Things to do in

Valle del Cauca

The city of Cali has the privilege of being surrounded by several rivers and waterfalls, with many of its forests and ecological trails still awaiting to be discovered. Live an unforgettable experience, hiking the rural hillsides of Cali with a wildlife expert that will show you the best that these mountains have to offer. During the tour, you will witness the natural richness of the Farallones, the west branch of the Andes Mountains. You will see the well preserved diversity of nature where more than 80 species of birds can be seen. Open your lungs to the clean and fresh air, plunge into crystal clear waters, and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the valley and mountains. During your hike you will be able to cool off in natural waterfalls and rivers.

DAY 1. You will arrive to Buenaventura a day before of the whales watching tour and will enjoy the Cosmos hotel, the city port and its food. The recommendation for you is to have lunch or dinner at Cafe Pacifico, walk the boulevard and then rest in the hotel to get up early in the morning. DAY 2. After breakfast at your hotel you should be at the pier office at 7:15 am to get your boat tickets and at 8:00 am your boat will depart to Juanchaco, an authentic fishing village on the Colombian Pacific coast. By 9:00 am you will arrive at the Juanchaco tourist pier where PIO will be waiting for you to give you the instructions to take another small boat to the whales watching tour. Next, explore the beach and the town of Juanchaco before getting ready for lunch at our recommended restaurant, “Donde Yenny” with Doña Fanny’s seasoning. Later in the afternoon, at approximately 3 PM, the boat will be waiting for you to return to Buenaventura (1 hour ride).

Get an introduction to Cali on a guided tour and discover its key sights, such as Iglesia La Merced, Plazoleta Jairo Varela, and El Gato del Río. Learn about Cali's history, culture, and dance from your guide, sample a local traditional drink, and take in beautiful city views from the Cristo Rey. Meet your guide at Plazoleta Jairo Varela, where you will learn about salsa. Next, head to Plaza de Caicedo to learn about Cali's history. Then, take in Plaza San Francisco's convent, followed by Iglesia La Merced, a former monastery with a rich history, and Iglesia de San Antonio, a hilltop chapel. Having explored Cali's historic center on foot, climb aboard an air-conditioned van to be taken to the Cristo Rey monument. Marvel at the statue's size and stunning views over the city. Finally, end your tour beside the Cali River at El Gato del Río, a sculpture by Colombian artist Hernando Tejada.

This grand tour of Cali allows you to visit the city in an efficient and fun way, going straight from one attraction to the next in a private vehicle without wasting in between. Your local caleño guides will show you the best attractions, where you can listen to the history of the city and take pictures. Visit Cristo Rey and Sebastian de Belalcazar, where you can see the incredible panoramic views that the city has to offer. You will also have the chance to try typical drinks, so you can feel like a true caleño.  Pass by El Gato del Rio and the only musical monument in Colombia. Walk through the Boulevard del Rio and explore the historical center, full of art, culture, and ancestral myths.

Visit the Hacienda El Paraíso (Paradise) and the Sugar Cane Museum. Marvel at the rich architecture, art, flora, and fauna. Learn about centuries of culture and knowledge and discover what life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy a quiet walk through the grounds surrounded by beautiful landscapes and history.  Experience the pleasant freshness of the gardens, adorned with rose bushes and illuminated by the first rays of the morning sun. Stop for a traditional lunch that will awaken your taste buds.

Whether you are short of time or you are wanting to have the complete experience in Cali, this city tour is made for you. Come and visit the vibrant city of Cali, one of Colombia’s principal urban, industrial and cultural centers that attracts visitors throughout the year from across the world. Start this full-day tour by meeting your local guide who will pick you up from your hotel. From there you will be headed to Cristo Rey, a Christ monument at the top of a hill which offers panoramic views of the city like nowhere else. Locals and foreigners, thousands of people climb Cristo Rey frequently. Some of them for religious purposes and some others just to look, however it is a must see. After having seen the wonders of Cali from above, you will go to La Tertulia museum, the first modern art museum in the city and the biggest collection of artworks collected in paper in the country. Right afterwards we will keep walking around the area to a coffee shop where we will learn about the importance of coffee and its preparation in Colombia, and of course have a taste of it. Then we will wander around downtown, visiting places such as: plaza Caycedo and San Francisco, learning about colonization and religion in the country, as well as understanding the current issues the city faces. You will also visit a fruit market to discover our endemic fruits and taste the best of them. A refreshing stop for a long but fulfilling day. This tour will finish once the driver takes you back safely to your hotel. Cali has a lot to offer and this is the best proof of it. Come and see it by yourself.

San Cipriano's reserve is nestled within a picturesque small town on the Colombian Pacific Coast. It is surrounded by rivers that are ideal for activities such as swimming, snorkeling, tubing and cliff jumping. With your local guide, you will be able to hover on the "brujita" (a wooden pallet powered by a motorcycle and placed on train tracks) through the rainforest. With the river on one side and deep vegetation on the other, you will pass through tunnels and cross bridges to unveil the natural wonders that you will encounter upon arriving to the reserve. The natural reserve of San Cipriano offers relief and pleasure for the mind, body and soul. Whilst there you will experience an abundance of peace and quiet, with only the hum of the rainforest and flow of the river to listen to as your local guide takes you to explore waterfalls and hidden natural pools. Later on, you can hop on a tube, sit back, relax, and glide down the river as it unveils the secrets of this diverse ecosystem.

Paragliding gives you the opportunity to see the world from another perspective, whilst allowing you to feel what it's like to fly. The feeling of freedom is unique in the air, and the best thing about this activity is that you do not need to have any special skills to enjoy this extraordinary adventure. The Valle del Cauca is a privileged department for the practice of paragliding, since it has special climate conditions to host calm, safe, and pleasant flights. The closeness that Cali has with the main takeoff areas makes it a desired and favored activity in the region. After soaring through the air for up to 15 minutes, you will touch down safely on the ground. From there, you can peruse the photographs from your experience, before your tour comes to an end.

Visit the historical El Paraiso Hacienda estate and a sugar cane museum on this day trip from Cali. Discover the fascinating world of Colombian sugar cane and its history of slavery, music, and cultural exchange. Dig into a hearty lunch of authentic local flavors. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from your accommodation in Cali. Sit back and relax on the drive through the countryside on your way to El Paraiso Hacienda estate which was built in 1815. Meet your guide who take you on a stroll around the gardens. Admire the traditional architecture and high ceilings of this picturesque house. Continue to the sugar cane fields to learn about this local crop that is used to produce brown sugar and liquor. Uncover the secrets of the growing and harvesting process at a sugar cane museum. Taste a sugar cane-based traditional drink. Find out how it is made using a machine that extracts the liquid out of the plant. Sit down to a delicious lunch of authentic Cauca Valley cuisine. Return to your accommodation in Cali at the end of your tour.

Experience the art and culture in some of the the 11 neighborhoods of Commune 20 on this driving tour in Cali. Listen as your local guide tells you the story about what made the inhabitants of these districts seek positive change. Enjoy a typical local drink along the way. Be picked up at the Hotel Intercontinental and sit back and relax on the drive to Cañaveralejo station. Board the MIO cable car and soar over the city. Snap pictures of the panoramic city views. Stop at 4 thematic stations starting with Cañaveralejo. Hear about the history of tranportation at Cañaveralejo station. Make your way to Tierra Blanca station to hear about the local salsa tradition. Stop to enjoy the green spaces at Lleras Camargo station. Uncover local myths and legends at the Brisas de Mayo station. Return to your meeting point at the Hotel Intercontinental at 3:00 PM.