What do do in Cali - The best of
- San Antonio - meet local artists, drink a cup of Colombian coffee at this relaxed colonial part of the city
- Feria de Cali - go wild during one of the hottest salsa week party in the world
- Salsa Party - learn and practice hot salsa steps with the locals
- Loma de la Cruz - buy some handicrafts and listen to the local musicians
- Zoo - learn Windsurfing or Kitesurfing while relaxing at this windy lake
- El kilómetro 18 - remember the feeling of the cold weather only 30 minutes from steamy Cali and try local food in one of the local restaurants
- Chipichape - watch the "Silicon Valley" crowd in this famous shopping centre
- Chiva Party - go across the city on the party bus
- Tres Cruces- trek Tres Cruces in a day time for spectacular view of the city
- Galeria Alameda - taste fresh seafood and take pictures of colorful Colombian fruit
- Acuaparque de la Caña - feel like a child and unwind at this city waterpark
- Festival Petronio Álvarez - learn about Pacific Music at this unique Festival
What do do around Cali - The best of
- Rio Pance / Los Farallones - get connected to the nature, swim in the river or hike to one of the peaks of the cloud forest
- San Cipriano - go tubing into the jungle
- Lago Calima - learn Windsurfing or Kitesurfing while relaxing at this windy lake
- Ladrilleros - jump over waves in the Pacific coastal village
- Paragliding - fly like a bird
- Isla Gorgona - dive with the sharks and relax at this pretty unspoiled island
- Haciendas - visit 18th century hacienda with exhibits of the the natural history the region like the cultivation of sugarcane
- Nirvana - experience great diversity in flora and fuana with more than a 100 species of birds
Cali
Cali is the salsa capital of south america and Colombia´s third largest city. The city has a modern and tranquil atmosphere and a tropical climate, with avarage tempratures between 24 and 30 degrees. In the evening a breeze cools down the daytime heat.
One of Cali´s main attractions is its vibrant nightlive, wich centres around Avenida 6ta and the salsathecas of Juanchito.During the day you can visit the zoo, various museums, hike up toLas Tres Cruzes or go for a walk trough San Antonio the colonial neighbourhood with its bohemian atmosphere and park.
At the end of the year the Feria de Cali is held with a carnaval, concerts and salsa shows.
Attractions outside Cali
The countryside around Cali offers a scala of activities and attractions. Among them paragliding, diving, rainforrest hikes, whale spotting, pacific beaches and handpropelled traintrack cars to San Cipriano. The Iguana can arrange tours of these attractions.
San Cipriano
San Cipriano is a small town on way to the Pacific coast. Since the town can only be reached by rail, the locals improvised their own railway service of hand and motor propelled carts. Wich makes getting there the biggest adventure. Once there its possible to take a hike in the rainforrest or relax by the river.
Visiting San Cipriano can be done as a daytrip but also offers the possiblity for overnight stay. It can also serve as a stopover on the way to the Pacific coast or Isla Gorgona.
Farallones
National park los Farallones is about an hour away from Cali and close to the popular weekend get away Rio Pance.
It offers Cloud forrest and rivers for swimming. Its possible to stay overnight inside the park or in the nearby village. For more adventures spirits its possible to make a multiple day hike to one of the peaks of the park.
Isla Gorgona
Isla Gorgona is Colombia´s biggest Pacific island and national park wich can be reached by boat from Beunaventura. It offers diving with high possibility of seeing hammerheadsharks and other big fish. Depending on the season, whale spotting also can be part of the activities.
To visit and stay on the island permision is needed from the national park administration.
Paragliding
Colombia is one of the cheapest places in the world to go Paragliding. The cordillera Central on the otherside of the Valle de Cauca about 40 minutes from Cali is the most popular spot. With German Air you can take tandem flights or get certified for soloflights. Optional stay in a finca near the mountains is possible.
Haciendas
In de Valle de Cauca there are various old haciendas to visit. El Paraiso is the hacienda where Jorge Isaacs used to live and where he wrote the novel ''La Maria''.
Pie de Chinche is a hacienda build in the 18th century with exhibits of the the natural history the region like the cultivation of sugarcane. Many of the regions flowers are represented in the haciendas beautifull gardens.
Nirvana
Nirvana is a private reserve located 40 km from Cali in the Cordilla Central. The reserve used to be a coffee plantation but has been given back to nature. Its offers a great diversity in flora and fuana with more than a 100 species of birds. Its also has a botanical garden, ecological walks, swimming pool and restaurant with a spectacular view of the Valle del Cauca.
Lago Calima
Lago Calima is a artificial lake with exelent wind conditions for wind and kite surfing. The village Darien neaer the lake has a nice museum of the indigenous cultures from the region.
