Cali: Travel Guide

Vacations to enjoy with the Spirit of Youth

Cali's Salsa is known all around the world, another activity to enjoy during your vacations

Get to know Cali, Colombia thru this travel guide; where you will find culture and top tourism activities.

Cali is known in Colombia as the capital of fiestas, street partying, dancing, and salsa as Cali's Salsa Clubs are among the most famous in the entire continent. Among many other things you can experience on your vacations, the people from Cali have developed a playful and hedonistic culture in harmony with the natural surroundings and country life.

Cali is a great place for tourism and leisure. The capital of the department of Valle del Cauca has become a mecca for tourism thanks to the beauty of its women, its historical sites, and a multitude of spots for day and night entertainment. Cali is one of the major economic and industrial centers of the country, and the main urban, economic, industrial, and agrarian city of southwest Colombia.

In Cali, salsa dancing is more common than walking

On Sundays, the caleños worship rivers. They go en masse to bathe in the cool streams and rivers that flow down the hills, the favorite being the Pance river. The daring walk upstream to the campgrounds of the Fundación Farallones, where guides are always ready to tour the park with visitors. Lodging is available for extended stays in the park.

Cultural activities for holidays

In the evening, the devotion turns to dancing. In Juanchito, Cali's Salsa hotspot, humble mulatto floorboards have become “dance-o-dromes”, where tourists and locals come together to dance until dawn. The climax occurs during the Feria de la Caña and the Bullfighting Season, at the beginning of the year.

Cultural activities flourish around centers like the Instituto Departamental de Arte y Cultura, the Instituto Popular de Cultura, the Teatro Municipal, the Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, the Sala Beethoven, the Escuela Departamental de Teatro, and the Universidad del Valle.

The traditional cuisine of Cali and the department of Valle del Cauca can be easily identified. It is a fusion of the region’s Spanish, Quechua, and African heritage with the culinary secrets of Antioquia. Favorites are the sancocho de gallina (hen stew), arroz atollado (pork sausage, beef ribs, and oxtail in a rice stew), tortilla soup, aborrajado (ripe plantain with melted cheese), toasted green plantain with hogao (a stir-fry of onions and tomatoes), and tamales. Sugarcane plantations inspired a variety of desserts such as cookies, manjar blanco, gelatina de pata (cow’s hoof gelatin with molasses), coconut sweets and champús, a beverage made from corn, the pulp of the lulo fruit, pieces of pineapple, cinnamon, and brown sugar syrup.

Basic tourism tips for your vacations:

Climate

The climate of Cali is equatorial tropical hot. The west branch of the Andes blocks the cool, humid air coming from the Pacific Ocean. Average temperature is 26º C (79º F), with an average low of 19º C (66º F) and an average high of 34º C (93º F). The dry seasons go from December to March and from July to August; the rainy season go from April to June and September to November.

Altitude

1003 meters (3290 ft.) above sea level.

La Ermita Church, Cali

Location

Cali lies on the west bank of the Cauca River. To the west, the city is guarded by the Farallones de Cali, which are part of the western Andes mountain range. The city is located in a strategic position, linked to the west with the Pacific Ocean and to the northeast with the industrial city of Yumbo.

Airport

Cali has one of the main airports in Colombia, the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO), located in the municipality of Palmira, a fifteen minute drive north of the city. CLO is the second busiest airport in number of passengers and the fourth in freight traffic in Colombia.

How to get there

By plane, through the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport. An extensive road network, which includes the Pan-American Highway, connects Cali to the rest of the country.

Mass Transport

Buses, taxis, and vans add up to 43,000 public service vehicles. All taxis are yellow. The names of bus companies go by colors, Blancos y Negros, Azul Plata, Rojos y Grises (white and black, silver blue, and gray red).The capacity of vans ranges from ten to twenty passengers. In the near future, a bus-lane based transport system, the MIO, will begin operations.

Contact

Oficina de Turismo Cali
www.caliturismo.com
Phone: + 57 (2) 885-8855

The Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, Buga

Escapades near the city

While in Cali, Colombia the traveler should not miss visiting the Hacienda Piedechinche, in the municipality of Santa Elena. This is where the sugarcane museum is housed, actually a theme park for displaying of the evolution of sugar mills. It offers rides on a sugar train and horseback rides through fields of sugar cane.

Another must is a visit to Hacienda El Paraíso, the house where writer Jorge Isaacs and his cousin lived. Isaac’s cousin was the inspiration for María, the name of the main character, as well as the name of the book, that epitomized Colombian romantic literature. The rooms with his personal effects, the blooming rose garden, and the wishing stone are carefully preserved.

For Catholics, there is a pilgrimage to the city of Buga, the site of the Lord of Miracles

An essential pilgrimage takes Catholics to the town of Buga, with its Crucified Christ — known as “the Miraculous” —, which lies in the Basilica. Another reason for traveling to Buga is a visit to the well-preserved 75-hectare tropical dry forest of El Vínculo. Situated at the foothills of the central mountain range, it shelters a wide variety of local fauna and is the seat of a biological station by the same name.

On the way to Madriñal, visitors can admire the Sonso lake, which covers an area of 2,045 hectares that provide sustenance for fishermen and their families and food for migrating birds coming from the northern hemisphere.

The road that goes west to connect Buga with the port of Buenaventura, on the Pacific coast, crosses areas of notable interest for tourists. The Calima lake, for instance, is the reservoir with the third strongest winds in the world, a water-sportsman’s paradise.

This is also an area of considerable archaeological interest. The Calima archaeological museum merits a tour to admire the figures, pottery, and burial urns of the Yotoco, Sonso, Malagana, Buga, and Bolo, or Quebrada, cultures.

And there are many reasons to go north. In the village of Roldanillo, the Omar Rayo museum exhibits the pictorial work of this artist and other Latin Americans. Following the visit, you can visit the vineyards of the municipality of La Unión. In addition to the wineries, there are two hotels, one in the style of a luxury vacation center and the other, more discrete, in a typical house of the region.

Calima Lake near Cali, Colombia

Travel guide along the Pacific Coast of Valle del Cauca

Read the following travel guide to get more information onCali , Colombia’s surroundings.

Empty boats bob up and down at the tourist wharf in Buenaventura; when they fill up, they go northward without delay to the place where the bay ends and the coastline of Valle del Cauca is lined with spectacular beaches bathed by the Pacific Ocean.

Travelers accustomed to sailing take the seats at the stern; they know that the fury of the ocean continually lifts the prow of the boat causing a difficult journey. Besides, sitting next to the helmsman is an opportunity for listening to the stories of the area.

Málaga Bay — home of a naval base — has 32 islands and islets that constitute the archipelago of La Plata and offer humpbacked whales food and the ideal temperature for mating. At the northern end of Buenaventura bay is La Bocana, a village inhabited by Blacks and bathed by the Dagua and Anchicayá rivers, which form freshwater pools and cascades along the Santa Clara path.

Not far is Paradise Island, a floating islet with beaches that are red due to the huge number of red crabs that inhabit them. Piangua is a hamlet where gentle waves and solitary beaches allow visitors to be at one with nature.

Another appealing place in the Valle del Cauca is its Pacific Coast, which has destinations such as Málaga Bay, Paraíso Island, Isla Palma Park and Cangrejal Island

The attractions of Juanchaco are not so evident and, paradoxically, this makes the village memorable. It is the gateway to Isla Palma park, a large forest-covered rock that is the feeding ground for a large population of aquatic birds and is surrounded by a sea of many shades of green — surprising hues that result from the absence of rivers spewing sediment into the sea.

From Juanchaco you can travel to Chucheros, a beach of black sand bathed by a green sea, where a crystal-clear waterfall tempers the saltiness of the ocean. Close by is the 65-meter Sierpe waterfall, part of the Bonguito river, in the rainforest north of Málaga bay.

However, the best thing to do is to take the path that goes from Juanchaco to Ladrilleros, a hamlet where life moves to the rhythm of the tides and most houses serve as hotels, restaurants, or crafts shops. At high tide, the place becomes a reef with streams that enter the forest, forming freshwater pools and waterfalls; at low tide, it becomes a romantic place that inspires you to walk along the seashore or spend the entire afternoon in a lounge chair.

Another charming destination is Cangrejal island, located to the south of Buenaventura bay. The beaches there are narrower, but the water is very clear. Estuaries and watercourses like the Yurumangui River take you to where the Emberá Indians live.

Boyacá: mountains for rural tourism

Boyacá is a sea of fertile mountains on the Eastern Range, decorated with thousands of colors that witnessed the battles for independence that gave shape to South America. Its rich topography exhibits the aromas of a vast agricultural production and landscapes as majestic as the desert of La Candelaria and El Cocuy snow peak, around which many picturesque colonial villages attract quite a number of tourists.

A turquoise sea amid mountains

Who would think that amid the Eastern Mountain Range, over 3,000 meters above sea level, an imposing lake is hidden? It is a lake that descends from an inner Andes sea from the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras. Tota Lake is the largest body of natural water in Colombia, covering an area of 44 km², with turquoise-colored waters and white-sanded beaches that recall icy oceans.Tota Lake is Colombia’s largest body of natural water.

The largest tourist attraction is sports fishing, especially for excellent rainbow trout. It is also an attractive setting for engaging in water sports and sailing. A fishing and nautical sports championship is held annually.

There are three islands in Tota: San Pedro, Santa Helena, and Cerro Chiquito,the smallest of the three.  They may be reached by motorboat and offer a landscape worth admiring. South of the lake, is Playa Blanca, a white-sanded beach, where the Muisca Indians revered their gods and which is also a good place for camping and enjoying the menus of a good restaurant area.

Tota means “farmland” in the indigenous language.

A good plan is to spend the day in the surroundings and to visit villages with traditional architecture that mix peasant and colonial styles. These villages are: Aquitania, an industrial city, and Iza, Cuitiva, and Tota.

This magical destination is located three and a half hours from Bogotá by land. “Farmland” is its meaning in the Indigenous language.  Due to the altitude above sea level, it is important to use a sunscreen and a warm jacket for the cold.

Tunja, historical architecture and religious tourism

A tour of the capital of the department of Boyacá includes an architectural walk of the Tunja Cathedral, with its Gothic-Elizabethan style and plateresque details from the Spanish Renaissance.  There are temples and convents in the Spanish Mudéjar style, as well as the spectacular temple of Santo Domingo, considered by many to be the “Sistine Chapel of Hispanic-American Baroque art”. The typical Andalusian style may be found in the houses of Juan de Castellanos, the city founder, and Don Juan de Vargas, an illustrious scribe.

The main square in Tunja is the largest built in America during Spanish colonial times.

Since the churches and temples of Tunja exhibit the best of the beautiful architecture inherited from the Spaniards, it constitutes an excellent option for religious tourism. Among others, the temples of Santa Clara La Real, San Francisco, San Laureano, and Santa Bárbara stand out.

Tunja’s Plaza Mayor, the main square, is the meeting place for the city’s inhabitants. Framing the square is the largest number of colonial buildings in the city. The Christmas celebrations by the name of aguinaldo boyacense also are held here. The main square in Tunja is the largest built in America during Spanish colonial times.

Black earthenware vessel on Guacamayas sisal placemat

Desert landscape in Boyacá

Boyacá marketplace

Boyacá peasant

Paipa Convention Center

Boyacá landscape

Central Plaza, Tunja

Puente de Boyacá the bridge where the last battle for independence was fought

Handicrafts exhibited on Ráquira facades

Health and beauty facilities, Paipa

Facades in Tunja’s historical center

Villa de Leyva central square

Villa de Leyva: a town of fantasy

Villa de Leyva is a town for relaxing, resting, and having fun.

One of the small towns that better preserves memories of old colonial times and expresses the best of Spanish influence is Villa de Leyva. Its main square is enormous: 14,000 m² of space for bringing together tourists and locals around colorful, interesting festivals that are celebrated throughout of the year.

Main church in Villa de Leyva, Boyacá.

During the low season, it is a place for relaxing, strolling cobblestone streets, and enjoying small, yet pleasant, restaurants that offer both typical and international food. During the high season, it is a place for entertainment and the enjoyment of local festivities, such as the Festival de Viento y las Cometas, the Festival de las Luces, Astronomía, and Cine (wind and kites, lights, astronomy, and film festivals, respectively).

Aside from an excellent hotel infrastructure, there is the possibility of leasing houses with lovely facades and gardens that bring the freshness of the surrounding green mountains into their midst.

There are numerous sites to visit in the outskirts of Villa de Leyva, the main ones being El Museo del Fósil, a museum with a gigantic 120-million year old fossil; El Infiernito, a Muisca astronomical center; the Periquera waterfalls; Iguaque Lake; and the desert, ideal for mountain and BMX biking. Other sports include canyoning, ecological hiking, caving, and horseback riding.

Boyacá, artisan hands of clay and sisal

Ráquira is Colombia’s handicrafts capital.

Due to a vast ceramics  tradition dating back to pre-Hispanic times, Ráquira is the handicrafts capital of Colombia. In addition to pots, pitchers, coffee cups, and kitchen utensils, there are anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, pieces for Nativity scenes, piggy banks, etc.

Perhaps for this ability of Ráquira inhabitants, the name of the town in the Chibcha language is “City of Pots”. These indigenous peoples used them to prepare chicha (a fermented corn drink), store their food, and prepare their meals.  Artisans work with black, white, yellow, and red clay.

Black earthenware vessel and Guacamayas sisal placemat.

Guacamayas is another town in Boyacá, where many of the prettiest and colorful sisal handicrafts used for decoration or as household utensils are manufactured, the main ones being, placemats, fruit bowls, and baskets.

One material that has gained a lot of popularity is the taguanut, used for making jewelry and decorative items. It is in the town of Chiquinquirá where this material – known as “vegetable ivory” – is transformed more creatively.

Although found across Boyacá, ruanas are made specifically in Nobsa, a town in the east of the department. A ruana is a poncho for the cold country, made from thick, warm virgin wool, and excellent for chasing away the cold temperatures of the Boyacá mountains.

Health and wellness tourism, in Paipa

Paipa is a health tourism destination thanks to its hot springs.

Paipa is a very appropriate city for rest, relaxation, andhealth tourism thanks to its ample hotel infrastructure and reservoirs of hot springs with medicinal properties. Surrounding these hot springs, various centers for hydrotherapy, mud therapy, saunas, steam baths, and massages have been developed - excellent for relaxing, resting, and beautifying.

Hydrotherapy, mud therapy, saunas, steam baths, and massage centers have developed around the Paipa hot springs.

The architecture of Paipa evokes the colonial, fusing it with the modern. The handicrafts street is in the town center, just the place for purchasing lovely handmade objects that represent all the expertise of the inhabitants of Boyacá. The city also stands out for its infrastructure for corporate tourism, conventions, conferences, and incentive trips.

Other plans could include visits to the Pantano de Vargas, the site of a famous battle; the Monumento a los Lanceros, a half hour ride from Paipa; and the Sochagota Lake, with plans for families, friends and even couples. By land, Paipa is located three hours from Bogotá; it is also possible to travel by air, landing in the city airport.

Colombian Amazon

Vacations into the soul of the earth

Victoria Regia Lily in your Amazon holidays

With the largest tropical rainforest and the most copious river in the world, the Amazonas Jungle we share with our neighbors is another of Colombia’s treasures. It is a prodigious place, not only for the aboriginal people that inhabit it and the sheer size of the river, but also for the life it spawns and nurtures on land and water.

In the Colombian part of a region many call Amazonia; Leticia is a hospitable and comfortable city, surrounded by paths that lead to fascinating places in the Amazonas jungle, making it the main travel destination in the area.

For instance, the path to Tarapaca, a Huitoto Indian village, leads to the Tanimboca reservation, part of which is a 45-meter high platform built amid trees. In Tanimboca you can climb 35-meter high trees and slide 80 meters from one tree to another through the beautiful forest canopy. Top holiday activity.

River trips take visitors to extraordinary unimagined places, supposedly forbidden to those who have not experienced the jungle. Making your vacations a unique experience.

Exploring the Amazon jungle exposes travelers to countless plant and animal species

Travel to Leticia, visit Monkey Island and Amacayacu National Park

Motor boats also set forth from the pier in Leticia to the Isla de los Micos (Monkey Island), 450 hectares of primary forest full of birds, mammals and apes. It is also possible to take a boat to the Peruvian villages of Santa Rosa and Bellavista. Along the way you will encounter the Yabarí River, with its sites for nature lovers to admire pink dolphins, black caimans, and the Victoria Regia lily. Enjoy eco-tourism and calm holidays.

The Amacayacú river offers another great exploration opportunity. The Amacayacú national park is perfect for becoming acquainted with the palafitte dwellings of the Indians, biological stations, river paths for excursions in search of caimans, and virgin islands where, once more, the Victoria Regia abounds.

Several paths through the Amazonas jungle lead to Indian settlements. Palmeras, a Tikuna Indian community is small and rarely visited. San Martín de Amacayacú is bigger, but entails a two-hour hike along a path that borders the Amazon river. This hike is perfect for sighting armadillos, borugo rodents, squirrels, hawks, and possibly, the footprints of a tiger.

When planning your vacation, make sure you plan a stop in San Martín, where visitors can participate in basketry, weaving, and wood carving activities in the workshops where the products are manufactured. Another recommended stop is Puerto Nariño, the second municipality of the department, to enjoy Amazonian cuisine, which is based on pirarucú, gamitana and tucunare fish and served with cakes made with cassava flour. From Puerto Nariño, visits can be organized to the Tarapoto lakes, a network of dark waters where one can swim with pink and gray dolphins.

Take these pictures on your next vacations. Monkeys in the Amacayacu National Park

Back in Leticia, you should visit the zoo, where you will be able to see a manatee, a harpy eagle, two tigers, an anaconda, and several friar monkeys. The Brazilian village of Tabatinga, at the border between Colombia and Brazil, is worth a visit. The beautiful obelisk that signals the border is interesting. And the purchase of typical products and the shows by Brazilian garotas are worthwhile. Numerous ways to benefit from your holidays.

The Colombian Amazon jungle is a traditional destination for scientists interested in learning from Indian shamans the secrets of “talking” with nature. The world normally sees the Amazonas Jungle as a reserve of oxygen, but it is much more than that: it is home to a very special people and a living laboratory of plant and animal life.

San Andrés: the sea of seven colors

Vacations in the sea of seven colors

The Baptist Church on San Andrés /Photo Carlos Sueskún.

San Andres is 700 km from the Colombian mainland, a miniature paradise with influences from England and Spain, pirates and corsairs, blended into a rich culture which moves to the beat of reggae. Perfect beaches, excellent water-sports, diving and ecotourism.

Your first glimpse of San Andres island is the sea of seven colors, home to many-hued fish and coral, working their magic on the visitor. After an afternoon on the beach or shopping duty-free, night falls and the air is alive with music and dancing.

An island overflowing with culture

Local fisherman, San Andrés /Photo  Carlos Sueskún.

No-one knows exactly when the Dutch settlers arrived to set up their faros, but they were soon followed by the English and the Irish; and then came the fight with the Spaniards to keep possession of the island. But despite the comings and goings of the pirate Sir Henry Morgan between here and Jamaica, something of the Dutch culture remained in San Andres.

Then the African slaves, European settlers and Spanish colonists  passed through, each leaving behind a few seeds of their wisdom, not to mention aromatic plants  and some traces of  their favorite foods, which have now come together to form part of one of Colombia´s richest culture: the native or raizal tradition.

San Andres has Dutch, Spanish, English and African influences: a truly multicultural island!

It´s another language, another very special way of looking at life, something that has the most profound effect on the visitor – something really different.  The people there speak to each other in creole, a mixture of 17th century English, Spanish and African dialects. They also speak modern English and Spanish – very useful for the visitors! This blend of cultures had a very special effect on their music, which happily combines reggae, reggaeton, raga, soca, calypso, merengue, vallenato and salsa. All kinds of music, for all kinds of dance.

As part of their dedication to the island culture, some ecotourism parks have been created, such as Granja de Job Saas and West View, where the guides  will tell you not only about the natural features to be seen there but also about the values and customs they preserve. This is also where you can buy craftwork made from coconut wood and totumo, which are typical of the island.

Johnny Cay: peace and quiet on the beach

Beaches on Johnny Cay, San Andrés /Photo Carlos Sueskún.

A quarter of an hour by launch from San Andres is the tiny island famous for its beaches and Coco Locos: Johnny Cay. White sand embraces the green shade of the palms. Fried mojarra fish with plantains Delicious cocktails.

Johnny Cay is a destination of sun, sand; and  for being caught up by the beat of the island music.

The beach is perfect for walking too – you can go all round the island. In some places there are exotic coral formations with pools that reflect and merge with the deep, blue of the sky.

The soundtrack to all this is reggae and the colors are those of the rastafarians. Johnny Cay is an invitation to join in the beat with the islanders who attend to their visitors with a smile on their faces and a joke on their lips.  And the palm leaves provide more than shade: before your eyes the local people the make them into hats, baskets and any number of woven objects.

Medellín’s Colombia Moda

• Place: Medellín, Antioquia
• Region: Andes
• Date: July 22 - 24, every year
• Duration: 3 days

Medellín, the fashion city

Every day, Latin American fashion and clothes by Latin American designers attract increasing interest.

Over the years, some names have arrived at the pinnacle of world haute couture.

In recent years, Colombia began to host its biggest fashion fair, Colombiamoda, which attracts more people every year who are interested in the national textile industry.

Following this trend, Colombia has betted on putting together the country’s most important fashion fair, Colombiamoda, which attracts more and more public interested in Colombian textiles every year. Colombiamoda takes place in Medellín with the participation of important companies, international guests, and the best of Colombian talent. It is an event with a large convening power among businesses around the world and, undoubtedly, a great platform for doing business with European and South American companies.

Objective of Colombiamoda

Colombiamoda attempts to influence the development of productive chains in the textile industry, cooperation and technology interchange, raw materials, design, and marketing, and to attract foreign investment.

The objective of the fair is to generate closeness between Europe, with its efficient technologies for business and investment; and Latin America, with its knowledge, talent, low production costs, and top-quality raw materials.

Medellín: Colombia’s Textile City

At present, Medellín is Colombia’s main exporter of knit and woven textiles, with 53% of total exports of finished clothing going to countries like the United States, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the European community. The textile industry generates 30% of the total employment for the city by way of 45,000 direct jobs and 135,000 indirect ones.

The following brands are licensed for production in Medellín: Diesel, Fiorucci, Americanino, Naf Naf, Esprit, Chevignon, Levis, Girbaud and Used Jeans Company.

Clothing of the following brands is manufactured in Medellín: Avirex, Tommy Hilfiger, Levis, DKNY, Hanes, Gymboree, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Eva Picone, Daniel Hetcher, Liz Claiborne, Nautica, Oscar de la Renta, Nine West, Kathie Lee, Dockers, Hue Charter Club, Slates, Timberland, Little Me, Byford, Hush Puppies, Pex, Farah, Sock Shop, Burlington, and Mothercare.

Colombiamoda 2014 in Numbers

• PROCOLOMBIA is gathering 631 international buyers from 35 different countries to visit the booths of 841 Colombian exhibitors that are part of the Government’s support to the textile industry in order to strengthen and diversify exports.
• Buyers are mainly looking for full package options, Colombian brands from all spectrums of the textile and apparel industry.
• There are more than 470 companies, and 52% or 247 of them will participate for the first time.
• The largest mission is from the U.S. (comprised of 132 buyers), followed by Ecuador (128), Mexico (128) and Canada (44).
• The United States is also the country from which the largest number of new businesses will come from (51) closely followed by Mexico (30), Ecuador (29) and Canada (26).
• Diversification: For first time, buyers from Belgium, South Korea, Egypt, Martinique and Poland will attend the event.
• In 2013, 789 buyers from 33 markets reported business expectations of USD $ 95.5 million and on the spot sales of USD $ 26.3 million.
• 107 buyers from 85 companies will come from the Pacific Alliance
• 132 buyers from 103 companies will come from the United States, representing an increase of 29% compared to 2013.

The Cali Fair

• Place: Cali, Valle del Cauca
• Region: Pacific
• Date: December 25 – 30, every year
• Duration: 6 days.

The Cali Fair

Every year, immediately after Christmas, between December 25 and 30, the city of Cali fills up with tourists from all over the country and abroad who come to participate in this great fair, famous for its horse riding parades, bullfights, the best salsa orchestras, multitudinous concerts, dances, and delicious gastronomy.

The fair starts out on the streets with a parade of the best Paso Fino horses in the country. It continues with a multitude of popular festivals and parties in various sections of the city.

The Cali Fair is famous for its horseback rides, bullfights, some of the best salsa orchestras, packed concerts, dances, and delicious food.

Cali also stands out as the world salsa capital, with the best national and international orchestras vibrating throughout the city and bringing together different kinds of publics in closed shows with performances by phenomenal prize-winning dancers and in multitudinous concerts staged by the best interpreters of this musical genre.

Each year thousands of caleños and foreigners allow themselves to be driven by gaiety, music, and rumba during the six days of the fair. And the best bullfighters from Spain and South America display their art in the Cañaveralejo bull ring during emotion-filled afternoons.

History of the Fair

The first fair took place in 1957 under the name of Feria de la Caña de Azúcar (sugar cane fair) and began solely as a bull fighting fair. Historians tell us that the first celebration lasted a whole month. At first, festivities took place in hotel salons and clubs, and the music was Antillean.

Cali, capital of festiveness,
Capital of salsa,
For delighting, entertaining,
Travelers from Colombia and the world,
Making them laugh, dance, and sing.
Cali, capital of festiveness.

The tascas of Cali are small, temporary and very pleasant restaurants built of wood and with outdoor seating.

Soon, other attractions were added to the fair. Horse riding parades, shows by the best national and international salsa orchestras, parades of antique and classic cars, gastronomic sampling in street-sidetascas, and beauty pageants made their way into the fair.

The Tascas: Between Gourmet and Rumba

The tascas are small, picturesque, temporary restaurants built from wood and located outdoors. Over the course of the years, they have moved from one place to another: from the banks of the Cali River, to the Parque del Amor, and to several other locations.

They offer a wide range of Colombian and international food, and operate as a sort of gastronomical fair that offers attendees the best tastes of the world.

For additional information, please go to the Feria de Cali website.