How to Spend 2 Days in Cali

In addition to soaking up the salsa-spiced atmosphere of Colombia’s third-largest city and exploring its historical highlights, two days in Cali gives you time to venture out to some of Colombia’s best historical and natural destinations. See below for how best to spend 48 hours in Cali. 

Day 1: Salsa and Sightseeing

**Morning:**Orient yourself in Cali’s historic center during a sightseeing tour, which tend to cover top sights such as Plaza Caicedo and San Antonio Church and Museum. Opt for a walking tour for a more intimate glimpse into the colonial Old Town, or cover more sights in less time on a bus tour. 

**Afternoon:**Spend your afternoon hitting up some of Cali’s top shopping spots. Explore the Loma de la Cruz Artisan Park, home to stalls and vendors selling local crafts, or get a taste of local life and culinary delights at Alameda Market, considered the kitchen of Cali.  

**Evening:**Devote your first evening to Cali’s most famous pastime—salsa dancing. Opt for either a private or shared class to master basic moves, and then enjoy a traditional Colombian meal and a salsa performance before heading to Sixth Avenue for a cocktail. 

Day 2: Venture Afield

**Day:**Escape the city on a day trip to enjoy the natural and cultural highlights surrounding Cali. Opt to spend the day at Hacienda el Paraíso, a carefully restored 19th-century plantation near the town of Buga. Today the mansion houses a museum, but it’s best-known as the setting for Colombian romantic writer Jorge Isaacs’ novel, María. Alternatively, get your wildlife fix on a birdwatching tour in a nearby cloud forest, or spend the afternoon at Cali Zoo, home to species native to South America. 

**Evening:**Spend your final evening enjoying the diversity of Cali’s nightlife on an evening tour that takes you to the neighborhood of San Antonio, the gastronomic district of Granada, and the nightlife hub of Sixth Avenue. Conclude your visit at the hilltop Sebastián de Belalcázar overlook for the best city views.