If Cali has a season, this is it. December starts with lights and novenas and ends with the whole city dancing in the street.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | ~30°C / 86°F |
| Nights | ~19°C / 66°F |
| Rain | An afternoon storm some days, usually short |
| Pack | Light clothes, a layer for the evening, a small umbrella |
November before, January after.
1 to 24 December: a Cali Christmas#
The Christmas lights go up along the river boulevard, around the Gato del Río and in several neighbourhoods, and families walk them at night. The novenas de aguinaldos run from the 16th to the 24th, with carols, buñuelos and natilla in homes and parks. The city is calm and hotels are at normal prices: the moment to see Cali without crowds. If you are coming from Medellín, its alumbrados are Colombia's other great light show.
25 to 30 December: the Feria de Cali#
25 December: the salsódromo, the parade of the city's salsa schools, opens the Feria in the afternoon. 26 to 30: salsa concerts with the big orchestras, free street parties in the neighbourhoods, the melómanos gathering where collectors play salsa from vinyl from the afternoon on, and the horse parade some years. Everything fills. The Feria de Cali guide has the programme, how to get tickets and how to get around on those days.
What to book and when#
A hotel for Feria week: months ahead. Flights: as early as you can, Christmas is the year's peak. Salsódromo and big-concert tickets: as soon as they go on sale. The neighbourhood parties and the lights are free.
The 31st#
The Feria ends on the 30th. The 31st is spent with family, dinner at home, and the street fills again after midnight. If you are in a hotel, ask about its New Year party; if you have a caleño friend, you are invited.
With a caleño#
The Feria belongs to caleños, and it is better with one: the right neighbourhood party, a table at the melómanos, the spot to watch the salsódromo without paying for a box. Cali has Local Friends on Roavi. Post your dates on Roavi Community. Everything else about the city is in Cali, salsa capital and how to meet locals in Cali.
Cali in December? The Feria with a caleño.
Meet a Local FriendThe rest of the year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Cali in December?
Highs around 30°C (86°F), nights around 19°C (66°F), with an afternoon storm some days that is usually short. Pack light clothes, a layer for the evening and a small umbrella.When is the Feria de Cali?
25 to 30 December every year. The salsódromo parade of the salsa schools opens it on the afternoon of the 25th; concerts, free street parties and the melómanos gathering run to the 30th.How far ahead should I book Cali for the Feria?
Months. Hotels for Feria week and Christmas flights are the year's peak; salsódromo and big-concert tickets go as soon as they are released. The neighbourhood parties and the lights are free.What is New Year's Eve like in Cali?
The Feria ends on the 30th. The 31st is a family night with dinner at home, and the streets fill again after midnight. Hotels run their own parties; if you have a caleño friend, you are invited.
