Free Tours
Free Historic Downtown Cali Tour
- 3 hours
- Monday – Saturday at 10:30, 15:00
- Cali
- English / Spanish
- Small groups
- Based on tips
Visit our beloved and vibrant historical downtown among important landmarks that represent our people’s idiosyncrasy. Get in touch with locals and understand how we became the world’s capital of Salsa! Wanna learn some local steps?
Walk through one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Colombia, the so called “Sultana del Valle” or “La Sucursal del Cielo”. Famous for its Salsa rhythms and acrobatic shows, Cali hides an enormous, fighting and brilliant past beyond that enriches our lives nowadays.
Throughout this cultural walk, you’ll relive our historical process that led us into civil wars, hard moments of discrimination and bright minds who recite Cali in poems and songs about its pretty mountains, our beautiful women and beloved city.
It’s important to know the current people’s feeling and situation after the pandemic to understand the resistant culture we represent for the whole country. From its colonial houses until the Jairo Varela Museum, you will recognize and taste the great “caleños” race we are: afros, indigenous and europeans!
Highlights / What you will learn
- The importance of a rich geographical region: El Valle
- Our indigenous legacy that explains the origins of the city
- How african slaves nurtured our culture with gastronomy, music and dance
- The growth of Salsa movement during cartels: La Feria de Cali
- The idiosyncrasy of the first Colombian independence from Spain
- Our social revolts during and after the pandemic
- Local and delicious “caleña” gastronomy
- Culture evolution through arts: literature, cinema and theater
- And much more!
Experience preview
Meeting point
Find us right in front of the Museo Arqueológico La Merced with our red umbrellas! GMaps
Finishing point
Museo Jairo Varela
Included
- English-speaking tour guide
- Accurate and objective knowledge of Colombian history. We promise not to take sides.
- Sightseeing of essential places in the historic center of Cali (Ermita, Teatro Municipal, Boulevard del Río, La Merced..)
- Chontaduro tasting (when available).
- Recommendations of local stores where you can have lunch, buy coffee, souvenirs, and more.
- Benefits and discounts with our recommended partners if you show our Free Walking Tour Map in our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bccali
Not included
- Drinks, food or souvenirs.
- Transportation to and from your hotel.
- Transportation on the tour. We’ll be walking and taking resting stops.
- Tickets or entrances. We won’t take you to places where sudden extra charges apply!
- Exclusive tour guide. Remember this is a shared tour, we’re sure you’ll meet new amazing people.
Recommendations
- An open mind to comprehend all our history.
- Umbrellas or capes. Please bring your favorite rainproof coat or umbrella, we can’t control the weather yet.
- Water or your preferred form of hydration. This is a walking tour, and you may feel thirsty.
- Comfortable shoes. You’ll walk about 7 km while also making some stops to listen to the guide.
- Comfortable clothes. No pressure to look amazing, feel free to wear what makes you feel better.
- Keep your friends close, and your belongings even closer. We’ll visit some crowded areas, so don’t give papaya!
