Part of our Colombia guide.
3 places and guides from our Colombia coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: 12 Best Things To Do In Medellín, Colombia, Things To Do In Colombia, Our Guide To Guatapé: The Most Colourful Town In Colombia, and How Long Can You Stay In Colombia On A Tourist Visa.
The 11 Best Day Trips From Cali, Colombia
From Cali you can reach 11 distinct day-trip destinations that showcase coffee farms, colonial towns, and natural wonders. Each trip offers a unique perspective of Colombian culture, history, and natural beauty without requiring an overnight stay.
- Visit a working coffee finca in the foothills of the Cordillera Central, where you can walk through coffee plants and see the bean-to-cup process.
- Explore the colonial town of Popayán, known for its whitewashed churches and Holy Week processions, about 2.5 hours by car.
- Hike to the Farallones de Cali natural reserve, a protected area with cloud forest and waterfalls less than an hour from the city.
- Take a cable car up to the Cristo Rey statue overlooking Cali, then continue to the nearby village of San Antonio for artisan shops.
- Drive to the Lago Calima reservoir for windsurfing and lakeside dining, roughly 1.5 hours west of Cali.
- Tour the Hacienda El Paraíso, the former home of Colombian writer Jorge Isaacs, set in a restored sugar plantation with gardens.
- Visit the archaeological park of San Agustín, though this requires a full day (5 hours each way) – best done as an overnight but doable as a very early start.
- Spend the day at the Pance River, a popular local swimming spot with trails and picnic areas, 30 minutes from central Cali.
- Explore the town of Buga, home to the Basilica del Señor de los Milagros, a major pilgrimage site 1 hour north.
- Take a boat ride on the Anchicayá River in the Pacific lowlands, where you can spot birds and mangroves.
- Visit the Silvia indigenous market on Tuesdays, where Guambiano people sell crafts and produce, about 1.5 hours east.
How To Visit Parque Arvi Medellin – Day Trip To Parque Arvi
To reach Parque Arvi from Medellín, take the Metrocable line L from the Acevedo station to the Santo Domingo station, then transfer to the Arvi Metrocable. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs the same as a regular Metro ticket (COP 2,500 as of 2023). Once inside the 17,000-hectare natural reserve, you can hike marked trails through cloud forest, rent a bicycle, or picnic by the river. The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the last Metrocable up departs at 4:30 p.m. Bring cash for food stalls at the entrance, as cards are rarely accepted. For a quieter experience, arrive before 10:00 a.m. on weekdays.
Jaime Duque Park: A Day Trip To Colombia’s Taj Mahal
Jaime Duque Park, located 30 kilometers north of Bogotá in the municipality of Tocancipá, was built in 1983 as a tribute to the aviator and astronaut Jaime Duque Grisales. The park spans 30 hectares and features a full-scale replica of the Taj Mahal, a zoo with over 200 species, a mechanical bull, and a replica of the Apollo 11 lunar module. Entry costs COP 38,000 for adults and COP 28,000 for children (prices as of 2023). The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To get there, take a bus from the Portal Norte TransMilenio station to Tocancipá (COP 4,000), then a short taxi ride. Plan at least four hours to see the main exhibits, and check the schedule for the daily bird-of-prey show at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The park also has a small aviation museum with artifacts from Duque’s career. For a deeper dive into less-visited spots, see our guide to hidden gems in Colombia. If you are planning your trip logistics, our travel planning essentials in Colombia page covers transport and accommodation tips.
