All the unmatched rhythm and flavor of salsa can be felt in every corner of Santiago de Cali and in the warmth and hospitality of its people. The salsa capital will undoubtedly make you vibrate with one of the most infectious musical rhythms. The capital of Valle del Cauca is the third most populated city in the country and one of the most important economic and cultural centers in Colombia.
Thanks to its ethnic, natural, and gastronomic richness, Cali is one of the preferred places in the Colombian Pacific for tourists. This is a versatile destination that can satisfy a wide range of travel interests and preferences. Undoubtedly, there is celebration throughout the year in Cali, and among these, the Cali Fair, the World Salsa Festival, and the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival stand out.
- Population: Around 3 million inhabitants.
Average Temperature: 19-29ºC – 66.2-84.2ºF.
Incentive Travels
Valle del Cauca is an attractive department for incentive trips. It has characteristics that make it a charming destination for unique experiences in the country: here you can dance with world salsa champions, learn about one of the most diverse areas of the country along with its traditions, ride a bike through valleys and mountains, practice water sports, explore its beaches, and discover nature, among other activities.
In Valle del Cauca, and specifically in Cali, you will find experiences for incentive trips related to:
- Gastronomy: In the area, you must taste the local cuisine characterized by the fusion of aromas, textures, and flavors of Spanish, indigenous, and African roots. We recommend trying the champús valluno, lulada, marranitas, aborrajados, chuleta valluna, and caleñas empanadas. Also, if you are near any of the Pacific beaches, don't miss the fresh coastal food.
- Culture and Characteristics of a Capital City: Cali is a city with a vibrant culture due to its music and dance scene. You will always find local cultural events, such as folk dance exhibitions and live music in parks and plazas.
- Fairs and Festivals: The Cali Fair is one of the most anticipated events of the year. During this fair and other festivities in the area (such as the Buga Fair and Petronio Álvarez), the streets are filled with music, dance, and colorful parades.
- Salsa and Pacific Music: Cali is known as the "World Capital of Salsa," so one of the most authentic cultural experiences you can have is learning to dance salsa or attending live salsa shows. When you visit the region, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in this musical heritage by attending live concerts, watching traditional dances, or participating in music and percussion workshops.
- Beaches and Whale Watching in the Pacific: Popular beaches in the department include Juanchaco and Ladrilleros in Buenaventura, ideal for swimming, surfing, and relaxing in a natural setting. Humpback whale watching is an exciting activity; you can embark on excursions to observe these majestic marine mammals in their natural habitat. Bahía Málaga is a highlighted place for this experience.
- Adventure and Nature: The Farallones de Cali National Natural Park is a destination for ecotourism, with trails and rich biodiversity. You can also explore the Nirvana Natural Reserve, a paradise for bird lovers.
- Cycle Tourism: Cycle tourism in Valle del Cauca offers an opportunity to explore the region's natural beauty while enjoying an active experience. You can do this activity on the Cali bike path, the Pance River route, and the surroundings of Buenaventura and its coast.
- Coffee: Visit coffee farms in the mountains near Valle del Cauca to learn about the process of growing, harvesting, and roasting Colombian coffee.
- Golf: You can enjoy this sport at the Cali Country Club and Farallones Club. Additionally, you can attend golf tournaments throughout the year.
Conferences and Conventions
Santiago de Cali and Valle del Cauca are the birthplace of major events, including conferences held in the region due to their trajectory and experience in this field. The department has a wide variety of strengths that make it an attractive destination for holding these types of events and consolidating international business networking.
The region has extensive infrastructure in venues and more than 1,000 halls. Additionally, it has the second largest and most modern multifunctional venue in Colombia and the most modern in Latin America’s Pacific: the Valle del Pacífico Events Center.
The strengths of the region for attracting conventions include: climate, biodiversity, the warmth of the people, and the great cultural, gastronomic, heritage, business, university, and research center offerings, as well as air connectivity through Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali. This is complemented by the infrastructure and technology of its venues.
Events
Valle del Cauca and its capital are characterized by a wide range of events. Throughout the year, this destination has a varied agenda of cultural activities that make the region an attractive place for visitors and tourists.
Cali has a festival season cycle that encompasses the best traditions and expressions of the region, including the following events:
- International Theater Festival.
- World Salsa Festival.
- Macetas Festival.
- Mercedes Montaño National and International Folkloric Dance Encounter.
- Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival.
- International Poetry Festival.
- International Book Fair.
- Dance Biennial.
- Cali International Film Festival.
- Cali Fair.
Cali has won several awards, such as the “Cultural City of South America” (2022) and the World Travel Awards recognition as “South America’s Leading Cultural City Destination” (2023), making the city internationally distinguished as an attractive tourism destination. The department of Valle del Cauca has more than 100 venues for sports events, and the capital of Valle del Cauca has more than 500 community and high-performance sports venues.
Regarding sports events, the city has a long history in this segment, which is why it is cataloged as the “American Capital of Sport.” Major impact events held in Cali include the VI Pan American Games in 1971, the IX World Games in Cali in 2013, and the I Junior Pan American Games in 2021.
Featured Locations for Your Event
Traditional Locations, Convention Centers:
1. Enrique Buenaventura Municipal Theater:
- Patrimonio Arquitectónico y Cultural de la ciudad.
- Capacidad máxima de 1.032 PAX.
- Icon of 19th-century Valle del Cauca haciendas.
- Maximum capacity: 400 PAX.
3. La Tertulia Modern Art Museum:
- Modern construction surrounded by green spaces that houses 1,500 pieces of art.
- Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
4. El Limonar Hacienda:
- Cultural Heritage House of the city.
- Maximum capacity: 600 PAX.
5. Cali Zoo:
- A magical place full of nature.
- Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
6. Cañasgordas Hacienda:
- Hacienda within the city that maintains its 19th-century architecture.
- Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
Hotels
Regarding the hotel offer, the destination has an infrastructure of more than 14,000 rooms of all categories, from luxury hotels to hostels for the more adventurous. Cali has the third largest hotel in the country: the Spiwak hotel complex with a capacity of 493 rooms and 13 rooms to hold events of any category.
In Valle del Cauca, it is possible to find haciendas, farms, thermal hotels, eco-lodges, and resorts with different services. Many of these are designed for rest and enjoyment in the middle of nature.
Highlighted Activities for Your Event
Learn to dance salsa with the world salsa champions:
- Where: Cali.
- Experience duration: salsa class (3 hours), Delirio salsa show (4 hours on the last Friday of each month); Ensálsate (4 hours on the second Friday of each month) or Mulato Cabaret (4 hours, presented from Friday to Sunday).
- Description: dance classes with the world salsa champions and a night of spectacle in Delirio, Ensálsate, or Mulato Cabaret to appreciate the professionalism of the artists in the city with the most salsa schools per square meter.
Follow the steps of the story of “María” by Jorge Isaac in this famous hacienda:
- Where: El Paraíso Hacienda.
- Experience duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
- Distance from Cali: 36 km.
- Description: El Paraíso Hacienda, turned into a museum-house, is the icon of this Colombian region known worldwide as the setting for the peak novel of Latin American romanticism. The experience of visiting it leaves a pleasant memory of a guided tour where fragments of the novel, which has captivated readers from various countries, are mentioned.
Discover why the Valley is the sweetest department in Colombia:
- Where: between the municipality of Palmira and Cerrito, at Piedechinche Hacienda.
- Experience duration: 4 hours.
- Distance from Cali: 42 km.
- Description: this hacienda was built in the 18th century. It is a typical example of Valle del Cauca architecture and was the birthplace of the mills that gave rise to the great sugar industry. Enjoy a countryside day at the Sugar Cane Museum, ending with a visit to a traditional mill.
Team building awaits you at Calima Lake for water sports:
- Where: Calima Lake (located in the municipality of Darién).
Experience duration: 1 day.
Distance from Cali: 100 km.
Description: Calima Lake is the best place in Colombia for water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing, thanks to its strong and constant winds of up to 43 knots all year round.
Here, the rhythm can even be felt in the food: learn all about the cuisine of the Colombian Pacific:
![Sabedoras de la gastronomía del Pacífico Colombiano]()
- Where: Cali.
Gastronomic tour: 4 hours.
Cultural tour: 4 hours. - Description: This is the soul of the Colombian Pacific, with a sea of humpback whales, the Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park, marimba music, and traditional songs of the region, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage. Enjoy a gastronomic tour of typical Pacific foods and drinks, accompanied by an Afro-cultural tour that includes folklore, instruments, crafts, and all the information about the region's history.
