15 Refreshing Things To Do In Cali, Colombia

1. Museo La Tertulia

Enjoy browsing a huge collection of American, Colombian, and international art at La Tertulia Museum. Besides the exhibits ranging from the mid-20th century to contemporary times, you will also find exquisite paintings, photos, and sculptures here. Cinemateca, which is the facility’s in-house art theater, often hosts passing film festivals. If art is your kind of thing, you might want to sign up for one of the courses on offer. They also have programs targeted specifically at children of different age groups.

Museo La Tertulia

Address: Oeste, Cra. 1 ##5-105, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Museo La Tertulia

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 7pm; Sun: 2pm - 6pm (closed on Mon)

2. Calima Gold Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Calima Gold Museum is a treasure trove of Calima culture. It is located in the historic district of Santiago de Cali and was set up by the Bank of the Republic of Colombia. The exhibits and displays include pre-Hispanic objects that were created by ancient civilizations that inhabited the region. This small museum comprises just one room and offers guided tours as an option. Housed within the bank building, this facility is just one of the six museums set up by the institution across the country.

Calima Gold Museum

Address: Cl. 7 #4-69, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Calima Gold Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 8am - 1pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

Price: Free

3. Caliwood Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Founded in 2008, Caliwood Museum is the first cinematography museum in Colombia. It houses a collection of over 600 exhibits related to the process of film-making. Browse the eclectic collection of cameras, antique projectors, movie posters, and other memorabilia. A guide is available to give you a quick briefing about the facility. You could then choose to explore on your own with an audio tour in English or Spanish for an in-depth understanding of the history of cinematography in the country.

Caliwood Museum

Address: Avenida Belalcazar (Carrera 2 oeste) #5-A-55 oeste, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Caliwood Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 12pm, 2pm - 6pm; Sat: 3pm - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm

Price: From 5 USD

4. Museum of Religious Art La Merced

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Popularly known as Museo de ArteReligoso La Merced, this small yet interesting museum is worth a visit. Check out the collection of colonial religious relics and paintings on display here. Housed in a 16th-century building that is also a convent, it has charming inner courtyards and green spaces where you can enjoy a leisurely walk. If you are early enough, you could get a glimpse of the nuns engaged in making communion bread or hostia.

Museum of Religious Art La Merced

Address: Cra. 4 #6 - 60, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 5pm; Sat: 9am - 12pm (closed on Sun)

5. Plaza de Cayzedo

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Plaza de Cayzedo is the city’s main square and a great place for mingling with locals and people-watching. Named for a freedom fighter whose statue stands at the heart of the square, this plaza sits amid prominent landmarks and buildings. The National Palace, Otero building, and Cathedral of San Pedro are all steps from the square. In colonial times, the square was also used as a market. The cluster of palm trees around and food carts make it a good place to relax and grab a bite to eat after some sightseeing.

Plaza de Cayzedo

Address: Cra. 5, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Plaza de Cayzedo

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

6. Zoologico De Cali

Families with children will definitely love this visit to the zoo in Cali. This is considered to be the best zoo in the country. The zoo was founded in 1970, and it has a good collection of species indigenous to Colombia, which includes chiguiros (capybaras), monkeys, anteaters, and a butterfly enclosure. The zoo has an aquarium with salt and freshwater species, and its butterfly garden with 800 species of butterflies will definitely surprise you. They have so much to offer that you and your kids will enjoy being here.

Zoologico De Cali

Address: Carrera 2 oeste, calle 14 esquina, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

7. Barrio San Antonio

This part of the city is one of the oldest and you will find quaint cafes and restaurants to explore. It won’t take you long to explore more since many of the buildings are run down. Now turn and see the hills towards Iglesia de San Antonio (San Antonio Church), where you can find some great views of the city. I’m sure you will have a great time here!

Barrio San Antonio

Address: San Antonio, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

8. Cristo Rey

Like Rio de Janeiro, Cali is home to a large sculpture of Jesus with his arms spread, overlooking the city and its residents. Cristo Rey is located 1,440 meters (4724 feet) above the sea level and is considered cooler than the valley below. The statue is listed as the 10th largest statue of Jesus in the world. When you’re visiting this place, be sure to bring a jacket or a sweater if going in the afternoon or evening time.

Cristo Rey

Address: Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

9. Dance salsa in Tin Tin Deo

You really can’t go to Cali without visiting the Tin Tin Deo Salsa Zone. This iconic and unpretentious second-floor salsa joint is a large dance area surrounded by posters of famous salsa singers and celebrities. Tin Tin Deo is out of the city center and is home to a variety of clubs and bars. The best thing is that you don’t need to bring a dance partner, as you’ll find plenty of volunteers among the friendly zone.

Dance salsa in Tin Tin Deo

Address: Cl. 5 #3871, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Dance Salsa In Tin Tin Deo

10. San Pedro Cathedral

The neoclassical San Pedro Cathedral has endured the damage from several earthquakes. The cathedral went through some restoration and is now a cultural asset of national interest. Its important representative paintings of the Quito school are displayed in the temple. The highlights include the central altar and images of the Fallen Christ and EI Sagario, which date from the eighteenth century.

San Pedro Cathedral

Address: Expert Skärholmen Centrum, Cl. 11 #539, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website. San Pedro Cathedral

11. Iglesia la Ermita

Iglesia Ia Ermita is located in the center of the city of Cali. Iglesia Ia Ermita is known for its Gothic Style and is the quintessential postcard image of Cali. You can find the musical clock and windows, which are from Amsterdam, while the iron gates were manufactured in Cali in 1973. Iglesia Ia Ermita preserves images more than three centuries old, such as those of the Virgen de Ios Dolores, Christ de Ia Cana, San Roque and San Jose. The church is visited by many visitors each year, so if you’re visiting beautiful Cali, do not forget to visit the Iglesia Ia Ermita.

Iglesia Ia Ermita

Address: Cra. 1 #13-0, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

12. Andoke

In the hills, Cali is a smaller-scale, scalable map of Colombia with hanging gardens and statues of animal and ponds. It is directly adjacent to a butterfly house with 15 species of native butterflies along with jewelry made from dead butterflies. You will also find crafts elaborated with wings of butterflies.

Andoke

Address: Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Website: Andoke

13. El Gato Del Rio

If you are walking along the banks of the Cali River in the west, you must stop and observe a sculpture that has become the most important symbol of the city, “The river Cat.” The work is accompanied by the figures of several cats around it, elaborated by different artists. These days, cats aren’t the only ones in the park. You can find plenty of humans and interesting dogs.

Get a photo with El Gato Del Rio

Address: Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

14. The Cali Fair

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The rich cultural identity of this city and the surrounding area have been celebrated each year since 1957 at the Cali Fair. The Cali Fair is held every year from the 25th to the 30th of December and is one of the most important traditional celebrations in the country and on the continent. You can find events such as bullfighting, fashion shows, concerts by some of the most famous musicians in the world, beauty pageants, and salsa festivals.

15. Museum of Natural Sciences

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Are you looking to explore skeletons? You’re at a right place. You will find the skeleton of a humpback whale that came from Antarctica to the Pacific Coast to mate, on display at the entrance of the Federico Carlos Lehmann Museum of Natural Science. Here you can see dissected specimens, which includes the tiger and a condor.

Museum of Natural Sciences

Address: Cali, Colombia

Website: Museum Of Natural Sciences

Visit lovely Cali

Cali is considered a place where one can explore historical places along with some modern marvels.