Cali fitted naturally into my overland route through Colombia, between Popayán and Salento. After traveling through several smaller places in the south, it was also a good moment for a larger city stop before continuing towards the Coffee Region. But the main reason I wanted to visit Cali was simple: salsa. Cali is famous for its salsa culture, and dancing is a big part of the city’s identity. I love to dance and wanted to experience that side of Colombia properly, not just watch it from the sidelines. Taking salsa classes became the main focus of my two days in the city.
How to travel from Popayán to Cali
Traveling from Popayán to Cali is a logical next step when following an overland route through southern Colombia. My bus journey took around three hours, making Cali an easy larger stop before continuing north towards Salento and the Coffee Region. If you follow a similar route, San Agustín → Popayán → Cali → Salento works well. Popayán breaks up the longer journey from San Agustín, while Cali gives you a completely different experience before heading into the green landscapes of Colombia’s Coffee Region.
Where to stay in Cali
I stayed for two nights at Casa Hotel Jardin Azul in the Miraflores neighborhood. It worked well for my short stay and gave me a quieter base away from the busiest parts of the city. The women working at the hotel were very helpful and helped me arrange my salsa classes almost immediately. Casa Hotel Jardin Azul was a good choice for me because I prefer smaller, more personal hotels over large city properties. For a short stay in Cali, choose your location with a little care. The city is spread out, so staying somewhere that works for your plans can save quite a bit of time.
Want to see other options? Compare accommodation in Cali on Booking.com and choose a location that works for your salsa classes and sightseeing plans.
Take salsa classes in Cali Colombia
If salsa is one of the reasons you are visiting Cali, taking a class is a great way to experience the city. My hotel arranged private lessons at Sondeluz Escuela. Having danced salsa in Cuba before, I thought I knew the basics reasonably well, but Salsa Caleña turned out to be quite different. The footwork was faster, the style more energetic and the lessons much more serious than I expected. I booked two private two-hour classes over two days. They were intense and physically demanding, but I loved the energy and the challenge. It also gave me a much better understanding of why salsa is so closely connected with Cali.
You don’t need to be an experienced dancer to take salsa classes in Cali. If you are a beginner, start with a private lesson or beginner class and simply enjoy learning the steps. If you already dance salsa, be prepared for a different style and much quicker footwork. For me, the classes were the highlight of Cali. Watching salsa is fun, but trying it yourself gives you a much better feeling for why dancing is such an important part of the city.
If salsa is high on your Cali wish list, arrange your first class soon after arriving. You can always add another lesson if you enjoy it, and it leaves your remaining time free for exploring the city.
Explore a little more of Cali
Salsa took up quite a bit of my two days, but there was still time to see some of the city. One afternoon included a very generous fish meal at a local cevicheria near a market before taking a taxi into the center. It happened to be Sunday, and the streets were much quieter than expected. I stopped at Iglesia de San Francisco and watched part of a church service before continuing on foot. If you only have two days, I wouldn’t try to turn Cali into a long sightseeing checklist. Choose a few places you want to see and leave enough time for the experience that brought you to the city in the first place.
Spend some time in San Antonio
San Antonio was the part of Cali I enjoyed most outside the salsa school. After walking through the quiet center, I headed towards the San Antonio area and found a much livelier atmosphere. People were sitting outside, with restaurants and small shops around the neighborhood. The park sits on a hill, making it a nice place to stay until sunset and look out over the city. It showed me how different Cali can feel from one area to another. If you have limited time, San Antonio is an easy place to combine a walk, something to eat and sunset.
Solo travel and safety in Cali
Before visiting Cali, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Part of that came from the city’s history and stories about the Cali Cartel, but my own experience was much more nuanced. Most of the time I felt comfortable, although there was one moment in the very quiet city center when security guards advised me not to continue walking alone with my camera and bag. There were very few other people around, so I took their advice and headed towards the busier San Antonio area. That experience didn’t make me feel that Cali should be avoided. It did remind me to pay attention to the atmosphere around me and not keep walking simply because a place looked close on the map.
When an area feels too quiet or unfamiliar, use a taxi or other trusted transport rather than walking just because the distance looks short. Check the latest official travel advice for Colombia before your trip, as advice can differ between Cali and the surrounding Valle del Cauca region.
How many days do you need in Cali?
Two nights worked well for my Colombia route. It gave me enough time for two salsa classes, a little sightseeing and an afternoon around San Antonio without spending too long in a large city. If dancing is a major reason for your visit, you could easily stay longer and take more classes. If Cali is mainly a stop on your way from Popayán to Salento, two nights gives you a good introduction without slowing the route down too much.
Is Cali worth visiting?
For me, Cali was worth visiting because of the salsa. That was the reason I added the city to my route, and the classes gave me exactly the experience I was looking for. Cali also fitted naturally between Popayán and Salento, so I didn’t have to make a big detour to include it. If dancing or salsa is part of the reason you travel, I would definitely include Cali. If salsa doesn’t interest you and your Colombia itinerary is already full, I would personally prioritize some of the country’s other destinations.
From Cali, I continued north towards Salento and Colombia’s Coffee Region. You can see how Cali fits into the complete trip in my 3 to 4 week Colombia route.
