Cali and the Salsa Scene

Self Declared Salsa Capital Of The World, Home Of The Feria De Cali And The World Salsa Festival, With Dozens Of Salsa Schools And Clubs. A Trip Is Planned Around The Dance Rather Than The City. · Cali, Valle del Cauca

Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, calls itself the salsa capital of the world, and people plan whole trips around it. The city is warm, around 1,000 metres above sea level, and its dance style is fast, with quick footwork and a tight upper body, usually called the caleno style. Salsa lives in clubs and bars in neighbourhoods such as Granada, Menga, Juanchito and along the Avenida Sexta, in old-style salsa viejoteca spots where couples dance to records, and in schools that teach visitors in short lessons. The city also hosts the Feria de Cali in late December and the World Salsa Festival around September. Beyond dancing there are hills with views, the Cristo Rey statue, the colonial San Antonio district and warm river parks. Some nightlife is touristy and some is local; honest advice is to take a class first, then go out with a local who knows the venues. Cali is hot, busy and best taken slowly, with rest in the afternoon and dancing late.

Valle del Cauca's capital, with the salsa clubs of Juanchito and the Granada and Menga districts and the Zoologico area, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Salsa schools usually teach in the morning and evening, mostly on weekdays, with some weekend sessions. Clubs and bars usually open in the late evening and run into the early hours, with Thursday to Saturday busiest, and many are closed on Sunday and Monday. Streets, plazas and the river park are open all day and free. Museums, churches and viewpoints keep short daytime hours and may close on Mondays, so confirm locally.

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