What's on in Cali, Colombia through the year

Busy — Year-end holidays in Colombia, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Colombia Birdfair

  8–20 Feb · usuallyBirdlife season

  South America's biggest bird fair, usually four days in mid-February around the Orquideorama, with talks, guided outings and free public events. Birding guides around Cali get booked up that week. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Semana Santa recess in Colombia

• Holiday

  Semana Santa

  29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekClosuresBook early

  Holy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays and many Colombians travel for the whole week. Offices and many businesses close on the holidays, churches hold processions, and domestic flights and holiday hotels sell out at higher fares. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Semana Santa recess in Colombia

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr)

Busy — Mono Nunez Andean music festival

• Festival

  Mono Nunez Andean music festival

  28 May – 8 Jun · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  Colombia's leading contest of Andean string music, held over a long weekend in Ginebra, about an hour north-east of Cali. Rooms in the small town go quickly, so many visitors base themselves in Cali. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Mono Nunez Andean music festival, Mid-year recess in Colombia

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Mono Nunez Andean music festival (28 May – 8 Jun (usually))

Busy — Mid-year recess in Colombia, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Humpback whales at Bahia Malaga

  15 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyWhale season

  Humpbacks come to calve off the Pacific coast, with the best odds in August and September. From Cali it is about two and a half hours to Buenaventura and a boat to Juanchaco, so plan at least one night. Source ↗

Busy — Petronio Álvarez festival

• Festival

  Petronio Álvarez festival

  9–17 AugMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  The Colombian Pacific moves inland for a week of marimba and chirimía groups competing at the Alberto Galindo stadium, with viche stalls, a parade to open it and the year's other full week for hotels. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whales at Bahia Malaga (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Festival

  Festival Mundial de Salsa

  20 Sep – 31 Oct · usuallyMusic festival

  Cali's dance schools and couples compete in the city's own salsa championship over four days, usually in late September or October. Separate from the Feria in December and much easier on the hotel prices. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whales at Bahia Malaga (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — October recess week in Colombia

• Festival

  Cali International Film Festival

  15 Oct – 20 Nov · usually

  A week of screenings, talks and workshops across the city's cinemas and cultural centres, traditionally in November, though recent editions have moved into late October. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whales at Bahia Malaga (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)), Festival Mundial de Salsa (20 Sep – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Year-end holidays in Colombia

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Cali International Film Festival (15 Oct – 20 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Feria de Cali, Year-end holidays in Colombia

• Festival

  Feria de Cali

  25–30 DecMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Six days from Christmas Day: the Salsódromo parade opens it, the cavalcade and the orchestra nights follow, and the salsa clubs of Juanchito run until it gets light. Rooms double and sell out. Source ↗