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City Tour Entire Day
Historic district
Santiago de Cali offers historical areas with cultural variety and other attractions. In downtown Cali, you can find many historical churches like La Merced and La Ermita. Cali contains a well preserved Historical center, the most important zone is La plaza de Caycedo, considered the center of the city, which is a square surrounded by many historical and modern buildings like El edificio Otero, La Catedral and El Palacio de Justicia; This plaza is very close to other touristic places, like The Saint Francis church (in Spanish, Iglesia de San Francisco), the municipal theater and La Merced church. The city is also very rich in monuments, parks, squares and museums, the most emblematic sculptures are Cristo Rey with 42 meters, located upon a mountain range; Sebastian de Belalcazar, founder of the city and Las tres Cruces, a place of pilgrimage during the days of the Holy Week.
Regular tourism
Plaza de Cayzedo (Cayzedo Square)
There is a variety of nightclubs and restaurants. In the city you can find whole districts dedicated to tourism, for example Granada, one of the most traditional districts in Cali, full of gourmet restaurants, fashion stores and boutiques. Another spot to visit is along "La sexta" or the 6th street. Many types of nightclubs are there, as are restaurants and hotels. This area is usually called the "zona rosa" or pink zone, and is located in the north very close to Chipichape mall. In the recent years, the restaurant industry has boomed, ranking Cali very close to Bogota in first-class restaurant options.
Main touristic centers:
- Plaza de Cayzedo:It was a tradition in early Colombian towns to create a 'central' square in honor of the town's hero; which in most cases turned to be El Libertador Simon Bolivar. Cali's hero was Joaquin de Cayzedo y Cuero, a fighter for the republic. In the earlier town's years, everything turned around what in 1813 would be called the Cayzedo Square.
- Parque del perro: Located in the San Fernando neighborhood, this is one of the most popular areas in the city, full of restaurants and bars. If you want to party or just have a nice dinner, then this is the place for you. The park gets its name because it has a dog monument in the middle of it.
- Sebastian de Belalcazar's monument: It is the most visited and popular monument in the city, and here you can find regional foods like "Mazorca asada," a roasted corn. The monument is famous due to its pointing finger to a part of the city, while its face is looking to another direction. The position meant to be as the conquistador leading his partners.
- Cali River: One of the most peaceful zones in the city, the river is located in the west and is surrounded by restaurants, hotels and museums like "La Tertulia," an art museum.
- Cristo Rey: A religious monument located on a hill that offers the best view of the city.
- San Antonio: It is the most traditional neighborhood of Cali. In the colonial age, it was the extension of the downtown. Although it was split off by 'La calle Quinta' (Fifth street), it conserves its traditional aura which makes a inevitable step on the visit. All the neighborhood is on a hill, and at the top you will find the San Antonio Park, the icing on the cake! Guaranteed.
- Juanchito : Although many would prefer to keep it away of the list, Juanchito has made fame. This zone of Cali (which actually belongs to another municipality) might have had the largest number of discothèques and clubs of the country. It all started on the sixties, when Salsa began winning caleños hearts. Some did not like the idea of insinuating dances, but for the majority it became a cult. And Juanchito their temple. To get there, caleños must pass a bridge over the Cauca river. A simple action that has been immortalized by the music, Salsa of course.
- Cali Zoo: Ranked in top 5 of Latin American zoos. It has became most than a place where to show animals, it makes research and has some formations. Its location could not be more wonderful, alongside the Cali river, just where valley and mountains get together.
- Farallones de Cali: A part of the city seats on hills belonging to the Colombian western chain mountain. Beyond these hills there is a full new world, which is protected by the Colombian government. It is the Farallones de Cali national park. Although Caleños have not yet fully discovered it, in the recent years it has boomed as a touristic destination for a full range of different people; adventurists to escalate, walk, paragliding; naturists for its natural and life environments; or simply for those looking for 'cold' weather minutes away of urban areas.
- La Ceiba: A large Ceiba tree on a street corner that looks like it is from the mesozoic era.
Just walking could not mean a lot, but calenos love doing it in the late afternoon. After 4PM, when heat goes down, breeze starts. It comes from the neighboring mountains, and refreshes souls and bodies.
It is normal in Cali to think of a shopping mall as a touristic place. Most of them are built like urban boulevards, with open-air walking corridors that look like a 'Main Street' side walk. With large facilities providing full amenities, Caleños love just talking walks in them, enjoying the fact that everything is at their hands. The most traditional malls are Unicentro at south and Chipichape at North; both built in the open-air style. Others of this type are Palmetto Plaza, Jardin Plaza and Cosmocentro. Other malls in Cali are Centenario, Unico and La14. Tens of smaller malls are spread all over the city. Certainly, bargains will not be found on most of these malls. Downtown's 13th, 14th and 15th streets are the bargains' hub of the city. In the 'San Andresito' or 'Pasaje Cali' malls (or any of that kind in the area) you can buy thousands of inexpensive China-made products. Although street-selling is illegal, the practice is widespread in the area in such a massive volume that police is unable to control it. Be aware of peddlers.
Medical Tourism
According to recent Lonely Planet[7] guides of Colombia, Cali has recently become famous for being a prime destination for people seeking cheap cosmetic surgery. Cali's surgeons are famous in Colombia to have shaped some of the country's most beautiful women. There have been no significant reports of problems in this area, but Lonely Planet advises proper research before pursuing such an idea. |
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