Last updated on December 20, 2023.

Cali, officially named Santiago de Cali, has a historic city center that can easily be seen in just a few hours. Most of the sites lie within a fairly straight path and are accessible on foot.

 

San Antonio Hill

A good place to start is San Antonio Hill (Colina de San Antonio). This park on a hill above the historic part of town is a popular gathering place at night, especially on weekends. We went on a Friday night and the park was full of people of all ages sitting on the grass. Vendors were selling jewelry, ice cream, snacks, and other goods. There are a few restaurants along the park as well.

Colina de San Antonio in Cali, Colombia
San Antonio Hill

At the top of the hill is the Chapel of San Antonio (Capilla de San Antonio), built in 1747. We were told it’s usually closed except for special occasions.

Capilla de San Antonio in Cali, Colombia
Chapel of San Antonio

There is also a nice view of the city from the top of the hill.

View of Cali from Colina de San Antonio in Cali, Colombia
View of Cali from San Antonio Hill

As you walk down the hill and down Calle 2, there are several interesting looking restaurants and bars serving a variety of different foods. Most of them open at night, but when we walked by a few during the day the smell was incredible.

 

Church of La Merced

The next stop, about a ten minute walk, is the Church of La Merced (Iglesia de La Merced). Built in 1545, it is the oldest church in Cali. The church wasn’t open, but the archaeological museum next to the church is a popular stop.

Iglesia de la Merced in Cali, Colombia
Church of La Merced

Across the street from La Merced is the old Archbishop’s Palace (Palacio Arzobispal).

Palacio Arzobispal in Cali, Colombia
Archbishop’s Palace

 

Municipal Theatre

A block away sits the Municipal Theatre (Teatro Municipal). This beautiful building was built in 1918.

Teatro Municipal in Cali, Colombia
Municipal Theatre

 

Chapel of the Immaculate

The most interesting building for me in Cali is the Chapel of the Immaculate (Capilla de la Inmaculada). It is a chapel built in 1764 with a Mudéjar bell tower and other Moorish features. It’s considered the finest example of a Mudéjar tower in Latin America.

Capilla de la Inmaculada in Cali, Colombia
Chapel of the Immaculate
Torre Mudéjar in Cali, Colombia
Mudéjar bell tower

The chapel is part of the much bigger complex of the Church of San Francisco (Iglesia de San Francisco), built in 1751. Both the church and chapel were closed at the time of visit.

Iglesia de San Francisco in Cali, Colombia
Church of San Francisco

The church complex sits on a large open plaza called Plazoleta de San Francisco. The government offices for the department of Valle del Cauca are opposite the church.

Plazoleta de San Francisco in Cali, Colombia
Plazoleta de San Francisco

 

Plaza de Caicedo

A few blocks away is the main plaza in Cali, Plaza de Caicedo. This plaza, the nicest in the city, features tall palm trees and beautifully manicured grass with a monument in the center.

Plaza de Caicedo in Cali, Colombia
Plaza de Caicedo

Three interesting white buildings sit on the plaza: the Otero Building (Edificio Otero), built in 1922; Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle (Catedral de San Pedro Apostól), built between 1782 and 1802; and the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), a courthouse built in 1928.

Edificio Otero in Cali, Colombia
Otero Building
Catedral de San Pedro in Cali, Colombia
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle
Palacio Nacional in Cali, Colombia
National Palace

 

The Hermitage Church

Not too far away down a pedestrian street full of street vendors is the Hermitage Church (Iglesia de la Ermita). It’s the most beautiful church in Cali, built in 1948 on the site of a ruined 17th century church. It was inspired by the Ulm Minster in Germany.

Iglesia de la Ermita in Cali, Colombia
The Hermitage Church

 

Poets Park

The park behind the church is called Poets Park (Parque de las Poetas). There’s a small fountain in the middle, and on one side there are benches with statues of poets. It’s surrounded by a few interesting buildings, including the orange and white Jorge Isaacs Theatre (Teatro Jorge Isaacs) built in 1931, and the Colombian Tobacco Company (Compañía Colombiana de Tabaco).

Parque de las Poetas in Cali, Colombia
Poets Park: Jorge Isaacs Theatre (left) and Colombian Tobacco Company (right)

 

Parque Simón Bolívar

There’s a riverwalk that runs through the city along the Cali River, but crossing the bridge over the river will take you to Parque Simón Bolívar, a nice park with shady trees. It’s a great place to try a cholado or lulada.

Río Cali in Cali, Colombia
Río Cali
Parque Simón Bolívar in Cali, Colombia
Parque Simón Bolívar

During the holidays, the park is lit up with thousands of colorful lights (alumbrados navideños). The lights are on from the second week of December through the first week of January.

Alumbrados Navideños in Cali, Colombia
Alumbrados Navideños
Alumbrados Navideños in Cali, Colombia
Alumbrados Navideños
Lights over the river at the Alumbrados Navideños in Cali, Colombia
Lights over the river
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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