Urban Oasis
The Farallones de Cali above the south of the city

Cali guide · 2 min read

Day trips

River, mountains, the Pacific and Valle towns a few hours from Cali.

The Pance river through the forestWater over boulders in the Pance river

Pance

Up the Pance river to Charco Burbujas

A trail along the Pance river, from the village church to the Burbujas pool, inside Farallones de Cali National Park. Open every day from 7 am to 5 pm; Recreativos buses leave from the Cali bus terminal.

  • Charco Burbujas, Corregimiento de Pance≈ 79 min by taxi
Pico de Loro peak in the Farallones de CaliA bromeliad on a trunk at Pico de Loro

Farallones

Pico de Loro with a guide

A climb up Pico de Loro, in Farallones National Park, with guides from Fundación Pico Pance. Entry is only between 6 and 8 am, bookings are made between 30 and 3 days ahead, and under-12s are not allowed.

  • Cerro Pico de Loro, Sector El Topacio, Pance≈ 79 min by taxi
The Anchicayá river through rainforest near El DanubioA waterfall and pool between jungle walls in the Anchicayá canyon

Weekends

Anchicayá canyon and Siete Charcos

A sector of Farallones National Park on the old road to Buenaventura, run by the local cooperative Cortucán. Open only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8 am to 4 pm; take a Transur bus to El Queremal, then local transport to El Danubio.

  • Cañón del Anchicayá, El Danubio, Dagua, Valle del Cauca≈ 167 min by taxi
A clear-water pool in San CiprianoA brujita on the rails to San Cipriano

Pacific coast

San Cipriano: brujitas and the river

A protected forest reserve on the San Cipriano and Escalerete rivers, in Buenaventura, run with the community council and Fundación San Cipriano. You float down the river on tubes, past more than eleven natural pools and the Cascada del Amor; the way in is by the traditional brujitas.

  • San Cipriano, Corregimiento San Cipriano, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca≈ 231 min by taxi
Lake Calima among the hillsSailboats on Lake Calima

Calima El Darién

Lake Calima and the Calima Archaeological Museum

Lake Calima has water sports and trails. In the town of Calima El Darién, INCIVA’s Calima Archaeological Museum shows more than 1,800 pieces, opens every day from 9 am to 5 pm and charges foreigners USD 10 at the ticket desk. Trans Calima buses leave from the Cali bus terminal.

  • Museo Arqueológico Calima, Calle 10 #12-50, Calima El Darién, Valle del Cauca≈ 209 min by taxi
The Basilica of the Señor de los Milagros in BugaThe Señor de los Milagros image inside the basilica

Buga

Buga: the Basilica and El Vínculo

The Basílica del Señor de los Milagros, which draws three million pilgrims a year, has been closed indefinitely since the 10 August 2026 earthquake, pending a structural assessment; mass is held under tents on an outdoor plaza. Nearby are the Sonso lagoon, with birds and kayaks, and El Vínculo regional park, a dry forest 3 km south of Buga, open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to noon; on Sundays, booked groups only.

  • Basílica del Señor de los Milagros, Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca≈ 217 min by taxi
A Ginebra street with the 'Ginebra pueblo mágico' muralBowls of sancocho and chicken at a Ginebra restaurant

Ginebra

Ginebra and Hacienda El Paraíso

Ginebra, one of the Valle’s “magic towns”, is known for its traditional food; buses from the Cali bus terminal take 1 h 30 min. Hacienda El Paraíso, in El Cerrito, is temporarily closed after damage in the 10 August 2026 earthquake.

  • Ginebra, Ginebra, Valle del Cauca≈ 165 min by taxi