Historic Center of Cali: Immersive Walking Tour with Local Expert
4.9
46 Ratings
Cali
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Cali's historic center on this guided walking tour. Explore architectural landmarks, visit museums and cathedrals, and sample local fruits and drinks.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Plazoleta Jairo Varela - We will begin with a small explanation of Calis location, history and context.

We will then talk about the history of Salsa, its importance in the city and about one of our greatest local artists: Jairo Varela.

  • Puente Ortiz - We will enter the city center from the north. We will pass by the City Hall and stroll through the Bolivar Walk, where we will have the chance to try a very special fruit from Cali: Chontaduro (at your own expense).
    We will then cross the Cali river by walking on the famous Ortiz bridge, the oldest bridge in the city.
  • Iglesia La Ermita - We will visit some of the most iconic buildings in Cali, such as la Ermita church, the Jorge Isaacs theatre and the Coltabaco building. Each with its own interesting story.
  • Plaza de Caicedo - We will then arrive to the central plaza in Cali where we will have the opportunity to talk about some of the monuments around it and the importance of the place itself. Have a glimpse in to the past where culture and history come alive.
  • Iglesia San Francisco - We will make a quick stop at the San Francisco Plaza to talk about the San Francisco church and the role the Franciscan community has played in the City.
    There we will also have the chance to taste one of the typical drinks from Cali: Guarapo, which is the sugarcane juice mixed with lemon (at your own expense).
  • Iglesia La Merced - We will finish our journey in the church la merced where we will talk about the foundation of the city ever had and some of the importance in its architecture.
What's Included
  • Walking tour of the historic center
  • Guided by a local expert
What's Not Included
  • Any services, foods or drinks not specified in the plan.
Additional Information

Cali is brimming with sightseeing spots and undiscovered treasures, encompassing museums, parks, squares, churches, and monuments…

However, exploring it via public transport without the insights of a local guide can be quite overwhelming! Why fritter away time and resources grappling with complex maps, when there’s a ready-made solution?

Experience Cali through the perspective of a seasoned local, visiting the principal cultural, touristic, and historical sites in the downtown area, with a chance to savor traditional fruits and beverages, truly immersing in the authentic Cali culture.

Our journey commences at our headquarters in the San Antonio area, strolling for approximately 15 minutes towards the historical heart of the city. Following an orientation of the city at the Jairo Varela plaza, we’ll embark on our excursion through the historic center, exploring its vintage architecture, parks, theaters, churches, museums, cathedrals, and monuments honoring significant figures in our history.

Experience the cream of Cali in a secure manner and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen, and bring a water bottle, hat and umbrella.
  • The tour will not be canceled, if it is raining we advise you to bring an umbrella or proper clothing for rain.
Location
Valley Adventours
Carrera 5
We will meet at the Valley Adventours office located in the colonial neighborhood of San Antonio.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(46 Ratings)
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Ifetolao
Apr 3, 2024
Great tour - Juan David was an excellent tour guide. He is a history expert and it shows. The tour was a nice pace and I learnt a lot about the history of Cali as well as general Colombian history. As the only non-Colombian in the group, he made an extra effort to deeply explain the historical and social contexts of some of the sites that he knew I’d be unaware of. All was much appreciated ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
958mariagraciac
Apr 2, 2024
Cali like at home - It was spectacular! We feel at home with our wonderful Guide Marcella!!! He surprised us with a salsa class at the Niche museum, which we hadn't planned on and we had a great time, we ate marranitas and luladas and watched the sunset along the mall. Really 100% recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelmc2292gw
Mar 21, 2024
Great intro to Cali - Juan was a brilliant guide, lots of interest in history and communicated knowledge well and answered lots of questions - really recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fenneo2024
Mar 2, 2024
Wonderfull tour! - Thank you Julio for the wonderfull tour. We learned al lot about the history of Cali, the culture and the food. We got to try some lulo, sugercane juice and sweets. Julio knows everything and is very passionate about his city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emilyw227
Feb 29, 2024
Great tour! - It was a great overview of the city! Julio was really nice and knowledgeable. We got to see historic sites as well as got some good insider tips.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oph_lieb585
Feb 9, 2024
Lovely walking tour with Julio! - Amazing walking tour with Julio, he is super friendly, very knowledgeable about Cali (you can really feel he is passionate about his city), I enjoyed myself very much! Thanks again for your time!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
686ingerf
Jan 27, 2024
The perfect way to start of a stay in Cali - A very nice walking tour for getting to know the city center and some cali culture. The guide Julio was super nice and knew a lot about the city history and the culture, he had an answer to every question. We also got introduced to some tasty treats from cali during the walk.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James_b
Jan 17, 2024
Totally recommended 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - My guide Julio was incredibly knowledgable and engaging. I was really lucky as I was the only one who had booked that morning so effectively had my own 121 tour guide. Fully recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Alicebd4084hy
Jan 7, 2024
Amazing tour - We had a lovely walking tour of Cali with Marcela. She was very friendly and incredibly knowledge about her City. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to explore Cali!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Companion27342491757
Jan 14, 2024
Nice walk with insights - Julio was super nice and knowledgeable about his city of Cali. The tour was good to explore the city with tips where to go and what local food to try.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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