According to mysteryaround, Cali is the third largest city in Colombia, located in the southwestern part of the Western Cordillera chain, at an altitude of 995 meters above sea level. In addition to the interesting historical part of the city and many museums, Cali attracts tourists with natural attractions located in the vicinity and the estates of “sugar barons”.
The inhabitants of this city are very fond of salsa. You can watch and listen in numerous halls (“salsotecs”), which are located along the northern bank of the river and in the Juancito area.
How to get to Cali
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport is located 16 km from the city center, on the road to Palmyra. From here there are flights to Bogota with Avianca (daily) and to Cartagena, Medellin, Pasto and San Andrés with SAM.
According to iamhigher, the airport is easily accessible by taxi (55,000 COP) or bus (5,000 COP) in 20 minutes. Buses leave every 10 minutes from 8 am, it is better to use licensed companies: Expreso Palmira, Bolivariano or Expreso Brasilia.
The Cali bus station is a 25-minute walk to the northern edge of the city. You can get there by bus (10 minutes) or taxi (4200 COP). Buses depart regularly from the station to Bogota (12 hours, 45-65,000 COP), Medellin (9 hours, 45-50,000 COP), Pasto (40-45,000 COP, 9 hours) and Popayana (3 hours, 14-15 000 COP), which is also accessible by minibuses (2.5 hours, 10-12,000 COP). In addition, regular flights to Armenia (21,500 COP, 5 hours), Pereira (22,000 COP, 4 hours) and Manizales (30-35,000 COP, 5 hours).
Transportation
A licensed taxi is a fast and convenient way to get around the city. You can order a car by phone: 444 44 44 or 555 55 55. When boarding, make sure that the driver turns on the meter, which counts, if not in km, but in units (14 units = 900 COP). The cost of landing is 3,600 COP during the day, and 4,500 COP at night.
The transport company MIO (Masivo Integrado de Occidente) operates large blue buses that run on convenient lines, with few stops, and are air-conditioned, clean and safe. The fare is 1500 COP. In addition, there are 23 more companies in the city, the fare for all is the same, ~ 1500 COP.
Cuisine and restaurants
Worth a try: cholados (a delicious mix of ice, fruit, condensed milk and cookies); pandebono – traditional Cali cheese bread slices; donuts buñuelos; the very popular sancocho de gallina chicken soup; manjar blanco – sweetness made from milk and sugar; street snack mango viche – mango with salt and lemon juice; guarapo – a refreshing drink made from ice, lemon juice and sugar; arroz atollado – a traditional dish, which is something like risotto with chicken, sausages and potatoes; champus is a highly exotic blend of pineapple, local lulo fruit, corn and limoncillo fruit.
Some of these dishes can be tasted on the streets of the city, others – only in restaurants: El Solar (calle 15 Norte 9, N-62, tel.: +572 653 4628, opening hours: until 13:00); fish Pacific (Ave 9, N 12-18, tel.: +572 653 3753); Tizones (Ave 6 BN, 28 N – 57, tel.: +57 2 653 0181); traditional cuisine at Ringlete (Calle 15 A Norte, 9N-31, tel.: +57 2 660 1540); El Patio Verde (Cra 9, 4-53, tel.: +57 2 893 6219); Faro El Patio (Calle 19, 105-52, tel.: +57 2 333 1456).
Local drinks also deserve attention: Guarapo, Aguardiente and Chicha. Explaining what it is is quite difficult, it is better to try it yourself.
Attractions and attractions in Cali
The Church of Iglesia de La Merced (the oldest in Cali), the Church of Iglesia de San Antonio, the Plaza de Toros de Canaberalejo (the site of traditional bullfights), as well as numerous museums. In the vicinity of the city you can see the Monumento de las Tres Crusas, one of the most beautiful colonial houses of the country, the Casas Gordas hacienda, the Farallones de Cali National Park and the Reserva Natural Hato Biejo Reserve, as well as numerous old haciendas sugar barons, which now open small museums.
