Best of Cali

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Cali
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Wander Cali de Santiago's bustling streets on a walking tour of the city
Map of Cauca Valley & Gorgona Island - 9 Days
Cauca Valley & Gorgona Island - 9 Days

Discover Colombia's Cauca Valley on this nine-day adventure. Start in modern Cali of the region to take in the food and art scene, and hike the Andes in the Los Farallones area. Along the way, you'll spend three nights on Gorgona Island off Colombia's Pacific Coast where you'll trek through the jungle and snorkel inviting coastal waters.

Villa de Leyva's historic central square is one of the largest in the Americas
Map of Authentic Luxury in Colombia's Interior: Bogotá, Villa de Leyva & Cali - 7 Days
Authentic Luxury in Colombia's Interior: Bogotá, Villa de Leyva & Cali - 7 Days

Enjoy first-class treatment as you venture into Colombia's interior for a look at three beguiling destinations, each boasting its own distinct culture and cuisine. In Bogotá, learn how to make the cold-weather comfort dish ajiaco, followed by a cheesemaking workshop in the colonial center of Villa de Leyva. Then you're off to sultry Cali, the capital of salsa, to see live dancing and get a bird's-eye view of the beautiful Cauca Valley on a helicopter tour.

Dancers at Carnival in the town of Barranquilla
Map of Colombia's Vibrant Cultures: The Caribbean to Cali - 13 Days
Colombia's Vibrant Cultures: The Caribbean to Cali - 13 Days

This diverse, action-packed itinerary covers a lot of Colombian ground in two weeks. The trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast and allows time to explore Tayrona National Park. This protected area is home to rugged mountains, indigenous ruins, and white-sand beaches hugging turquoise waters. You'll then spend a few days enjoying city life as you explore the ancient fortress city of Cartagena. Mixed in with all this is a jaunt to Caribbean islands and a visit to the heritage site of a long-standing Afro-Colombian community. You'll cap your two weeks of adventure with a jaunt to the southern Colombian city of Cali, the salsa capital of the world.

In Bogotá's La Candelaria neighborhood see an eclectic mix of styles
Map of Colombian Cities Tour: Bogotá, Cali, Medellín & Cartagena - 13 Days
Colombian Cities Tour: Bogotá, Cali, Medellín & Cartagena - 13 Days

Colombia's dynamic cities and eclectic flavors are ready to be discovered on this 13-day tour by boat, air, car, and bicycle. Taste tropical fruits and inventive dishes from local chefs and see picturesque Monserrate Hill in Bogotá. Learn dance steps in Cali and join locals for buzzing nightlife at a Medellín fonda. Soak up the sun on the Rosario Islands and end your adventure cruising around the Caribbean shores of Cartagena.

Sand formations in Tatacoa Desert, Colombia
Map of Off the Beaten Track in Colombia - 13 Days
Off the Beaten Track in Colombia - 13 Days

Get away from the crowds and soak up Colombia's culture and nature on this 13-day itinerary. Start in the capital, Bogotá, where you'll visit the city's historic center and top cultural attractions. Stargaze in the Tatacoa Desert, tour a local coffee farm, and enjoy a horseback ride to famous archaeological sites in and around Saint Augstín. Embark on a challenging hike through Farallones de Cali National Park and finish the adventure with a visit to an artisanal winery.

Dancers in Barranquilla during the Carnival
Map of Vibrant Colombia: The Caribbean to Cali - 10 Days
Vibrant Colombia: The Caribbean to Cali - 10 Days

This diverse, action-packed itinerary covers a lot of Colombian ground in two weeks. The trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast with time to explore Tayrona's beautiful national park, sandwiched between the turquoise sea and rugged mountains. From here, you'll visit Colombia's carnival city, Barranquilla, and spend a few days in the stunning inner-walled city of Cartagena before taking a flight to Cali, the salsa capital of the world.

Las Lajas Sanctuary in Ipiales, near Pasto
Map of Journey Across Colombia's Cities: North to South - 15 Days
Journey Across Colombia's Cities: North to South - 15 Days

This diverse, action-packed trip starts on the northern Caribbean Coast with time to explore Tayrona National Park. From here, spend a few days in the inner-walled city of Cartagena and hop a flight to Medellín, with its thriving arts and culture scene. Then, you'll visit a coffee farm before heading to the vibrant capital of Bogotá. Continue the journey with a visit to the famous salt mines and end the trip in Cali, the salsa capital of the world.

Yellow-eared Parrot, Colombia
Map of Birdwatching in Colombia's Andean Ranges & Magdalena Valley - 16 Days
Birdwatching in Colombia's Andean Ranges & Magdalena Valley - 16 Days

Colombia is an incredible country for birdwatchers. It boasts a list of 77 endemics (birds found in no other country) and is home to well over 1930 bird species — around 20 percent of the world's total bird count. This 16-day adventure is designed to showcase the best birding sites in the country. You'll experience Colombian culture, excellent food, and vibrant cities as you travel between incredible birding habitats. 

View of the Caribbean coast
Map of Discover Medellín, Bogotá, & Tayrona National Park - 12 Days
Discover Medellín, Bogotá, & Tayrona National Park - 12 Days

Start your fast-paced tour in the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá, where you can explore street art, museums, and restaurants. Then you're off to the hip metropolis of Medellín and Cali, known as the World Capital of Salsa. Santa Marta and a visit to a coffee farm in the Andes are next. End your trip with the beaches of Tayrona National Park and yet another vibrant city scene in beautiful Cartagena.

Check out ancient figures in San Agustín Archaeological Park, Colombia
Map of Off the Beaten Path in Southern Colombia - 14 Days
Off the Beaten Path in Southern Colombia - 14 Days

Venture off the beaten path and discover the highlights of southern Colombia in two weeks. You'll canoe, hike, raft, explore the scenic Tatacoa desert, and see ancient pre-Colombian monuments. You'll also visit a coffee plantation, tour historic colonial towns, and learn to dance salsa.

Medellín & Colombia's Southern Interior -  13 Days
Map of Medellín & Colombia's Southern Interior - 13 Days
Medellín & Colombia's Southern Interior - 13 Days

This active, 13-day adventure is designed for those who want to experience Colombia’s vast, cultural interior. Start off in Colombia’s second-largest city, Medellín, with a scenic gondola and its year-round spring-like weather. Next, you'll head to Cali, the salsa capital of the world, and Popayán, with its stunning Baroque architecture. Finally, you’ll explore archaeological parks in San Agustín and Tierradentro, while finishing the trip in the Tatacoa Desert.

Stop in colorful Raquira to pick up a souvenir or two or three
Map of Colombia's Cultural Interior - 14 Days
Colombia's Cultural Interior - 14 Days

This two-week cultural adventure is perfect for travelers who don’t mind skipping the Amazon, Pacific, or the Caribbean and want to get to the heart of Colombia's interior. Start the trip with plenty of time to explore the vibrant capital of Bogotá, and then travel north to the famous salt mines and one of the most well-preserved cobblestoned towns in the country, Villa de Leyva. You’ll then swing over to the striking metropolis of Medellín, throwing in day-trips to lakeside Guatapé and a working coffee farm before heading to Cali, the salsa capital of the world, and ending your journey in the “white city’ of Popayán.

Discover the ochre-colored sand formations of the Tatacoa Desert
Map of Southern Colombia Loop - 14 Days
Southern Colombia Loop - 14 Days

Discover Colombia's southern region on this two-week adventure, covering major highlights of the country from the capital city of Bogotá to the Pre-Columbian idols of San Agustín and to the well-preserved colonial town of Popayán. It's an itinerary fit for active travelers, history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife aficionados, and anyone with a thirst for adventure. You'll even have an opportunity to shake your hips to the sultry rhythms of Colombia's lifeblood: salsa music.

Discover the red sand and rock formations of the Tatacoa Desert
Map of West & Central Colombia: Bogotá, San Agustín, Popayán, & Cali - 8 Days
West & Central Colombia: Bogotá, San Agustín, Popayán, & Cali - 8 Days

This well-rounded tour perfectly combines cultural and historical exploration with adventure in eight days. Immerse yourself in the bustling and vibrant barrios of Bogotá, trek through the white and gray landscape of Los Hoyos in the Tatacoa Desert, and dive into the pre-Colombian past with sightings of ancient monuments in San Agustín. You'll also meander the charming stone streets in colonial Popayán before capping off your stay with a salsa lesson in colorful Cali.

Tatacoa Desert
Map of Colombia Panorama: Deserts, Mountains & Cities - 15 Days
Colombia Panorama: Deserts, Mountains & Cities - 15 Days

This insightful adventure through Colombia will give you an in-depth look at the country's fascinating culture, flavor-packed food, and diverse landscapes. Go stargazing in the Tatacoa Desert, taste your way around historic Popayán, dance the salsa in Cali, and take a horseback ride around archaeological treasures in San Agustín. See how once-gritty Medellín has undergone a super-cool transformation and explore the pretty heritage towns and lush mountains of the Coffee Triangle.

Spend two nights among the palms and beaches of Isla Múcura
Map of Diverse Culture & Nature in Colombia: From Bogota to the Caribbean -16 Days
Diverse Culture & Nature in Colombia: From Bogota to the Caribbean -16 Days

Experience some of Colombia's lesser-known locales on this trip, from the country's center north to the coast. Start in Bogotá to see its significant landmarks before heading to the Tatacoa Dessert for stargazing. Visit a local coffee farm and take a gastronomic tour of Popayán, then learn about the Indigenous community of Guambiano-Misak and go salsa dancing in Cali. Laze on Tayrona's beaches, spend two nights on the idyllic Caribbean island of Múcura and eat your way through the streets of Cartagena.

See megalithic sculptures at San Agustín, Colombia
Map of Culture & Archaeology of Colombia - 14 Days
Culture & Archaeology of Colombia - 14 Days

Over two weeks, see the highlights of Colombia's central and southern regions, from revitalized Medellín to the sultry salsa clubs of Cali. But this adventure isn't all about the cities—you'll also enjoy coffee tours in the famous Zona Cafetera, explore historic colonial towns, and visit ancient archaeological sites. A real treat is traveling to the otherworldly Tatacoa Desert, one of Colombia's many natural wonders.

A lesser-known attraction: Las Lajas Sanctuary in Ipiales, near Pasto.
Map of Journey Across Colombia: North to South - 14 Days
Journey Across Colombia: North to South - 14 Days

This sweeping Colombian itinerary covers major highlights from the country's Caribbean coast all the way to the Ecuadorian border. Start off with two relaxing days where you can unwind in a protected national park with white-sand beaches and tropical rainforests. Continue making your way through three of South America's most scenic and important cities — Cartagena, Medellín, and Bogotá — eventually heading south towards lesser-known destinations known for gorgeous Baroque architecture, salsa dancing, and a Gothic church built into a gorge.

Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, Cerro Montezuma, Choco bioregion
Map of Colombia Epic Birdwatching Tour: Western Andes & Santa Marta - 14 Days
Colombia Epic Birdwatching Tour: Western Andes & Santa Marta - 14 Days

This 14-day itinerary is perfect for serious bird watchers who dream of visiting some of the best bird watching sites in Colombia. The journey includes excursions in the Choco-Western Andes transition, where nearly all the birds are endemic or near-endemic and the mystical and biologically unique Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – an evolutionary island of biodiversity where you have the chance to view over 20 endemic birds. In addition to excellent birding sites, you'll experience life in rural Colombia and travel across stunning landscapes from the sea to the soaring Andes mountains.