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Things to do in Valle del Cauca

Our most recommended things to do in Valle del Cauca

Cali: Grand City Tour

1. Cali: Grand City Tour

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.

Cali: Sugar Cane Farm and El Paraiso Hacienda Day Trip

2. Cali: Sugar Cane Farm and El Paraiso Hacienda Day Trip

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.

Buenaventura: Whale Watching Trip with Overnight Stay

3. Buenaventura: Whale Watching Trip with Overnight Stay

Day 1 Arrive in Buenaventura a day before the whale watching tour and be escorted to your hotel for your overnight stay. Enjoy your evening in the town, and sample local cuisine as you stroll along the promenade. Day 2 After breakfast at your hotel, head to the pier office to collect your boat tickets. At 8:00 AM your boat will depart to Juanchaco, an authentic fishing village on the Colombian Pacific coast. Arrive at Juanchaco pier where you will meet your host who will escort you to the whale watching tour. Next, explore the beach and the town of Juanchaco. Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant. Later in the afternoon the boat will be waiting for you to return to Buenaventura.

Cali: Fruit Market Walking Tour with Tastings

4. Cali: Fruit Market Walking Tour with Tastings

Enjoy a guided walking tour around the San Antonio neighborhood of Santiago de Cali. Travel like a local as your guide shows you the most important open markets in the city like the Galeria Alameda market. Be greeted by your guide at the El Viajero Hostel and begin your tour. Hear about the unusual climate of the Cauca River Valley. Find out how this makes this area the most important place for fruit production and export in Colombia.  Walk through vibrant markets from downtown to Market square. View stalls filled with fresh and colorful fruit. Try a range of different fruits as you walk along and gain a deeper understanding of Valluna gastronomy. 

Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport: One Way Transfer to Cali

5. Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport: One Way Transfer to Cali

Comfort Private Transfer from Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport to your accommodation in Cali. All Vehicles fully licensed and insured. Our cars are equipped with all necessary facilities for a trip to any part of the world under any weather conditions, including additional fastenings for sports and other equipment. On request for your tourists, we have child seats for all ages. Vehicles are clean inside and outside; our drivers’ always are well dressed and always pay attention to our guests. They speak English. They will meet you with a name sign; help with luggage and on arrival to the hotel.

Cali: Farallones Natural Reserve Guided Hiking Tour

6. Cali: Farallones Natural Reserve Guided Hiking Tour

Discover the several rivers and waterfalls of the forests and ecological trails surrounding Cali on a guided hiking tour. Experience 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. 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.

Cali: City Highlights Tour, Cristales Hill and Local Drink

7. Cali: City Highlights Tour, Cristales Hill and Local Drink

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 hill. 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.

From Cali: Buga Tour with Basilica Visit

8. From Cali: Buga Tour with Basilica Visit

Visit the Basilica of the Lord of Miracles, an architectural and religious spectacle. It is one of the few cities in the world that has a cathedral and a basilica. Where you can participate in a mass, or make purchases of religious articles. In addition, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the city, observing sites of cultural and tourist interest in the municipality like the Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol and Capilla de San Francisco. Aso you can also visit the museum of the basilica, see some colonial houses

Sugar Cane Museum and Hacienda Paraíso Day Tour

9. Sugar Cane Museum and Hacienda Paraíso Day Tour

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.

Cali: Authentic Coffee Tour Experience

10. Cali: Authentic Coffee Tour Experience

Colombia is blessed with ideal geographical and climatic conditions for coffee growing. The care and passion that the coffee growers show in each stage of the process and the strict controls guarantee the quality of each grain. This provides a rich coffee industry with economic, social, and environmental sustainability. At the end, is a high-quality product.  On this Cali coffee tour, witness the process at each stage of production to make Colombian bean juice. Learn about the history of coffee and how it is made, from its origin in the Ethiopian highlands all the way to the Colombian soil. At the coffee farm, enjoy a complete tour through the coffee plantation. Discover the seven types of coffee trees that converge in different stages of development and the natural surroundings that create a self-sustainable farm. Here you can also find multiple varieties of birds and butterflies that coexist to decorate the landscape and enrich your experience. Live the experience of being a coffee picker and then make coffee quality control selection. See step by step the complete process from sowing to obtaining the final product. In the future, the aroma and each sip of each coffee cup that touches your palate will evoke your lived experience. Be reminded of all that is behind a good Colombian coffee, which is quality coffee made with love. 

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What people are saying about Valle del Cauca

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 63 reviews

It was changed slightly to include both walking and a short drive up a mountain to a viewpoint which was great. The guide Andres is a proud local who has also travelled extensively. He has lots of interesting information and insights.

Juanko had excellent knowledge of Cali and showed us plenty of it. Very passionate about the city; particularly it’s history, the local artisans and Columbian culture. He was also great company.

This is an amazing opportunity to see and experience a special part of Colombia. The guides were great and there was so many beautiful areas to drink in. I will do this again.

Real, satisfying. Juan is a terrific host and guide. In spite of warnings by friends, felt safe the entire visit. Don’t go if you are not fit enough to walk up steep inclines.

It is great to learn about Cali from the enthusiastic guides. It really helps get oriented and gain a deep appreciation for the city and culture.