Cali is the third largest city in Colombia. Founded in 1536 by Sebastián de Belalcázar, it was a quiet little mountain town until the sugar and coffee industries brought prosperity to the region. However, they are not the only commodities. After the drug lord Pablo Escobar was assassinated in Medellín in 1993 and the Medellín Cartel fell apart, the remaining drug traffickers moved to Cali and formed the Cali Cartel. However, this was also dissolved when the cartel treasurer fled to the United States.
Location
Cali is located in the southwestern region of Colombia, about 995 meters above sea level. A diverse region of coastline, foothills and the Andean mountain range. Cali is a rich archaeological zone, as well as culturally diverse.
When to go
Colombia’s climate varies little throughout the year. You can expect hot and humid weather, but there is a drier season called summer, as opposed to the wet season called winter. The Andean highlands, where Cali is located, have two dry seasons, from December to March and again in July and August. The average temperature in Cali is 23 ° C (73.4 ° F)
Practical facts
Although the Cali Cartel is officially no longer a threat, the drug trade continues. The usual safety measures are applied, and it is advisable to exercise caution after dark.
Things to do and see
- Iglesia de la Merced is a beautiful colonial cathedral on Plaza Caycedo in the historic district. It is the oldest church in Cali.
- The Colonial Art Museum , in the monastery adjoining the cathedral, exhibits mainly colonial religious art.
- The Archaeological Museum exhibits pre-Columbian ceramics and artifacts from the various indigenous groups in the area.
- The Gold Museum exhibits gold items from the Calima culture.
- The Modern Art Museum La Tertulia exhibits modern art, sculpture and photography.
- The Iglesia de San Antonio , located on top of a hill near the center of the city, offers a beautiful view of Cali.
- Teatro Experimental de Cali (TEC) started the national theater of Colombia.
- Sugar cane museum
- Cañaveralejo bullring bullring
- Cali’s zoo
- Federico Carlos Lehmann Museum of Natural Sciences of Valencia with exhibitions of fauna, ethnological samples and insects of the region.
- Salsoteca abound on the north side of the river, particularly in the suburb of Juanchito. Night tours in Chivas last about five hours and will take you to a number of hot salsa spots.
- The Cali Fair from December 25 to New Years with parades, bullfights, salsa events and a beauty pageant.
- Monument of the Three Crosses are the three crosses on top of the mountain, a pilgrimage during Holy Week.
- The Farallones de Cali National Park is a mountain park with diverse vegetation and wildlife that offers day trips or hikes to the Hato Viejo Natural Reserve, where you will find accommodation, food and guides for the park.
- Haciendas , belonging to the sugar barons, and now open as museums to see the cultivation and processing of sugar. Hacienda Cañas Gordas is located on the southern border of the city. It is considered the most beautiful of the colonial houses and here you will see furniture and period objects. Two are about 40 km northeast of Cali:
- Hacienda El Paraiso
- Hacienda Piedechinche
- Two places not to be missed are the archaeological sites of pre-Columbian civilizations at Parque Arqueológico De Tierradentro and Parque Arqueológico De San Agustín. Both are considered sacred sites and contain ancient monuments, statues, tombs, and burial mounds. Check the state of the roads from Cali; they may be in bad shape. Every time you go to Cali, have fun and have a good trip!
