Cali is Colombia's 3rd largest city and regarded as the country's capital for salsa dancing.
Amongst backpackers traveling through the country, Cali has a reputation for being a party destination.
After a year and a half of working on my salsa skills, I felt it was finally time to put them to the test.
Along with Troy and another friend, I flew the 30 minutes from Medellin via Avianca for a 5-day weekend focused on sampling the nightlife in Cali, Colombia myself.
Kelsi says
looks like fun. i'm intrigued.
Lisa E / Chickybus says
It looks like you're having a blast there! I love salsa dancing and learned from Colombians (some from Cali) a while back and would love to visit there. There's something about the way they dance that I really like. How much fun was it? Does the dancing last all night? Was it worth the trip?
Dave says
Yes, you can definitely dance all night. On the Saturday night, we started out on La Sexta hitting 4 different bars/clubs until closing time around 2:30am. Then a few of us took a taxi north to the Menga neighborhood where the discotecas stay open a few hours later. It was a lot of fun to experience a new city's nightlife after spending so much time here in Medellin. I'll be back!
ayngelina says
Ahh these photos make me miss Cali, so many great places to dance all night!
Adam says
Looks like a great time, Dave. I wish we could have made it to Cali when we were in Colombia. My wife would have loved it there. So did you put your salsa dancing skills to the test with the locals? You'll have to get some video and show 'em off sometime. :)
Dave says
Hey Adam, for a bunch of reasons, I didn't actually dance a lot of salsa with the locals, which is why I'm planning to go back next month. :)
Phil says
Dave, Looks like a blast. I can taste the aguardiente!!! Could you see yourself living in Cali at some point? I suppose Medellin would be a pretty hard place to leave... B well, Phil
Dave says
Hey Phil, I'm too happy in Medellin to consider moving over to Cali. The metro system here is too convenient to pass up, plus the temps in Medellin don't get as high as they do in Cali during summer/dry season. Also, while Cali has mountains, they don't surround the city in the same way they do in Medellin.
Jaime says
Hey Dave, It is nice to hear awesome stories about Colombia. So positive rather than negative, and I just want to thank you for taking the time and energy to write them. I am from Medellin, now living in Orange,Ca. USA, but I can tell you my heart keeps calling me back to Medellin. So once again, thank you so much and very much appreciated your wonderful comments about Colombia and your experiences to educate others culturaley. Wish you the best on your travels!
Jaime.
Dave says
Hola Jaime, thanks for the wonderful feedback. It has been a pleasure to share Colombia as I've been discovering it. I have so much left to see too!
Andrew says
Can you actually salsa? Have you taken lessons?
Dave says
Hey Andrew, yes, I can dance salsa. I started almost 2 years ago when I got to Colombia, first with friends, then group lessons. Back in the USA, I'd go out a few times a week, and now that I'm back in Colombia, I'm taking private lessons.
J.M. Porup says
I lived in Cali for many years, just a five minute walk from la Sexta... have to say, the bars and clubs on la Sexta are the worst in Cali... general rule of thumb: avoid any bar on la Sexta like the plague. I can't recall meeting a single expat in Cali who didn't think the same.
J.M. Porup
(Coordinating Author, Lonely Planet Colombia, 5th ed.)
Dave says
Hey JM, thanks for checking out my Cali photo essay.
In general, I think the expats avoid the Zona Rosa in the bigger cities. That's the benefit of living in a place, you get to know the city much better.
Medellin has tons of nightlife districts beyond Parque Lleras, where most of the tourists still go.
Dave says
JM or anyone else,
If La Sexta should be avoided, what do you recommend?