de transportes'' you have the choice of many different regional, national and domestic destinations.
From the Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International airport, about 20 minutes from the city, the taxi trip costs COP45,000 or the other option is the mini-van which costs COP3,000 to the bus terminal then catch a taxi to your next destination. Recommendation: Travel only by certified transport companies, like Expreso Palmira, Bolivariano or Expreso Brasilia. These companies bring you safety and comfort for you and your luggage. You may bargain with other companies, but the trip may be very uncomfortable.
The modern bus system, Cali Mio, similar to Bogota's famous Transmilenio, is partly completed.
By plane
Cali's International Airport Alfonso Bonilla Aragon [http://www.aerocali.com.co] is locate 16km northeast of the city and can be reached by Bus or Taxi. Many domestic and some international destinations can be reached. There are flights to and from Medellin, Bogota, Pereira, Pasto and Cartagena. Foreign cities that can be reached by non-stop flights are Miami, Madrid, Panama City (Panama) and Esmeraldas in Ecuador.
Get around
By taxi
Taxis are a fast and affordable way to get around the city. Only use official cars and it is strongly recommended to call for one if possible (you may call the local numbers 444 44 44, 555 55 55 and ask for one, your name and destination will be registered in the head office). Make sure the driver starts the meter running. The meters count units, not in the local currency. i.e: A trip that the meter marks 48 Units, you pay around USD1. Recommendations: Do not leave your luggage inside the taxi while you are not. Sometimes happens that drivers get off as soon as you are out the taxi and your luggage is still in the trunk. '''In any case, many of the taxi drivers are nice and gentle people and have some good story to tell''', so hopefully you speak or understand Spanish at a reasonable level.
By bus
'''MIO -Masivo Integrado de Occidente''': Inaugurated in March 2009 this transport system (large blue buses that run in exclusive lanes with enclosed stations) offers the best option for local transit. All buses are air-conditioned, clean and safe. A one way trip is 1,500 pesos (0,60 USD) with no discount for bulk purchases. The system continues construction of new lanes with the eventual goal of comprehensive coverage of the metropolitan area. [http://www.metrocali.gov.co/mio_index.htm]
There are 23 urban transport companies to travel around the city. You may ask someone for a route, the local people are very eager to help. A regular trip costs $1.400 local currency, close to USD 0.55
See
'''HISTORIC CHURCHES''' There are many historic Catholic churches that represent different Spanish Colonial architecture of a time gone past. The city is over 450 years old, so architecture is one of the best things to see.
'''Museo del Oro del Banco de la Republica''', Calle 7 No. 4-69. A Museum containing archaeological exhibits of pottery and gold of pre-Columbian cultures which existed in the region. There is also a small art exhibitions. The entrance is free and it's open Monday till Saturday.
'''Museo Arqueologico La Merced''', Located in the downtown, is a Colonial-type church, with an archaeological museum displaying pre-Hispanic exhibits and religious art from ancient cultures which inhabited the region in pre-Columbian times.
'''Cristo Rey''' A statue located in the top of a hill, similar to Cristo de Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. offers a great city view and a good exercise climb the mountain. Do not walk alone. It's not a real safe place.
'''Cerro de las Tres Cruces''' A hill embellished with three big crosses from which the whole city is visible.
'''Iglesia de San Antonio''' Colonial-type church at the top of a hill. Another great view of the downtown area.
'''Estatua de Belalcazar,''' Like the city of Popayan to it's south, Cali was founded by a Spaniard named Sebastian de Belalcazar. There is a statue in Belalcazar's honor in a nice residential area of Cali, where you can look out over the whole city. It's ''much'' safer than Cristo Rey.
'''Zoologico de Cali''', This is an excellent zoo with many animals from around the world. The premises are very well kept and, surprisingly, it is located in an up-scale side of town. The animals generally have lots of space for themselves. Do not miss: the Bengal tigers, the butterflies, and the birds. Lonely Planet has called this South America_Ls best zoo.
'''La Ermita''' A Gothic-style church located in the downtown area. It was built in 1678 and then renovated in 1930.
'''La Tertulia''' Museum of modern art.
'''Plaza de Toros''' The city's bullfighting arena. Only active in December during the "Feria de Cali" festival.
'''Culture''' Cali had may of cultural offers, like the ''Teatro Municipal Enrique Buenaventura'', ''Centro Cultural Comfandi'', ''Teatro Jorge Isaacs'', etc.
'''Nice places''': Lake Calima (one and a half hour drive from city) nice place to stay for about 30 dollars night also one of the best places for windsurf in south America
Do
'''Soccer Matches''': In the ''Estadio Olimpico Pascual Guerrero'' is the Host place of the local teams of the city, Deportivo Cali [http://www.deporcali.com/] and America de Cali [http://www.america.com.co/]. regularly each Sunday one of them plays a Match for the National Championship. Between the months of May-June and November-December they are in playoffs, so the matches are more exciting. It is recommended that tourists sit on the west side section, "Occidental", of the stadium. Under no circumstances should a tourist sit at the south side of the stadium as this is where the popular barras for both teams are located.
'''Mountain Biking''': Excellent tracks there, get information at BTT de Colombia Bike store (yellow pages ask for Julio).
'''Wind or Kite surfing''': The best place in south America, wind blows virtually 365 days a year find information at [http://www.velasyvientos.com].
'''Salsa Dancing''': Cali is one of the most famous or popular places for salsa in the world. You can find people dancing in the streets and every single night find a club open for salsa dancing [http://www.salsaambiente.com/]. These clubs have live salsa music, with popular groups as "La Sonora Carrusel".
Learn
Universidad del Valle [http://www.univalle.edu.co/] - public university of the Valle del Cauca department. Well know for their high level in Health Careers.
Universidad Santiago de Cali [http://www.usc.edu.co/] - one of the most popular Universities
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana [http://www.puj.edu.co/] - Jesuit university
Universidad Autonoma de Occidente [http://www.uao.edu.co/]
Universidad ICESI [http://www.icesi.edu.co/]
Universidad de San Buenaventura [http://www.usb.edu.co/]
Buy
'''Shopping Centers'''
'''Chipichape''' mall [http://www.chipichape.com]: a big indoor/outdoor shopping center built on an abandoned train station and warehouse north of downtown. It provides nearly everything and especially the possibility to have a drink at various outdoor bars, and to see many ''calenas''. Its the best place to meet other foreigners, immigrants and English speaking natives. Also a great place to buy local handicrafts and souvenirs at '''Tu Tierra Linda''' store, 2nd floor. The mall has movie theaters, two food courts, supermarket, a department store and much more. A hotel is now under construction.
'''Unicentro''' [http://www.unicentro.com] is the largest mall in town located 10 km south of downtown. It has over 200 stores, 30 restaurants and cafes, a Multiplex, Casino as well as office space, a supermarket and a department store. A new addition opened in October 2008 features the largest water fountain in town.
''Palmetto Plaza'' [http://www.palmettoplaza.com/principal/default.asp] is popular with the young crowd with its many outdoor bars and cafes.
''Cosmocentro'' has a large supermarket and a some stores.
'''Jardin Plaza''' [http://www.jardinplaza.com] is the newest mall in town with beautiful indoor gardens for a mostly outdoor experience. It has a nice Movie Theater Complex [http://www.royal-films.com/index2.htm]. This mall is just across the street from the high tech hospital ''Fundacion Valle del Lili'' [http://www.valledellili.org].
Other shopping
''Parque Artesanal Loma de la Cruz'': A place to buy inexpensive, sometimes cheap, artesanal figures and other stuff. Beware this park is outdoors and can be unsafe at night.
Eat
''Cholados''- a delicious mix of shaved ice and exotic fruit with rasberry and sweet condensed milk sauces and a wafer cookie. Often sold from vendors that have stands that display fruit and shaved ice, and best found in Jamundi, about a 15 min drive from the southern neighborhoods of Cali.
''Pandebono'' - baked rings of cheese bread which is quite typical of Cali
''Bunuelos'' - sweet fried doughnut balls
''Sancocho de gallina'' - a very popular chicken soup, best found in a town called Ginebra, about one hour drive from Cali
''Manjar blanco'' - a candy made from cooked sugar and milk, similar to dulce de leche (Milk candy)
''Chontaduro'' or peach palm fruit - a local delicacy that is sold on the street, topped with salt or honey
''Mango viche'' - green unripened mango, which is sold on the street and eaten with salt and lemon juice
''Guarapo'' - a deliciously refreshing drink of freshly pressed sugar cane juice (usually the seller has a machine and extracts the juice right in front of you) served with ice and a squirt of lemon juice
''Grosellas'' - small sour fruits which are sold on the street in bags and are eaten with salt
''Arroz atoyado'' - one of Valle del Cauca's most delicious dishes, almost like a risotto with chicken, sausages and potatoes
''Empanadas'' - corn pastries filled with meat or chicken and eaten with hot sauce (aji)
''Champus'' - very exotic mix of pineapple , "lulo" (see below), corn and a plant called "limoncillo"... just delicious!.
''Jugo de lulo'' or lulo juice - the most delicious of all local fruit juices
''Aborrajados'' - fried cheese-filled plantains
''Dulce de Guayaba con queso'' - a delicious dollop of guava paste on top of a fresh slice of local 'cuajada' cheese
''Marranitas'' is a delicious mix of plantain with "chicharron" (pork`s skin fried)(The best ones are in "El champus de Lola" in San Antonio hill.
Drink
Local Drinks
''Guarapo'' - the juice of sugar cane which grows in the Cauca river valley.
''Aguardiente'' - one of the favorite alcoholic beverage in Colombia, with each region has its preferred brand - the local brand is ''Aguardiente Blanco del Valle'' and is sweet and licorice-flavored.
''Chicha'' - slightly-alcoholic beverage made of fermented pineapples.
----
Cali's nightlife is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. There are some good clubs and bars to go out.
Visit '''Avenida Sexta''' Cali's ''Broadway'' at day & nighttimes. Some bars and danceclubs popular with the working class are located there. Many banks branches are settled here. The avenue is crowded pretty much all day long. Be careful at hight, could be unsafe.
Bars
'''Alterno Bar''' is more like a crossover type of bar, its pretty good and you can meet a lot of people there.
''' Cali Plaza Hotel Restaurant & Bar''' A favorite hang-out for International Tourists, free wi-fi. Calle 15 Norte 6N 33 at ''Cali Plaza Hotel'' [http://www.caliplaza.com].
'''Blues Brothers Bar''' is a big and popular bar, live music on Thursdays. Avenida 6A Norte # 21-40 Barrio Santa Monica. Phone +57 3 661 3412. bluesbrothersbar@hotmail.com
'''Casa del Arte''' is a lively bar and restaurant with a mixed age crowd, mostly gay costumers. Closed Mondays. Phone +57 3 665 2365 Calle 44 #4-31 Norte Cali [http://www.cafecasadelarte.com].
'''El Faro''' is the place to go if you like classic rock/heavy metal. Located in "El Limonar" A "Jirafa" (Lot of beer) is about USD3.
'''Eliptica''' is an outside bar settled on a hill at the outskirts of Cali. The views are beautiful and this is a good place for an after party. Open till six or till the police shuts it down.
'''Fanaticos Sport's Bar''' is the IN place @ Palmetto Plaza Shopping center, where college guys and young professionals meet to watch their favourite sports games. Great beer and good prices, open every day until 3AM.
'''Flores Frescas''' is a renowned cabaret just off Avenida Sexta, with lots of good looking local girls. 15,000 COP entry, beers 5,000 COP a can.
'''Forum''' is a popular club for electronic music with an energetic atmosphere.
'''London Tavern''' is busy only on a Thursday night when there is a live salsa band playing.
'''Martyn_Ls Bar''' is a classic rock bar that has been around since the early _L80s.
Dance Clubs
'''Chango''' is a popular salsa club in the famous Juanchito sector in the other side of the Cauca River. Best salsa party in town.
'''Kukaramakara''' is a great local club with excellent mix of Latin music and good looking locals. Get a bottle and a table and enjoy [http://www.kukaramakara.com].
'''Lulu - Electronica''' is a popular club for the young in the middle of Granada neighborhood, not far from Avenida 6ta. Calle 16 Norte # 8N-46 [http://www.luludisco.com/luluelectro].
'''Lulu - Latino''' a fun disco with latin dance music alternating with the 80's. Address: Antigua via Yumbo just a few meters after -and across - discoteca Praga. Big and safe parking lot. [http://www.luludisco.com]
'''Praga''' is a popular club which plays mix of all types of music called crossover. Located in the neighbor town of Yumbo not far from Cali.
'''Tin Tin Deo''' is a very comfortable and almost magic place where people can enjoy the classic salsa music and other Caribbean rhythms.
""The Pelican Larry Hostel""calle23norte #8n-12 santa monica residencial,award winner best hostel 2008 by Hostelworld,best BBQ in colombia, wifi internet,beds 1x2 meters,clean and huge patio thats the place to stay in Cali,double rooms from 35,000,highly recomended by travelers from all over the world,so see you soon
'''Iguana Hostel''', Calle 21N & Avenida 9N No. 22 - A welcoming hostel opened in 1998 by swiss owner (Urs Diethelm) has dorm beds from 14,000 COP and single occupancy from 24,000 COP. Can get pretty full at the weekends due to travellers coming for "the Rumba". Internet, Self-catering kitchen & Cable TV
'''Calidad House''', [http://www.calidadhouse.com] Calle 17N & Avenida 9A No.39 - Opened in 1993 by English/Colombian couple (David & Emma), This hostel is a popular hangout for backpackers. Prices range from 18,000 COP for dorm beds to 36,000 COP for a private double room. free Internet, kitchen, barbeque, cable TV, 100 DVDs, washing machine, hot water (coming soon), free coffee, free towels, hammocks, 24hr reception, walking distance to South America_Ls best zoo (Lonely Planet) and to Colombia_Ls famous outdoor shopping center Chipichape, two minutes walk to Cali_Ls famous nightlife _NAvenida Sexta_N with all its pubs, discotecs & restaurants. Salsa classes, theraputic massage, and Spanish language lessons all available on premises. Periodically two free tickets (a COP56,000 value) are available in the members section for one of Colombia_Ls best football teams Deportivo Cali.
'''Cali Charm Bed & Breakfast''' [http://www.calicharm.com] is located in one of the best parts of Cali, La Flora. Just four blocks from Chipichape mall and five minutes from avenida sexta and Menga Night Life. The Cali Charm House has been remodeled to Western standard and the best part is very!! affordable.
''' Cali Plaza Hotel''' [http://www.caliplaza.com] at the corner of Calle 15N and Avenida Sexta, in the heart of Cali, is an American owned hotel with apartments and 24 hour security.
'''Hotel Dann Carlton''' - excellent, too; one block from the Hotel Intercontinental.
'''Hotel Four Points by Sheraton''' - Member of the Sheraton Hotels. Five-star.
'''Hotel Intercontinental''' - excellent place to stay; five stars safe, good location.
Stay safe
Keep your eyes open at night or take a taxi.
Walking alone at night at Avenida sexta can be unsafe.
Like any other capital city, don't walk with jewelry or let people around you know you have cash on you. Most places around hotels are safe.
Try not to talk on cellphones while walking through streets, that might lure in robbers.
Get out
The little hamlet of San Cipriano is a good day trip. Most people visit this place only for the ride to it, but it is also possible to stay overnight. Enjoy a swim in the various river beaches, or enjoy a tube ride down the river.
Calima Lake
City of Buga 1 hour drive. Visit "La Basilica", a major pilgrimage site in Colombia (Ask for Dulces del Valle best place for traditional Dulces). Also, Buga is more tranquil and cleaner than Cali.
Parque del Cafe [http://www.parquenacionaldelcafe.com/]. Approx 3 hr drive from Cali ( approx 2 hrs from Buga, listed above). This is an amusement park, and the Colombian Coffee Museum, complete with the history of Colombian coffee and Juan Valdez. See the theatrical show there that explains the local culture celebrating coffee.
City of Jamundi half hour drive (ask for Cholados that Jamundi is famous for-a delicious mix of shaved ice and exotic fruit with rasberry and sweet condensed milk sauces and a wafer cookie. Often sold from vendors that have stands that display fruit and shaved ice. There is a traffic circle roundabout near the city entrance with many Cholado stands)
Popayan is about two hours away, and a nice place to stay for a couple of days.
Isla Gorgona is a remote Island in the pacific reachable from Cali via Buenaventura (2.5 hrs to the west). Gorgona is a national park, specially known for scuba diving expeditions because of the great diversity in fauna.