Heading to Cali (Colombia)? This short, sharp guide skips the fluff—get the essentials for an epic trip (top hostels below)!
TL;DR
- Perfect for: 2–3 days
- Best for: Salsa fanatics, culture hounds, outgoing solo travelers, night owls
- Why visit: The salsa capital that’s safe, friendly, and never dull for solos!
CALI AT A GLANCE
- Population: ~2.9 million, Colombia’s third largest city
- History/culture: Nearly 500 years old, its colonial heart and rhythm pulse with salsa
- Famous for: Salsa music/dancing, party atmosphere, whitewashed churches, panoramic hills
- Nicknames: La Capital de la Rumba, Cali Pachanguero (“Party Capital”)
- Solo vibe: Welcoming, highly social, and generally safe with standard South American precautions
ESSENTIAL INFO
- 💰 Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
- 🗣 Language: Spanish
- 🌦 Best time to visit: Year-round; dry seasons Dec–Mar & Jun–Sep for festivals & sun
- ✈️ From airport:
- Cheapest: Public bus (~10,000 COP/$2–3 USD, 40–60 mins)
- Easiest: Taxi (50,000–60,000 COP/$12–15 USD, 30–40 mins)
- 🧳 Safety: Use taxi apps (not street hails), avoid east & isolated areas at night, nightlife feels safe and communal
- 🎭 Cultural calendar tip: Feria de Cali (late December) – epic week of dancing, parades, fireworks!
- 🎦 What to watch on the plane: “Los Reyes del Mundo” – for Colombian spirit and some local flavor
WHERE TO STAY (FOR SOLO TRAVELERS)
- 🛏️ Best hostel: La Palmera Hostel – Social, spotless, and stylish; nightly club outings, salsa/bachata classes, cozy hangouts, strong Wi-Fi; 24/7 staff; walkable to historic core. Book ahead!
- Great areas for hotels/Airbnb:
- 🏘️ Best neighborhood: San Antonio – Artsy, historic, safe, bursting with cafés, indie bars, and easy solo mingling; close to attractions
- 🧭 Alt neighborhood: El Peñon – Safer, quieter, a little more upscale; great if you want serenity after dancing
- 💸 Budget option: Miraflores – Peaceful, local-feeling and still close enough to major sites (and hostel prices often lower!)
- Tip: Book hostels early—Cali fills up, especially near festivals!
TRANSPORT & NAVIGATION
- 🚶♂️ Highly walkable core; neighborhoods like San Antonio, El Peñon, and Granada are safe for strolling day or night (with usual awareness)
- 🚌 Bus: MIO system; flat 1,600 COP/ride, easy to use, color-coded, good network
- 🚋 No tram/metro—but MIO bus lanes are pretty efficient
- 🚖 Taxis/Apps: Order by app (Uber, Didi, Cabify) or phone; meter starts at 6,250 COP, small surcharge late/holiday
- 🚲 Bike rentals: Scattered shops & hostels rent bikes; the riverside Boulevard del Rio is a top route
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO ALONE
- 🏛️ La Ermita Church & Centro stroll – Gothic postcard church + lively central plazas; easy to visit solo, great for photos/people-watching
- 🌿 Cerro Cristo Rey hike – Gradual, social hill walk with locals; summit view and Christ statue are worth the effort (daytime only)
- 🧠 Museo La Tertulia – Slick modern art, indie vibe, top for chill afternoons or meeting other art-lovers
- 🧭 San Antonio neighborhood wander – Colorful colonial homes, poetic streetlife, parks, top coffee and murals everywhere
- 🎨 Parque de los Gatos – Shaded riverside park with quirky cat sculptures; perfect urban me-time, free & photogenic
- 🔀 Wildcard: Free salsa lesson at Tin Tin Deo (Thurs nights) – No partner needed, full of friendly locals/other travelers
WHAT TO SKIP
- ❌ Juanchito salsa clubs as a beginner – Intense for newbies & harder to reach safely at night without a crew
- ❌ Caliwood Museum unless you love film history – Niche but less engaging for casual visitors
- ❌ Zoo – Not unique, and you’re here for rhythm and city life!
EATING & DRINKING
- 🧍♂️ Solo-friendly spot: Food and Friends – Casual, global eats, lots of solos and chats over coffee
- 🥃 Quiet bar: Cervecería Glück – Friendly craft beer bar; easy to strike up a chat with locals
- 🍽️ Try these foods: Sancocho, bandeja paisa, cholado—grab at Alameda Market or La Caverna for proper home-style flavors
- 💸 Best cheap eats: Food stalls at LA 14 Supermarket – local, fast, and filling
- 🥦 Veg/vegan: Ware – creative plant-based plates, just up from hostels
- 🍸 Cocktails/nightcap: La Casa de la Cerveza – breezy vibes, local microbrews, and city views from the terrace
BEST OF CALI IN 1 DAY – SOLO ITINERARY
- Sunrise: Start with a strong Colombian coffee at a San Antonio balcony café
- Morning: Climb Cerro de las Tres Cruces for city/valley panoramas
- Lunch: Refuel at Alameda Market with sancocho or fruit juice
- Afternoon: Explore San Antonio’s quirky cafes + visit the cat statues at Parque de los Gatos
- Evening: Dress casual and take a salsa class at Tin Tin Deo (or just watch and enjoy)
- Dinner: Feast on bandeja paisa at La Caverna with locals
- Night: Sip a local beer at Cervecería Glück or catch open-air music on the Boulevard del Rio
LOCAL TIPS & INSIDER WISDOM
- 🎉 Festival/seasonal tip: Feria de Cali turns the whole city into a giant, joyous, all-ages dance party every December
- 📍 Hidden gem: Parque de los Poetas – Watch local poets at work for a soulful, unique souvenir
- 📷 Photo spots: La Ermita’s white spires, San Antonio at sunset, cat sculptures along the river
- 🧠 Etiquette tip: Cali folks are warm—say “buenos días” and smile; don’t knock salsa unless you try it!
- 🚩 Safety reminder: Skip the eastern barrios and unpopulated areas at night; use taxis/apps for late trips
- 👀 One last thing: Don’t come to Cali and NOT take a salsa class, even if you have two left feet!