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My guide to what to see in Cali, Colombia.
Overview of What to See in Cali, Colombia
The city has a handful of solid museums and several interesting sights both inside and outside the historic core. The historic center can easily be covered in a half day, since most of the main sites sit within a fairly compact area. To explore neighborhoods and attractions farther west and south, you’ll need transportation.
For more background on the city and a few additional attractions not listed here, visit my main page for Cali.
What to See in Barrio La Merced, Cali
Barrio La Merced is the oldest part of Cali and the city’s colonial core. A small cluster of museums and historic buildings sits along Calle 7 and on the surrounding side streets.
Church of La Merced
The Church of La Merced (Iglesia de La Merced) is the oldest surviving church in Cali and the only one built in a colonial style. It gives the neighborhood its name and was constructed by the Mercedarians between 1541 and 1544 under Friar Hernando de Granada. The church stands on the site where the first Mass in the city was celebrated, on July 25, 1536.
The church consists of two chapels: one dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, the patron saint of Cali, and the other to Our Lady of Remedies, the patron saint of Valle del Cauca. The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy features a Baroque altarpiece of carved and gilded wood, along with a wooden image of the Virgin of Mercy. On the left side, you’ll find the Altar of El Señor de la Caña.
The Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies dates back to 1678. Its central niche holds a stone statue of the Virgin of Remedies holding baby Jesus, who carries a chontaduro in his hand. The statue was found in the town of Dagua.
Convent of Las Mercedes
The church later became part of the Convent of La Mercedes (Convento de Las Mercedes), founded by the Mercedarians. Although they administered the church earlier, they were authorized to build the convent itself in 1617. The Mercedarians occupied the complex until 1813, when it was converted into a military barracks during the Colombian War of Independence.
In 1825, the convent became the headquarters of Augustinian nuns, who also ran an orphanage and remain associated with the church today. Part of the convent now houses two museums.
La Merced Archaeological Museum
La Merced Archaeological Museum (Museo Arqueológico La Merced) is housed in the former Convent of La Merced. Admission for foreigners is COP$20,000 (as of November 2025). It’s open daily except Sundays from 9am to 6pm.
The permanent collection displays extraordinary artifacts from several indigenous cultures that lived in southwest Colombia between 1500 BC and 1500 AD.
Some of the cultures presented include the Tumaco, Corinto, Quimbaya, Calima, Tolima (Panche), and San Agustín. Information is presented in both Spanish and English, and you’ll also learn background details about each culture.
During my visits, there have also been temporary exhibitions, including photo displays highlighting Colombian festivals and vessels featuring animal forms.
La Merced Museum of Colonial Art
La Merced Museum of Colonial Art (Museo de Arte Colonial La Merced) displays a rich collection of religious and colonial art. It’s open daily except Sundays, and admission is COP$5,000 (as of August 2025).
House of Memories of Conflict and Reconciliation
Across the street to the south is the House of Memories of Conflict and Reconciliation (Casa de las Memorias del Conflicto y de la Reconciliación). It opened in 2018 to memorialize victims of armed conflict in Cali and to educate the public about preventing future atrocities. It’s open Monday through Friday and admission is free (as of November 2025).
Archbishop’s Palace
Just east of the Church of La Merced is the former Archbishop’s Palace (Palacio Arzobispal). Built at the end of the 18th century, it’s the only two-story colonial home in the city. Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) stayed there from January 2 to 22, 1822.
Calima Gold Museum
On the block south of La Merced is the Calima Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Calima), located in the Banco de la República building. Admission is free (as of November 2025) and it’s open Tuesday through Saturday.
It takes about half an hour to go through the small but informative museum, which is on the second floor. On display are several gold artifacts, including jewelry and ceremonial objects.
The museum also features a scale model of a Yotoco village and a life-sized model of a Calima man dressed in full traditional garb with gold jewelry. You’ll also see ceramics, weapons, tools, and other fascinating items that give insight into daily life and rituals.
Although there are several impressive items on display, compared to the other branches of the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) in Bogotá, Armenia, and Santa Marta, I feel that the one in Cali isn’t quite up to par.
Casa Proartes
At Calle 7 and Carrera 5 is Casa Proartes. Built in 1871 by Francisco and Ramón Sinisterra, this Republican-style building was later acquired by the municipality and used as for several purposes: as a prison, the first offices of the Government of Valle del Cauca, the Centennial Library (Biblioteca del Centenario), and as both the Conservatory and headquarters of the University of Valle (Universidad del Valle). Today, it’s home to Proartes, a cultural center that hosts art exhibitions, conferences, musical auditions, theatrical performances, poetry recitals, workshops, and an art store.
Teatro Municipal
Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre) is located across the street to the west. Construction of the beautiful Italian-style theatre began on April 9, 1918, and it opened on November 30, 1927. Officially named for Enrique Buenaventura, it replaced the Teatro Borrero, which had burned down. The theatre has a capacity of just over 1,000 and features frescoes on the ceiling painted by Maurizio Ramelli Andreani, while the foyer was painted by Efraim Martínez (1898–1956).
Plazoleta de San Francisco
Plazoleta de San Francisco is a large open plaza a short walk east. It’s home to the government offices for the department of Valle del Cauca and the San Francisco Religious Complex.
Palacio de San Francisco
The 17-story Palacio de San Francisco houses the offices of the Government of Valle del Cauca (Gobernación del Valle del Cauca). Designed by Enrique Richardson and Libia Yusti de Chatain, it was built between 1969 and 1978 on the site of an earlier building with the same name.
San Francisco Religious Complex
The San Francisco Religious Complex (Complejo Religioso de San Francisco) dominates the north side of the plaza. Fr. Fernando Larrea (d. 1773), who arrived in Cali in 1750, acquired the land in 1751 after a fundraising campaign. Construction began in 1757, and the complex includes the Church of San Francisco, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, and the Convent of San Joaquín. General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera (1798–1878) expelled the Franciscans in 1861, but they regained control ten years later.
Church of San Francisco
The Church of San Francisco (Iglesia de San Francisco) was the main component of the convent. Originally built starting in 1757, it was rebuilt between 1803 and 1827 following a design by Andrés Marcelino Pérez de Arroyo y Valencia (1764–1833). The church features a central nave flanked by two aisles. The vault, painted by Maurizio Ramelli Andreani (1891–1973), depicts the life of St. Francis of Assisi from beginning to end. The Baroque main altar contains 12 statuettes of St. Francis and an image of Christ.
Monument to Friar Damián González
Facing the church is the Monument to Friar Damián González (1807–1878), a beloved Franciscan priest who served at the Convent of San Francisco. The bronze statue was cast in France and inaugurated on July 22, 1910.
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
One of the most interesting buildings in Cali is the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (Capilla de la Inmaculada) within the San Francisco complex. Constructed between 1757 and 1764, it features a Mudéjar bell tower that stands 23 meters high — considered one of the finest examples of a Mudéjar tower in Latin America — along with other Moorish elements. The chapel’s interior was decorated by Maurizio Ramelli Andreani in 1924.
What to See in Barrio San Pedro, Cali
Barrio San Pedro, just east of Barrio La Merced, serves as the administrative heart of Cali.
Plaza de Cayzedo
Plaza de Cayzedo, the main plaza in Cali, is one of the city’s most pleasant spaces, featuring tall palms, manicured lawns, and a monument in the center. The plaza measures 6,500 square meters, and the city developed around it.
During the Spanish colonial period, the plaza was originally called Plaza Mayor and even hosted bullfights. In 1813, it was renamed Plaza de la Constitución, and in 1913 it received its current name in honor of Joaquín de Cayzedo y Cuero (1773–1813), a local Colombian revolutionary hero. From 1674 to 1897, the plaza was used as a market square, and it was redeveloped as a park in 1898.
Monument to Joaquín de Cayzedo y Cuero
In the center of the plaza stands a monument to Joaquín de Cayzedo y Cuero. It was created by French sculptor Charles Raoul Verlet (1857–1923), who began work in 1912, and it was inaugurated on January 26, 1913. The pedestal was crafted by Pascual Bergaglio, an Italian living in Cali.
Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle
The Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle (Catedral de San Pedro Apóstol), the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cali, sits on the southwest corner of Plaza de Cayzedo. The original church was built shortly after the city’s founding in 1536. It had a masonry foundation and a straw roof, which was later replaced with tile.
The current cathedral was designed by architect Antonio García in the Baroque style. Fr. José Rivera laid the first stone on September 1, 1772, and it was consecrated in 1825. Construction wasn’t completed until 1841 due to political issues.
An earthquake damaged the façade and bell tower on June 7, 1925. Engineers recommended rebuilding, resulting in the Neoclassical façade seen today. Renovations took place between 1925 and 1935, carried out by Rafael Borrero and Francisco Ospina. The bell tower was demolished and never replaced.
Features of the Cathedral
The church has a central nave with two aisles, separated by semicircular arches. It houses a Walcker Orgelbau organ, built in 1925 and installed in 1928, which was later moved to the choir in 1933 by German organist Oskar Binder (1911–1990).
Side altars line both aisles, carved of wood and painted with gold leaf. A chapel off the left aisle contains the burials of Monsignor Isaías Duarte Cancino (1939–2002), who served as Archbishop of Cali from 1995 until his death, and General Alfredo Vázquez Cobo (1869–1941), who led Colombian troops during the Colombia–Peru War.
The left sacristy contains the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, decorated with impressive works of art. The right sacristy contains an altar with an image of the Holy Trinity carved in white marble, along with the burials of several Bishops and Archbishops of Cali.
Colseguros Building
On the corner across from the cathedral stands the Colseguros Building (Edificio Colseguros). Designed in 1950 by Rafael Borrero and Francisco Ospina, it was one of the first modernist buildings in Cali. The building features Art Deco elements, and the ground floor is clad in gray marble.
Otero Building
The Otero Building (Edificio Otero) stands on the southeast corner of Plaza de Cayzedo. Emiliano Otero purchased the property in 1916 after a trip to Europe and wanted to construct a building inspired by those he had seen there. Construction began in 1922 and it was completed in 1926, with Rafael Borrero and Francisco Ospina as the architects. The upper floors operated as Hotel Europe while the Gambrinus Restaurant occupied the ground floor.
Bernardo Rivera purchased the building in 1970 and planned to demolish it, but strong opposition from locals and the architecture department of the University of Valle (Universidad del Valle) prevented this. The building was declared a national monument on July 25, 1977. On December 3, 1984, a massacre occurred in which nine people were murdered, and the building was abandoned in 1989. Once again slated for demolition in 2009, citizens rallied to save it, and it was eventually restored and occupied by BBVA.
National Palace
Finally, the National Palace (Palacio Nacional) stands on the northeast corner of the plaza. It was commissioned by the Pacific Railway and designed by Belgian architect Joseph Martens and Italian engineer Giovanni Lignarolo. Construction began on February 15, 1928, and was completed in 1933.
The five-story French Neoclassical building has about 2,455 square meters of floor space and contains 28 offices. It’s currently occupied by the Sectional Council of the Judiciary (Consejo Seccional de la Judicatura), the Administrative Court of Valle del Cauca (Tribunal Administrativo del Valle del Cauca), and the Superior Court of Cali (Tribunal Superior de Cali).
Parque de los Poetas
Continuing north, you’ll reach Parque de los Poetas (Park of the Poets), which was dedicated in 1995 to poets from Valle del Cauca. There’s a fountain in the center, and it’s surrounded by a handful of interesting buildings.
A corner of the park features bronze sculptures by José Antonio Moreno depicting Jorge Isaacs (1837–1895), Carlos Villafañe (1881/1882–1959), Octavio Gamboa (1923–1992), Ricardo Nieto (1878–1952), and Antonio Llanos (1905–1978).
Teatro Jorge Isaacs
Teatro Jorge Isaacs sits on the south side of the park. Designed by architect Hermann S. Bohmer, construction began in 1930 and the theatre opened on December 26, 1931. The French Neoclassical building replaced the Teatro Salón Moderno, which previously stood on the same site. It’s named for writer Jorge Isaacs and has a capacity of just under 2,000.
Coltabaco Building
The Coltabaco Building (Edificio de Coltabaco), also known as the El Puente Building (Edificio El Puente), stands on the west side of the park. It was commissioned by the Colombian Tobacco Company (Compañía Colombiana de Tabaco). Construction began in 1934 and was completed in 1936. Designed by architect Guillermo Garrido, the building features Neocolonial elements that pay homage to Spain. It was originally three stories high, with a fourth story added in 1950.
Coltabaco used the building as a regional headquarters until 1991, when it was converted into private offices. It was restored between September 2022 and September 30, 2024, and reopened as the headquarters of the Popular Institute of Culture (Instituto Popular de Cultura), with classrooms and exhibition space.
The Hermitage Church
The apse of the Hermitage Church (Iglesia de la Ermita) faces the park. Considered the most beautiful church in Cali, the Neo-Gothic structure was inspired by the Ulm Minster in Germany.
The original church, built in 1602, was made of bahareque with a thatched roof. It was destroyed by a flood in 1628 and rebuilt in the current location, only to collapse in an earthquake in 1766. A Colonial-style church replaced it and stood until another earthquake in 1925.
The current church, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows (Nuestra Señora de los Dolores), was completed in 1942. Inside, it houses a fresco of the Señor de la Caña, the only image that survived the 1925 quake.
The church has a central nave with two aisle and is topped by a cross vault. The stained glass windows, made in Amsterdam, depict the Twelve Apostles, while the bells were cast in Levallois-Perret, France. The iron doors were made by local art students in 1937.
Parque Simón Bolívar
Paseo Bolívar, a bridge from Parque de los Poetas, crosses the Río Cali and leads to Parque Simón Bolívar. Also called Parque de La Retreta, this French-style park features a few monuments and a Neoclassical pavilion that originally stood in the center of Plaza de Cayzedo until 1936. It’s a pleasant spot to relax — and a great place to try a cholado or lulada.
Cali City Hall
Cali City Hall (Alcaldía de Santiago de Cali) sits on the west side of the park. The original municipal offices were located at Carrera 4 and Calle 14, but they became cramped and could no longer meet the city’s needs as it grew rapidly. Between 1945 and 1961, six proposals were submitted for a new location. In 1962, the Planning Office (Oficina de Planeación) selected the site occupied by the Pichincha Battalion (Batallón Pichincha) because of its proximity to the business district. A design competition was launched in 1965 and was won by a group of architects, though it’s mainly attributed to Germán Samper and José Prieto.
The Pichincha Battalion was demolished in 1968. Construction of Cali City Hall was completed in 1971, and the building was inaugurated the following year. The complex includes a city council building, two 17-story towers for the mayor’s office and municipal services, and a building for the public works company, all connected by a civic plaza. The plaza was conceived as an extension to Parque Simón Bolívar.
Plazoleta Jairo Varela
Across the street to the north is Plazoleta Jairo Varela. Inaugurated in 2010, it’s a public space used for cultural activities and also features a gastronomic market. Originally called Plazoleta de la Caleñidad, it was later renamed for Jairo Varela (1949–2010), the founder of Grupo Niche in 1979, in honor of the city’s salsa heritage.
Along the street is a sculpture of trombones and trumpets intertwined to spell the word Niche. Underneath the bells of the trumpets is information about the band, Jairo Varela, and lyrics from their most famous songs. The sculpture was designed by architect Fredy Pantoja and unveiled in December 2015.
Jairo Varela Museum
You’ll also find the Jairo Varela Museum (Museo Jairo Varela), dedicated to the life of the famous musician. It opened on December 9, 2014, what would have been his 75th birthday. The museum displays instruments, costumes, and personal items owned by Varela and Grupo Niche, as well as memorabilia from other salsa personalities. Salsa classes are also offered. It’s open daily except Sundays, and admission is COP$10,000 (as of December 2025).
Bulevar del Río
Bulevar del Río is a pedestrian promenade along the Río Cali, stretching from Parque de los Poetas in the east to Calle 6 in the west. The space is lined with benches, restaurants and cafés, public art, and plenty of street vendors. There’s also space for public events, and seasonal decorations are often displayed.
Bulevar del Río was once Avenida Colombia, a busy traffic artery that separated the historic city center from the river. Construction of a tunnel to divert traffic underground began in 2012, while the street above was redesigned as a pedestrian boulevard. It officially opened to the public in May 2013, improving walkability and reconnecting the Río Cali with the city center.
On Friday and Saturday nights, impromptu salsa dancing sessions often break out along the boulevard, creating a lively atmosphere enjoyed by both locals and visitors. During public events and festivals, larger salsa performances and dance presentations are usually featured.
What to See in Barrio San Antonio, Cali
While Barrio San Antonio is best known for its fantastic culinary scene, it also has a few points of interests. The neighborhood is located just west of Barrio La Merced.
Colina de San Antonio
A good place to start is Colina de San Antonio. This park, situated on a hill above the historic center of Cali, is a popular gathering spot, especially on weekends and evenings. We visited on a Friday night, and it was full of people of all ages sitting on the grass. Vendors were selling jewelry, ice cream, snacks, and other goods. A few restaurants line the park, and from the top of the hill, you get a lovely view of the city.
Chapel of San Antonio
At the top of the hill is the Chapel of San Antonio (Capilla de San Antonio). Built by José de Alegría between 1746 and 1747 on land donated by Juan Francisco Garcés de Aguilar, it was intended to provide a place of worship for residents around the hill who had difficulty attending services at the Cathedral of St. Peter. The chapel was restored in 1803 and again in 1944.
Museum of the Pioneers of Cali Salsa
One of the highlights of Barrio San Antonio is the Museum of the Pioneers of Cali Salsa (Museo Pioneros de la Salsa Caleña), a fascinating look at the history of salsa music and dancing in Cali. It’s open daily except Sundays and holidays. Admission is COP$20,000 for adults, COP$8,000 for kids age 6–17, and free for kids under 6 (as of Febuary 2026). Keep in mind that all tours are conducted in Spanish.
The founder of the museum led us on a short, informative tour, detailing the origins of Cali salsa with Sonora Juventud, the city’s first salsa group, founded in 1952 by cousins James, Armando, and Hernando Córdoba. They’re credited with popularizing the genre in Cali.
We then learned about other salsa legends who added their own flair and helped the sound evolve, followed by a demonstration of dance steps popular in Cali. The tour concluded with a look at the present state of Cali salsa.
What to See in Barrio El Peñón, Cali
In Barrio El Peñón, know for its great restaurants and nightlife, you’ll also find some fantastic museums. Just across the Río Cali to the north is Parque de los Gatos.
La Tertulia Museum
La Tertulia Museum (Museo La Tertulia) is a modern art museum on Avenida 1. It was founded in 1956 by Maritza Uribe de Urdinola and houses a collection of about 2,000 works of art. The museum moved to its current location in 1968, and its auditorium opened in 1975.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, while the cinema is open Thursday through Sunday. Prices are current as of November 2025:
- Admission to the museum is COP$26,000 for foreigners and COP$17,000 for Colombian citizens and residents.
- Tickets to the cinema are COP$14,000 for adults, and COP$11,000 for students with a valid ID and seniors 60+.
During my visit, there were exhibits on interior design and two interactive exhibits. Personally, I enjoyed the architecture of the buildings more than the exhibits.
Caliwood
Not far from La Tertulia is Caliwood, founded in 2008 as Colombia’s first cinematography museum. It’s packed with projectors, cameras, movie posters, memorabilia and more — some of which date back to the earliest days of cinema.
General admission is COP$20,000 (as of November 2025). The audio-guided tour in English or Spanish takes about 90 minutes. If you’re expecting to learn about specific films or actors, you’ll be disappointed, because this museum focuses mostly on the technical side of filmmaking.
Collection at Caliwood
Before starting your self-guided tour, a docent gives a quick rundown of what to expect. On the tour, you’ll get an in-depth look into the history of the projectors and other film equipment on display. You’ll also learn the stories behind several cameras, home projectors, and what’s labeled as the world’s largest camera.
One of the final sections contains movie memorabilia, photography equipment, and handheld camcorders. The tour ends with a 20-minute film presentation of clips from silent films and animated films, followed by a detailed explanation of how sound is connected to film strips. Before leaving, guests are given a small section of filmstrip as a souvenir.
One of the museum’s highlights is its collection of movie posters displayed on the walls. The projector room features posters from many American and European films, while the rest of the museum showcases posters from Colombian cinema.
A section of the wall is dedicated to antique movie posters from the earliest days of Colombian cinema. There are also stills from the groundbreaking 1922 Colombian silent film María, of which only 25 seconds have survived.
All in all, we found our visit enjoyable and informative. Caliwood offers a unique perspective on the film industry because, unlike other cinema museums that focus mainly on the movies, it highlights the equipment behind filmmaking and projection. You’ll leave with a better understanding of the incredible behind-the-scenes work and gain insight into what happens in the projector booth while you settle into your seat with a bucket of popcorn.
What to See in Barrio San Fernando, Cali
In the 1950s, Barrio San Fernando was the southernmost neighborhood in Cali. Since then, the city has expanded so much that it’s now considered part of west-central Cali. Today, the area is home to a few interesting museums.
Jorge Garcés Borrero Departmental Library
The Jorge Garcés Borrero Departmental Library (Biblioteca Departamental Jorge Garcés Borrero) was created in 1953 by Diego Garcés Giraldo, the governor of Valle del Cauca, who donated a collection of books owned by his father, Jorge Garcés Borrero. It opened to the public on June 13, 1954, at its first location on Avenida Colombia and Calle 15. The library later moved to a space operated by the University of Valle (Universidad del Valle), where it remained for 25 years, before relocating to buildings in Barrio Centenario and Barrio Granada.
The current building opened in 1990. It covers 15,000 square meters and features a newspaper library, a room dedicated to writers from Valle del Cauca, a geography and history room, rooms specialized for readers with visual or hearing disabilities, a children’s reading room, an exhibition hall, an auditorium, and an astronomical observatory.
The library is open daily except the first Sunday of each month. Inside, it also houses two museums.
Departmental Museum of Natural Sciences
The library houses the Departmental Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo Departamental de Ciencias Naturales). It was founded on August 20, 1963, through the initiatives of biologist Federico Carlos Lehmann (1914–1974) and opened to the public later that year, on December 16, as the Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural) in the Santa Teresita neighborhood.
After Lehmann’s death, it was renamed the Federico Carlos Lehmann Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo de Ciencias Naturales Federico Carlos Lehmann). The museum became part of the Vallecaucano Institute of Scientific Research (Instituto Vallecaucano de Investigaciones Científicas), later INCIVA, and moved to its current location in 2004.
The museum has about 15,000 specimens in its zoological collection, along with roughly 4,000 items in its ethnographic, archaeological, and geological collections. Admission for foreigners is US$10, while Colombian citizens and residents pay COP$10,000 for adults, COP$7,500 for kids and students, and COP$5,000 for seniors age 60+ (as of February 2026). Most information is presented in both Spanish and English.
Museum Collection
The museum’s collection begins with fish samples, many collected by English ichthyologist Cecil Miles, who was hired by the Government of Valle del Cauca in 1942 to study freshwater fish in the region. Other specimens include species living near Isla del Malpelo.
The collection continues with species from different natural regions of Colombia. Following the path through this gallery, you pass stories and artifacts of indigenous peoples as well as Spanish conquistadors and settlers.
Many of the birds and mammals on display were collected by Federico Carlos Lehmann, while entomologist Adalberto Figueroa donated his insect collection. The archaeological collection was acquired from Fr. Emilio Camacho.
The displays feature interactive screens where you can learn about the animals mounted behind the glass. A few interactive displays also cover the ethnographic and archaeological collections, including a listening station.
Back in the lobby, you’ll find displays featuring primates and the cloud forest. There’s also a rhinoceros and Carlitos, a Galapagos tortoise brought to the Cali Zoo in 1979 who died in 2007.
On the third floor, there’s a great exhibit on Colombia’s freshwater fish species. In the stairwell, you’ll see plaques featuring fish from the Amazon region.
Finally, the skeleton of a humpback whale hangs in the hall just inside the main entrance. It’s visible from all three floors.
MIVO
The Interactive Museum of Travel and Life in Other Worlds (Museo Interactivo del Viaje y la Vida en Otros Mundos), or MIVO for short, is an interactive museum about the universe that opened in December 2024. It’s great for kids, though it’s more enjoyable if you speak Spanish. The museum is open daily except Mondays, and tickets are available at the library reception desk. Admission is COP$10,000 for adults and COP$7,500 for kids, students, and seniors (as of November 2025).
Tours of the museum are guided, with stops at different stations. Guides give a quick description of each station and demonstrate how it works before letting everyone try the activities. Some stations feature games, while others immerse you in a specific scene. After the tour, visitors are welcome to stay as long as they like to explore on their own.
Each station has a different theme, such as the molecules that make up the human body, sounds transmitted to space, and rocket propulsion. The museum also includes exhibits on astronaut equipment, space in pop culture, and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
YAWA
YAWA is a science, art, and technology center with a planetarium that opened on October 3, 2024. It’s open daily except Mondays. Visiting the small exhibition on the ground floor is free, while planetarium shows require a separate ticket.
Various shows are presented throughout the week, with tickets priced at COP$23,000 per person or COP$16,800 per person for groups of four (as of February 2026). We enjoyed a show about life on the International Space Station followed by a “voyage” through our solar system. At the end, the guide gave an overview of different constellations and let visitors take photos.
What to See in the Western Hills of Cali
In the western hills, you’ll find some of the city’s most famous landmarks as well as the Cali Zoo, which I cover in another post.
Monument to Sebastián de Belalcázar
A monument to Sebastián de Belalcázar (c. 1490–1551), the founder of Cali, stands on the hill just above Barrio El Peñón. It was created by Spanish sculptor Victorio Macho (1887–1966) and inaugurated on July 25, 1937. The bronze statue depicts the Spanish conquistador pointing west toward the Pacific Ocean.
On April 28, 2021, during the Colombian protests, members of the Guambiano indigenous community knocked the statue off its pedestal, as they consider it a symbol of repression. It was returned to its place on November 4, 2022. Besides being an important work of art, the statue also provides excellent views of Cali.
Relief Murals by Carlos Andrés Gómez
Along the road to Cristo Rey, you’ll find a series of relief murals by artist Carlos Andrés Gómez, who’s been creating these works since 2011. We stopped to see El Lamento de la Pacha Mama (The Lament of Pacha Mama), which protests the environmental damage caused by humans. The sculptures are made of clay and cement and stretch over 5 kilometers along the road.
Cristo Rey
Cristo Rey is a smaller version of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, towering over the city. It was inaugurated on October 25, 1953, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Thousand Days’ War. Admission is free (as of November 2025) but reservations are required. Access is limited to slots at 9am, noon, and 3pm, and a guided tour is included.
The statue was commissioned by Jesuit priest José María Arteaga. He entrusted the project to artist Gerardo Navia Carvajal, who abandoned it after building a model. Italian sculptor Alideo Tazzioli Fontanini then took over, on the condition that he could create his own design.
The statue is made of iron and concrete and stands 26 meters high, including its 5-meter pedestal. It weighs 464 tons, and the views of Cali from the site are spectacular.
