South America · CALI TOURS
A trip has room for a handful of paid days. These 15 cali tours earn the slot, and the price and the start time sit on every one of them.
Walk Cali’s historic center with Beyond Colombia guides such as Cristian, Fernando, Juliana, or Lem. Over about 150 minutes, you’ll connect La Merced, the Gold Museum, major plazas, theaters, churches, salsa culture, Afro-Colombian traditions, and the city’s difficult modern history. Bring water, rain gear, and comfortable shoes.
“Traveling for 9 monts best guide so far. THANKS LEM, KEEP UP THE GOOD MOVES!”
Walk through central Cali with a certified Spanish-speaking guide such as Cristian or Juliana, tracing salsa, graffiti, and popular resistance from Plazoleta Jairo Varela to Cimarrón Salsa Bar. Expect murals, local history, a few dance steps, music, and recommendations for salsa clubs. The $14 tour lasts about three hours and accepts up to 30 people.
“This tour with Christian and Beyond Colombia is the best walking tour ever. I’ve never been on a tour where you leant dance steps in addition to the best spots in town to visit. I wouldn’t know half of what I know about Cali without having done this tour. Truly a special experience with an incredible guide.”
Walk central Cali with guides such as Juan or Andrés, stopping for pandebono, empanadas, marranitas, local drinks, and two scoops of inventive ice cream. Along the way, see Bulevar del Río, Cali’s street art, Calle de la Escopeta, La Linterna’s old printing machines, and historic San Antonio. Expect a friendly, food-heavy introduction to the city.
“Everyone was great and it was a fun street tour. It was a good mix of street food and little history lessons here and there. It was awesome to see La Calle del Sabor in person as well. I recommend it.”
Travel from Cali to San Cipriano with a local guide, ride the region’s unusual brujita rail cart, hike through Pacific rainforest, swim at waterfalls and natural pools, then float the river by tube. Breakfast, lunch, equipment, entrance fees, insurance, and hotel transfers are included. Groups are limited to seven.
“The brujitas train ride is unique and very exciting. The waterfall after the hike for swimming is very refreshing and relaxing. The tubing on the river was fun and very well managed by team. The tour guide Marcella was excellent.”
Join Juan, Andrés, or another local guide for a two-hour walk through central Cali. Taste pandebono, empanadas, champús, fruit drinks, raspado, cholado, and more while visiting murals, salsa spots, craft stalls, and landmarks. The tour suits meat-eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners, with food choices explained in English or Spanish.
“Andres was a super funny and welcoming guide with a huge knowledge about his city. We tasted delicious foods and got a lot of infos about Cali.”
Follow a local guide through Cali’s historic center in a group capped at seven. Visit La Merced, the Calima Gold Museum, San Pedro Cathedral, Puente Ortiz, salsa landmarks, and colorful Calle de la Escopeta. You’ll sample a typical drink, hear Cali’s story, and finish where you started after two to three hours on foot.
“Visit with Marcela , who is a very good guide and knows how to interest you. It is a journey into culture, life, food and of course salsa. RecommendAuto-translated”
Join Andrés Jiménez for a 150-minute walking tour through central Cali and an Afro-Colombian neighborhood. Learn how African, Indigenous, and Spanish traditions shaped the city, see meaningful murals, visit three cultural institutions, taste local food, and discover Cali’s connection to salsa. The tour is offered in English and Spanish and costs $42 per person.
“This tour was absolutely fantastic! Andrés is a super friendly and incredibly knowledgeable guide who shares a deep understanding of the city’s culture and diversity. I especially loved learning the background stories behind the murals we visited. The included snacks were a nice touch and made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, it’s a perfect mix of history, art, and local culture. I highly recommend taking this tour with Andrés!”
Spend three hours seeing Cali by private car and on foot with a local Spanish or English-speaking guide. Visit Cristo Rey, Sebastian de Belalcazar, the Cats of the River, Jairo Varela Plaza, Boulevard del Rio, and the historic center, ending in San Antonio. Guides such as Juan David, Andres, and Marcela are known for clear stories and personal service.
“Saw different city spots and know more about the history”
Join Mateo of Tour Cali for a three-hour walk beside the upper Cali River, with hotel pickup, bird and plant spotting, river crossings, and time to swim at Charco El Recodo, Charco Azul, Paris, or Cali Waterfall. The route is gentle, though your feet may get wet.
“The best experience we had in Cali! We both love nature and selected Mateo based on his reviews and he did not disappoint- it’s apparent that his number one goal is for you to enjoy your experience and second is to teach you about all the beauty Cali has to offer - and he over delivered on both - we learned so much and had an incredible afternoon with Mateo! Thank you again !”
Spend about three hours at Mariposario Andoke near Cali, where a guide leads you through a stone map of Colombia, an ant farm, butterfly lab, gardens, and a large butterfly enclosure. You can see eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and newly emerged butterflies, then take part in a release ritual.
“Se inicia con un recorrido al mapa en piedra de Colombia con cada uno de sus aspectos más importantes, seguido de la explicación sobre la granja de hormigas y el laboratorio de mariposas. Se concluye con tomar mariposas y en mi caso participé en la liberación de tres bebés mariposa.”
Walk through central Cali with guides such as Cristian, tracing salsa from African emancipation and the Caribbean to its boom in Cali. You’ll see the Plazoleta de la Caleñidad, Calle del Pecado, River Boulevard, World Cup Tunnel, salsa murals, and activist art. Expect about 8 km on foot, Spanish or English guiding, and lively stories about music, protest, and local identity.
“Great guide, really informative and entertaining- great story teller! Highly recommend.”
Leave Cali at 4:30 am for Buenaventura and the Colombian Pacific. Continue by boat to Juanchaco in Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park for seafood, local culture, and humpback whale watching. The 18-hour trip includes meals, bilingual guides, insurance, dock fees, and roundtrip transport, but not hotel pickup.
“Unfortunately, the trip is not worth 500 euros by a long shot. Maybe 500.000 COP. The boat trip is done with normal means of transport like all other tourists. We saw many whales, but the trip is not suitable for professional photography. The guide and driver were nice people. It is better to book the trip in the country itself. Unfortunately, it is a complete rip-off.”
See Buga from a traditional chiva, using an English or Spanish audio guide alongside local staff such as Carlos, Sebastián, Miguel, or Sandra. The two-hour route includes the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, historic buildings, regional sweets, artisanal wine, Colombian coffee, and a Valluna empanada.
“This tour is short and sweet! It was the perfect way to spend a Thursday afternoon in Buga. The tour gives you historical details of the sites while the audio explains detals and history of the city and each stop.”
Spend about six hours with a private guide and driver visiting Cristo Rey, central Cali, Plaza de Caicedo, Plaza San Francisco, and La Tertulia Museum. Expect hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, plenty of walking, local fruit and coffee tastings, and guide-led context on Cali’s culture. Museum hours can change, so confirm the plan before you go.
“It was great to have a personal tour guide. Juan was knowledgable and enthusiastic about his home city, Cali. We saw so much and it was great to also taste some local fruit and coffee. Recent this tour”
Start at 7 p.m. in San Antonio with Ana or another local guide, then visit three salsa bars across Cali. You’ll get a schnapps shot, drink discounts, local snacks, transport between the second and third stops, and photos or videos. The night ends in Barrio Obrero, with a COP20,000 entrance fee paid separately.
“Ana es una persona extraordinaria, me encantó su compañía y conocimiento del área. La recomiendo totalmente”
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