Route
Hotel ── taxi ── San Antonio hill (chapel, plaza, views)
│
Cali River path ── Gato del Río ── La Tertulia
The marathon finishes on a Sunday morning, and by Monday your quads will have opinions about stairs. Cali answers with a day built around taxis, benches and shade. San Antonio, the hill neighbourhood west of the centre, is the classic first stop. The river path below is the flat second.
Cali sits at about 1,000 m in the Cauca valley, warm all year, with highs near 29 to 31 °C. Late April is one of the wetter months, with heavy showers most often in the afternoon. Start early, carry a light waterproof and expect humidity. Hail a taxi or use a ride-hailing app rather than walking between districts.
San Antonio
Take a taxi up to the small plaza at the top of San Antonio, where a whitewashed colonial chapel faces the square. The neighbourhood is a tangle of narrow lanes, old houses with wooden balconies, craft stalls and cafés, and from the terrace you can see the city spread across the valley. The lanes are steep and some are cobbled, so wear shoes with a cushioned sole and take the taxi to the top rather than climbing. Walk downhill slowly, using railings where there are any.
Have a coffee on the plaza and watch the lunchtime crowd arrive. Weekday visits are quieter than weekend ones, and Monday suits sore legs.
The river
The Cali River runs through the middle of the city, and a landscaped path follows its banks. It is flat and paved, with trees for shade and benches along the way. Walk from the Gato del Río, the oversized bronze cat made by the Cali artist Hernando Tejada, towards the Iglesia La Ermita, a neo-Gothic church on the edge of the centre. The whole stretch is easy walking, and you can stop at any point and take a taxi.
La Tertulia
The Museo La Tertulia, a contemporary art museum with a cinema and a terrace, sits above the river on Avenida Colombia. Check the current opening days and ticket price before you go, since museum hours vary. It offers air conditioning and seats, which is exactly what you want in the middle of the day.
Lunch
Platillos Voladores serves Pacific and Valle del Cauca cooking, including prawns and dishes with coconut and sofrito, and its hours cover Monday lunch. Reserve ahead and check the opening time on its website. The InterContinental, on Avenida Colombia, has several restaurants if you prefer to eat near the river.
Getting home
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport (CLO) lies outside the city, so allow at least an hour for a taxi transfer and more at rush hour. Check museum and restaurant hours before you set out.