Cali, Colombia

Cali is Colombia’s third largest city. Founded in 1536 by Sebastian de Belalcazar, it was a sleepy little mountain town until the sugar and coffee industries brought prosperity to the region. They aren't the only commodities, however. After drug lord Pablo Escobar was killed in Medellín in 1993 and the Medellín Cartel fell apart, the remaining drug traffickers moved to Cali and formed the Cali Cartel. However, this too dissolved when the treasurer of the cartel fled to the US.

Cali is located in Colombia’s southwestern region, about 995 meters above sea level. A diverse region of coast, foothills and the Andean cordillera. Cali is a rich archaeological area, as well as culturally diverse. See this interactive map from Expedia.

Getting to Cali isn’t difficult. Domestic and international flights use Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport (CLO) 10 mi (16 km) north of the city. There are taxis and shuttles into the city.

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Bus service to and from Bogota, Medellín, Pasto and Popayan. Local buses serve the city and suburbs.

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Colombia’s climate varies little throughout the year. You can expect a hot, humid climate, but there is a drier season called summer, as opposed to the wet season called winter. The Andean highlands, where Cali is located, has two dry seasons, from December to March and again in July and August. Cali's average temperature ia 23° C (73.4°F)

Although the Cali Cartel officially is no longer a threat, drug trafficking still continues. The usual safety measures apply, and it is wise to take caution after dark.

In Cali: