{"id":14330,"date":"2014-04-08T11:57:57","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T16:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/?p=14330"},"modified":"2016-03-31T12:25:22","modified_gmt":"2016-03-31T17:25:22","slug":"cali-top-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/2014\/04\/cali-top-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Things to do in Cali"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I just came back from a brilliant weekend visit to Cali<\/strong>, my first time in the lovely southern Colombian city. I am thoroughly converted to Cali’s charms, and can’t wait to go back. But for now, to satisfy those urges, and encourage you to visit too, here’s a Top 5 list of what you have to do on a trip to Cali…<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Work those hips! Dance salsa…<\/strong><\/p>\n

No trip to Cali is complete without taking a turn on the dancefloor to the sounds of Cali’s most famous export – salsa!<\/strong> Any hostel worth its salt in Cali will offer a free 1 hour salsa class with an expert local dancer, so loosen up your hips and dive in! I was pretty rubbish by local standards, but it’s great fun, and a uniquely Cali-style experience.<\/strong> Then, come sundown, brush off your smartest shirt and head out on the town to put your moves in action – I visited a brilliant little salsa bar called El Rincon<\/strong>, and, whilst my skills were the subject of some laughter from my companions, spinning around a packed dancefloor to the tunes of Willie Colon and Hector Levoe will go down as one of my top Colombian experiences.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Flamingo<\/a>
Flamingos at the Cali Zoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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2. Be a kid again – visit the Zoo…<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cali Zoo is one of the best in Latin America<\/strong>, and this reputation is clearly deserved. Keep an eye on the blog for a more detailed post on the Zoo coming up, but let me just say that the Cali Zoo is everything a good one should be:<\/strong> educational, interactive, and heavily focused on the conservation of Colombia’s incredibly diverse selection of wildlife. And for just 20.000 COP<\/strong> with a free hot-dog, drink and ice-cream, you’ll feel like a kid again….which is rarely a bad thing!<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Take a walking tour (remember the sunscreen)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, most hostels will offer this service, and it’s a great way to see the best parts of Cali. The old-town of San Antonio has some beautiful churches and historic buildings<\/strong>, all located reasonably close together. A personal favourite was the church of San Antonio<\/strong> on the hillside of a pretty park, boasting a stunning view over the city. Just don’t forget a hat and some sunscreen – this isn’t Bogota, it’s hot here!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Chiva<\/a>
La Chiva Viajera enjoying a refreshing lulada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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4. Eat!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Normally I wouldn’t be in favour of gluttony, but I’ll make an exception for Cali: the city boasts some delicious local snacks and treats<\/strong>, all available on the street for an eye-wateringly good price! Grab some empanaditas<\/i>, marranitos, pandebono <\/i>and aborrajado<\/i>, and wash them down with a lulada <\/i>or a glass of champus<\/i>. Cali boasts some of Colombia’s most lip-smacking snack food.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Spend a Sunday at the Rio Pance<\/strong><\/p>\n

For a real local experience in Cali<\/strong>, head 40 minutes out of the city centre on a Sunday to the Rio Pance, a gorgeous river, boasting clean, fresh water, perfect for swimming in.<\/strong> This is what calenos <\/i>do, and if you go there, you’ll be joined by hundreds of local people, all enjoying a BBQ, a beer and some welcome respite from the Cali heat.<\/strong> Cali folk are delightful company and as friendly as they come, so it’s a great chance to enjoy a real local tradition,<\/strong> and chat with some fun people. Again, remember the sunscreen…the redness of my shoulders can attest to this!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Rio<\/a>
Calenos enjoying a dip in the Rio Pance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you have any questions about visiting Cali,<\/strong> or any more recommendations, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at See Colombia Travel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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