Colombia · City Guide
Cali
Cali is the salsa capital of the world, Colombia's third largest city and the centre of Afro-Colombian culture on the Pacific side of the country, combining an extraordinary nightlife and dance scene, the beautiful colonial San Antonio neighbourhood, outstanding access to the Valle del Cauca's sugar cane country and coffee region, and a year-round warm climate that has earned it the nickname the Sucursal del Cielo (Branch of Heaven). For those drawn to music, dance and Afro-Colombian heritage, Cali is unmatched.
Elect's take
"Cali has an energy around music and dance that I have not encountered with the same intensity anywhere else in the world. The salsa culture here is not a tourist performance — it is how the city lives, and experiencing it in a local salsoteca is genuinely unforgettable."
Cali's salsa culture is the most significant in the world, with the city hosting the World Salsa Festival each September and an extraordinary density of salsotecas (salsa clubs) where dancing happens at a level of skill that draws dancers from around the globe to study here. The San Antonio neighbourhood, with its colourful colonial houses on a hillside above the city, provides beautiful views and a bohemian café and arts scene. The Cristo Rey statue overlooking the city provides panoramic views. The Valle del Cauca surrounding Cali is one of Colombia's most important agricultural regions, producing sugar cane and providing access to the southern coffee region. Cali's Afro-Colombian heritage, reflected in its music, food and culture, gives the city a distinctive character within Colombia.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Salsa Culture
The world's salsa capital with extraordinary clubs and the annual World Salsa Festival.
San Antonio
A colourful colonial hillside neighbourhood with cafés, arts and beautiful views.
Cristo Rey
A hilltop statue providing panoramic views across the city.
Valle del Cauca
Colombia's sugar cane heartland providing access to the southern coffee region.
Afro-Colombian Heritage
A distinctive cultural identity reflected in music, food and traditions.
World Salsa Festival
An international celebration of salsa held in Cali each September.
