What To See And Do In Cali, Colombia

I received a couple of emails inquiring about Cali so I figured I would come up with a list of suggestions, I hope it will be of use to anyone wanting to visit the city.

Cristo Rey and Tres Cruces - Both are located high up on a hill, not the same hill though. Both are like on opposite ends of each other. It is possible to take a taxi up to Cristo Rey but I am not sure about the three crosses because the one time I visited the site I hiked up the hill on foot. Makes for a very good work out for sure! the view you get of the city from both places is amazing. 

Photo courtesy of Google

Sebastian de Belalcazar - This statue was built in honor of Belalcazar who founded Cali. Here you can also get good views of the city and you can get a taxi to take you to the statue. I visited during night time and there were a lot of people around, there was actually a show going on right in front of the statue.

Photo courtesy of Google

Parque El Gato de Tejada - There is a big bronze cat sculpture by a Colombian artist Hernando Tejada, that sits in front of the park. It was part of a beautification plan by the city and after Tejado's death there were other cat sculptures made by other artists and installed at this small park. Don't expect to be awestruck at this place as it is very small and there isn't much around but the cat has become one of those emblematic symbols in Cali so it's cool to check it out and enjoy the chill and quiet surroundings.

This is the famous bronze statue of the cat. You will find it in a lot of souvenirs from Cali.

Photo courtesy of Google

Recreational Parks - I forgot the name of this park but I used to love going here. Early in the morning you will find people working out and its very lively, in the evening at around 7 pm it gets even livelier and it's fun. Recreational parks are definitely worth checking out in Cali, trust me.

Cali Zoo - If you are an animal lover why not check out the zoo? it is considered the best in South America so if you are ever in the city, stop by and see for yourself.

Tours - If you want an introduction to Cali and the local culture you can check out these guys Colombia Walking Tours. They offer different kinds of tours to suit your interest and you will get to know what the city has to offer.

Artesanal Shopping - Check out Loma de La Cruz if you want to buy some souvenirs or just walk around the surroundings which happen to be pretty with a laid back vibe.

Social Events - If you wish to meet other people, both local and foreigners check out YEAH! Cool Cultural Exchange every Monday at a club called La Topa Tolondra. They have a language exchange event that starts at 6 pm and ends at 9 pm. After 9 it's party time until 1 am. You can practice your salsa moves during this time and enjoy some good music.

On Thursday nights there is another language exchange event by the same organizers of Yeah! cool cultural exchange. This one is called Cubaleño and it is held at a club called Brisas, they have the language exchange between 6 pm and 9 pm then between 9 and 10 they have free salsa lessons and afterwards the dance floor is open to anyone wanting to try out their moves. The music is awesome!

The People - As I have mentioned before, it's the inhabitants of this city that make it a cool place to visit even though the city itself isn't exactly a tourist hotspot. I met some cool friends that I am still in touch with and will continue keeping in touch with.

Introducing my favorite couple in Colombia, my dear friend Angelica and her ever sweet boyfriend Bruno.

Edna who happens to be Angelica's cousin and a very good dancer. I am glad I met these two ladies and learned a lot from them. We continue to keep in touch.

That's it folks, I will always have memories of Cali and I am grateful to all those who made my stay in the city worthwhile, that includes my ex roommate and her family who took me in as one of their own. I got back to Quito today and it sure feels good being back in my room and seeing familiar faces.

Random Thoughts of The Day:

The airport in Cali is situated about 30 to 45 minutes away from the main part of the city. Taking a taxi can set you back about $30 but there is a cheaper option. At the airport you can take a bus for $2 or $3 that will drop you to the main bus terminal in Cali and from the terminal you can take a taxi which shouldn't be expensive. Overall it will cost you about $10 or less. These buses are not like your regular public buses, they specialize in picking and dropping people off at the airport. Ask at the airport if you are not sure about the buses and they should be able to direct you. Going to the airport from the city you can take a taxi to the main bus terminal and from there, once again take the airport bus which will drop you off.

Same thing applies in Quito. The airport is situated far from the main part of the city so it is cheaper to take an airport bus that will drop you at Mariscal Sucre which used to be the international airport in the city before it's relocation. From Mariscal Sucre you can take a taxi to your final destination. The buses are very comfortable and have Wi-Fi. The cost is $8.

The airport in Cali is small and very easy to navigate. Might I add their immigration is the easiest I have ever dealt with?

I got the biggest and warmest hug from my host when I got to the house and it made me feel like I had arrived home. I am not looking forward to the farewell hug after my stay here is done.

Guess who else treated me to a big and warm welcome hug? the Dominican, the sweet guy came straight from work just to see me and welcome me back, dude works until 11 pm! I was flattered.

I developed a good rapport with the owners of the hostel I stayed at in Cali. I ended up having very long conversations with the wife who is super sweet, sucks that I had to say goodbye but we exchanged contacts and if I ever end up in this city I know where I will be staying.

There was a shop near the hostel and the guy who works there was always friendly and full of energy. Every time I went to his shop he would greet me with Que tal preciosa or hola mi reina and when saying goodbye he would always refer to me as hermosa or linda. It was all innocent and as I have mentioned, that's just how people in Cali talk. I will miss that.

I am beginning to believe that every cloud has a silver lining.

Free Walking Tours In Cali, Colombia

I have no clue why I never took advantage of the free walking tour in Cali when I first lived here but I am glad today I got to check it out and learn new information about this city. In a bid to keep busy I looked up free walking tours of the city and came across Colombia Walking Tours which was offering several different tours, some require payment but they have one that is free and is offered twice a week, Mondays and Fridays at 4:00pm.

The free tour lasted about 2 hours and we got to walk around the downtown area of Cali learning some history and facts about the city. I always say these free walking tours are the best introduction to a city because they give you an idea of what is out there and what you might want to explore more off.

We met at the pre determined meeting place which was at Iglesia La Merced in downtown and proceeded to walk to various sites of interest, everything was within close range. The guide was bilingual and spoke both Spanish and English but he stuck with English since most of the crowd was foreign.

Of course being in Cali the salsa capital of the world, we had to stop by a museum to learn some history about salsa and how it developed in the city.

That is Jairo Valera with the glasses, the mastermind behind Grupo Niche. Any salsa lovers out there would know of this group or have probably danced to their music. One of my favorite groups!

The cultural centre of Cali. If you want to know what cultural events are taking place in the city, this is the place to go to.

The Municipal Theater where you can watch shows.

The ceiling inside the theater, the picture didn't come out as clearly as I would have liked but hey! there it is.

The Poet's Park - Many years ago people used to come here to have important documents typed up for them. Now of course times have changed but incase you want to be old school and have a poem written out for you, you can pay for this service. It was a bit late in the evening so a lot of the writers had left for the day.

Cali is a big producer of sugarcane so on one of those hot days which is like everyday, you can buy a refreshing drink from these vendors made of lemon and sugarcane. Very tasty!

Caicedo Square in downtown Cali

Since the tour started at 4 pm it stared getting dark so I tucked my camera away because I am not about to buy a 4th camera due to another robbery. I am not taking chances. I liked the tour and I am glad I got to see a different part of Cali and learn new things. I would definitely recommend this walking tour to anyone visiting this city.

That's it folks, I have one more day left before I say goodbye to this city forever, for ever ever? yes, for ever ever. I will not get into details about my personal life but let's just say a lot of things have happened in Cali and I will be leaving earlier than planned, this has nothing to do with my safety so no worries. Unfortunately I will miss the Petronio Festival but hey! shit happens and frankly speaking I want to be out of here ASAP. See you in Quito or wherever else my adventures will take me.

Random Thoughts of The Day:

I never curse, only in extreme cases will I use foul language.

Shout out to my travel insurance WorldNomads for processing my insurance claim for the first robbery so quickly and painlessly. I should be getting a refund soon. Unfortunately for the second robbery I never did get a police report so I didn't file a claim.

According to our guide today at the tour, afro Colombians make 60% of the population in this city. So far during my travels in Latin America I would say I have blended in the best in Panama city and Cali because I could pass for a local until of course I open my mouth. It sure feels good to walk around without attracting any attention.

Today I went to this neighborhood restaurant for lunch and this girl sat at my table because there was no other space. This is pretty common here, strangers sharing a table. We got to chatting and she was so sweet! there was an item in the menu that I did not understand and she let me taste her food before deciding whether I should order the item or not. Of course we ended up talking about relationships and she was saying that finding a good faithful man in Cali is like a miracle and that is why she has been single for three years.

There is Russian guy at my hostel who has been traveling for the past year and is now based in Colombia temporarily, he works at the front desk and dude has been taking these Colombian girls for a ride, it's like a playground to him. I pity the girls when I hear his stories about his escapades. The hostel has been pretty empty so I have developed a rapport with everyone who works there because I am the only guest for now. It actually feels like I am staying in a home and I like it that way.

Last week the Russian guy and I went to a language exchange event and there were these Colombian girls going all crazy for him. I went out to the dance floor and upon coming back they had swarmed the dude, when they saw me seating at the same table and noticed that I knew the guy they gave me this look that for the rest of the night made me be very cautious. I never left my drink near them, call me paranoid but you just never know. I wanted to tell them it's okay the dude is like a new friend I just met at the hostel but these girls were like vultures and eventually I realized that I shouldn't have to explain anything to them because they had no right to size me up so blatantly and assume things in the first place.

Sightings In Cali

I actually took it for granted that when I lived in Cali I had seen quite a bit of the City's main sites thanks to my friend Angelica and partly my ex roommate that I lived with. Whenever I met with Angelica we would go on long walks around the city and she would show me various places of interest in addition to taking me to some pretty cool events that were taking place in the city. She is no longer in Cali so that sucks but I wish her all the best in her new endeavor.

Yesterday I was taking a walk with the owner of the hostel I am staying at because he offered to show me around the city and I was proud that most of the places and neighborhoods we visited, were already familiar to me. It was interesting learning some historic background of some of the places we visited though. We were joined by one of his friends who is from Cali but had never really explored much of the city so he was also glad that he joined us because he was learning new things about his city.

Without further ado these are some of the sites we got to visit.

Ermita Church

Plaza Caicedo, main plaza in Cali. The pictures don't capture it very well but you get the general idea.

Artesanal Park of Loma de La Cruz - You can find some cool shops that sell artisanal items when you go up the stairs on the side and wander around the area. It's a very pretty and chill area and you can get good views of the city.

Parque de El Perro - A small park with a statue of a dog dedicated to a beloved neighborhood dog as the owner of the hostel told me. The park is small but around the area you can find good restaurants, shops and bars.

As you may or may not know, Cali is considered the world capital of salsa. If you have any doubt the picture behind my head in the picture below is evidence of this declaration signed on paper. This was at an old club we visited, felt like we had stepped into some retro club but I was told this is where you will find some old school salsa and the crowd is generally mature.

PS: Ladies and gentlemen this is how an oily skin looks like, I had not even applied any moisturizer on my face because of the heat.

The Stadium - This is where all the football magic happens in Cali and the venue for the Petronio Alvarez Festival

Random Thoughts of The Day:

Why is it that when you are walking around with a broken heart that's when every Jairo, Andres and Enrique on the street wants to ask you out? very weird! Flattering though but so not in the mood.

Being in Cali makes me realize how open and friendly people here are compared to Quito plus they use more sweet words when conversing even with strangers. It sure feels good to hear: amor, cariño, mi vida, mami.........the list is endless but I always find it so cute!

I chose to stay in a hostel and the room I am in has 4 beds, thank God I have been the only one in the room so far so not only I'm I getting privacy but I am paying a very cheap price for it too. Let me cross my fingers that no one else checks into the room while I am here.

I met this really sweet couple at the hostel. The girl is from Germany and the guy is from Portugal. Their love story was actually very interesting, they met in Brazil and decided to travel together through South America, they checked out yesterday and as we were saying goodbye to each other I was thinking to myself, "I hope your love story has a happy ending." Who doesn't like happy endings anyway? no pun intended.

I have to admit that there are many beautiful people in this city and they go to great lengths to look attractive, did I mention a lot of men here get manicures? in Quito I never spotted a single manicure on a man.

Back In Cali

Yup! you got that right, I am back in Cali Colombia and it is hot!!!! I am not here for long though, I came for the Petronio Alvarez Festival which celebrates the afro Colombian culture and music from the pacific coast. This festival takes place every year and it's pretty huge! I have seen videos, pictures and talked to some Colombians so I know I am in for one big dance and party fest. The festival starts next week on Monday and I can not wait! of course yours truly will fill you in on everything so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have been trying to keep myself busy in this city and it's proving to be quite a challenge. Cali isn't exactly big on tourism so there is only so much you can do in this city, if you know locals and are into the salsa scene then it's a cool city to be in........minus the heat! my social connections have changed since the last time I was here but I am determined to make the best out of my stay here.

Today I decided to check out the famous zoo in Cali that I had heard so much about. I figured this trip would be the best opportunity to check out places I hadn't checked out before when I lived in the city, so the zoo it was for today. The heat wasn't too bad plus the trees helped with the shade so it wasn't so  bad walking around.

After checking out the zoo I ended up meeting with a friend for coffee and some good conversation, my Spanish has indeed improved! afterwards I went out dancing with some friends I had made from the hostel I am staying at and finally called it a night after some good salsa.

That's it folks! being in Cali is bitter sweet at the moment but that is another story for another day, in the meantime I will try to make my short stay here worth it.

Random Thoughts of The Day:

I am so confused about some racial terms I have heard, this Colombian girl told me referring to black people as Morena/Moreno is offensive in Colombia, she said it's better to say Negra/Negro. Then now that I know more Dominicans in Ecuador I find that they use the word Morena/Moreno more than Negra/Negro. The afro Ecuadorians I know use Negra/Negro, I guess I will just have to adapt to whichever audience I am with.

Yes I am black and very proud of my race but it is so damn annoying walking down the street and having some dude cat call me by saying, "Negra!" if you must cat call me can you use any other term used to refer to women instead of my race? I don't hear people saying "blanca!" (white person) or "mestizo!" (mix of Indigenous & European) when catcalling a person of those respective races.

At the airport in Ecuador when I was leaving for Colombia, I was stopped by an immigration policeman who wanted to check my bag. He was very polite and I figured dude was just doing his job so I just went with the flow. We got to chatting during the inspection and he was telling me which city he lives at and urging me to visit the city because it is supposedly very pretty. When he got done checking my stuff he asked for my number and it caught me off guard, really? where is the professionalism??? the nerve of some people I tell you................I thought this as I slipped him my number. Hey! you never know when I might need his assistance.

Growing up in Kenya I think has made me a wildlife snob in that zoos don't impress me at all. In Kenya I was used to going to game parks where you could see wild animals in all their splendor within their natural environment so for me seeing an animal in a cage is pretty sad. I visited the zoo in Cali out of curiosity but I didn't stay for too long.

I Got A Visitor

One of my Colombian friends decided to visit me in Ecuador for a weekend..........I am loved y'all! jokes aside though, I was so touched that she would come all the way from Colombia by bus to spend the weekend with me so I wanted to make sure she would have a very good time and get a good taste of Quito before going back to Colombia.

Since her time in the city is very limited, I thought a hop on hop off tour bus of the city would be great because we would conveniently get to see the major highlights of the city. I had never taken the tour bus before in this city so it was an interesting experience for me as well and I got to appreciate Quito all over again, sometimes it takes a visitor to remind you of the beauty of your surroundings.

There were a lot of free concerts going on at several plazas around the city so it was pretty cool hopping off the tour bus to check out the various bands. Of course you know I lingered longer at the plaza that was playing salsa.

After the tour we went to a late lunch at the Dominican place I frequent and as luck would have it, we met this really cute Dominican guy who started chatting us and before we knew it we were making plans to go out dancing later on.

We did end up going out and it was great! the Dominican guy brought his friend so there was no third wheel situation. At first it wasn't clear who the guy liked but once his friend arrived he set him up next to my friend so the mystery was solved (thank you Jesus!). Everything worked out great because his friend got along well with mine so there was no awkward situation.

That's it folks, after a lot of dancing we called it a night and parted ways with the dudes, what can I say? it was a wonderful day that ended on a very good note.

Random Thoughts of The Day:

Some of these Dominican men here are really attractive, dios mio!

Did I mention the Dominican asked me out on a date? he wants to meet up tomorrow, Le sigh! I am loving my life right now.

I am beginning to realize I am my own best travel companion. Does that make sense?

Planning for my next destination after Ecuador is such a pain and the thought of starting afresh has got me feeling a bit anxious.

It sucks when you meet really cool people just when you are about to move on to the next destination.

I hate goodbyes. I think I mentioned this before.

This weekend felt weird not taking one of my excursions out of the city but there is an exciting trip coming up, Can you guess where J is going to next?