There is certainly celebration in Cali all year round, and the most notable of these are the Cali Fair, the World Salsa Festival and the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival.
Incentive trips
Valle del Cauca is an attractive department for incentive trips. It has characteristics that make it a charming destination to live unique experiences in the country: here you can dance with world champions of salsa, learn about one of the most diverse areas of the country along with its traditions, ride a bicycle through valleys and mountains, practice water sports, tour its beaches and discover nature, among other activities.
That's not all, because in the Cauca Valley and, more specifically, in Cali you will find experiences for incentive trips related to:
Gastronomy: In the area you must try the local cuisine, characterized by the fusion of aromas, textures and flavors of Spanish, indigenous and African roots. We recommend you try the Champanos Valluno, the Lulada, the Marranitas, the Aborrajados, the Chuleta Valluna and the Empanadas Caleñas. Also, if you are near one of the Pacific beaches, you cannot miss trying the fresh food from the coast.
Culture and characteristics of a capital city: Cali is a city with a vibrant culture, both for its music and dance scene. You will always find local cultural events, such as folkloric dance exhibitions and live music in parks and squares.
Fairs and festivals: The Cali Fair is one of the most anticipated times 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, dancing and colorful parades.
Salsa and Pacific Music: Cali is known as the “Salsa Capital of the World,” 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, whether by attending live concerts, watching traditional dances, or participating in music and percussion workshops.
Beaches and whale watching in the Pacific: Some 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 one of the highlights for this experience.
Adventure and Nature: The Farallones de Cali National Natural Park is an ecotourism destination, with trails and rich biodiversity. You can also explore the Nirvana Nature Reserve, a paradise for bird lovers.
Cycle tourism: Cycle tourism in the Cauca Valley offers an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the region while enjoying an active experience. You can do this activity on the Cali cycle path, on the Pance River route and in the surroundings of Buenaventura and its coast.
Coffee: Visit coffee farms in the mountains near the Cauca Valley to learn about the process of growing, harvesting and roasting Colombian coffee.
Golf: you can enjoy this sport at the Club Campestre de Cali and the Club Farallones. In addition, you can attend golf tournaments throughout the year.
Congresses and conventions
Santiago de Cali and Valle del Cauca are the cradle of major events, including congresses that are held in the region due to their history and experience in this field. The department has a wide variety and strengths that make the destination an attractive place for holding this type of event and consolidating international business networking.
The region has a vast infrastructure of venues and more than 1,000 rooms. It also has the second largest and most modern multi-format venue in Colombia and the most modern in the Latin American Pacific: the Valle del Pacífico Events Center.
The region's strengths for attracting conventions include: its climate, biodiversity, the warmth of its people, and its wide range of cultural, gastronomic, heritage, business, university and research centre offerings, as well as air connectivity through the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali. The above is complemented by the infrastructure and technology of its venues.
Events
The Cauca Valley and its capital have been characterized by having a wide range of events. Throughout the year, this destination has a varied agenda of cultural activities that makes the region an attraction for visitors and tourists.
Cali has a seasonal cycle of festivals that include the best traditions and expressions of the region, including the following events:
International Theatre Festival.
World Salsa Festival.
Flowerpot Festival.
Mercedes Montaño National and International Folk Dance Meeting .
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” award (2022) and the recognition of the World Travel Awards as “Leading Cultural City Destination of South America” (2023), which makes the city distinguished internationally as an attractive destination for tourism. The department of Valle del Cauca has more than 100 venues for holding sporting events and the capital of Valle del Cauca has more than 500 community and high-performance sports venues.
As for sporting events, the city has a long history in this segment and is therefore classified as “The American Capital of Sport”. High-impact events have been held in Cali, including: the VI Pan American Games in 1971, the IX Cali World Games in 2013 and the I Junior Pan American Games in 2021.
Featured locations for your event:
Enrique Buenaventura Municipal Theatre: Architectural and Cultural Heritage of the city. Maximum capacity of 1,032 PAX.
Hacienda del Bosque: Icon of the Valle del Cauca haciendas of the 19th century. Maximum capacity: 400 PAX.
La Tertulia Museum of Modern Art: Modern construction, surrounded by green spaces, housing 1,500 pieces of art. Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
Hacienda El Limonar: Cultural Heritage House of the city. Maximum capacity: 600 PAX.
Cali Zoo: A magical place full of nature. Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
Hacienda Cañasgordas: A hacienda inside the city that maintains its 19th century architecture. Maximum capacity: 500 PAX.
Hotels
As for the hotel offer, the destination has an infrastructure of more than 14,000 rooms of all categories, from luxury hotels to hostels for the most adventurous. Cali has the third largest hotel in the country: the Spiwak hotel complex with a capacity of 493 rooms and 13 halls to hold events of any category.
In the Cauca Valley you can find haciendas, farms, thermal hotels, eco-lodges and resorts with different services. Many of these are designed for relaxation and enjoyment in the middle of nature.
Featured activities for your event:
Learn to dance salsa with the world champions of salsa:
English: Where: Cali.
Duration of the experience: Salsa class (3 hours), Delirio salsa show (4 hours on the last Friday of every month); Ensálsate (4 hours on the second Friday of every month) or Mulato Cabaret (4 hours, performed from Friday to Sunday).
Description: Dance classes with world salsa champions and a night of shows at 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 story of “María” by Jorge Isaac at this famous hacienda:
English: Where: Hacienda El Paraíso.
Duration of the experience: 3 hours, 30 minutes.
Distance from Cali: 36 km.
Description: Hacienda El Paraíso, converted into a house-museum, is the icon of this Colombian region known worldwide for being the setting for the pinnacle of Latin American romanticism. The experience of visiting it leaves a pleasant memory of a guided tour in which fragments of the novel are mentioned, which has captivated readers from various countries.
Discover why Valle is the sweetest department in Colombia:
English: Where: between the municipalities of Palmira and Cerrito, at Hacienda Piedechinche.
Duration of the experience: 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 sugar mills that gave rise to the great sugar industry. Enjoy a day in the countryside at the Museo de la Caña, ending with a visit to a traditional sugar mill.
Team building awaits you at Lake Calima to enjoy water sports:
Where: Calima Lake (located in the municipality of Darien).
Duration of the experience: 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.
Source: Colombia.Travel