Practical information about Cali
Money
There are plenty of banks with ATMs that accept Visa and debit cards on both Av Sexta and around Plaza de Caycedo.
Bancolombia (cnr Calle 15N & Av 8N) Changes foreign cash and traveler's checks.
Giros & Finanzas (Carrera 4 No 10-12) Changes cash and is also a Western Union agent.
Dangers & annoyances
Though central Cali has a distinctly less urban feel than Bogotá or Medellín, don't be deceived. Muggers and thieves aren't inactive here, nor are they less clever or violent than elsewhere. Be careful while wandering around the streets at night. Even busy Av Sexta has its share of muggings. Avoid the park along Río Cali in the evening, and don't walk east of Calle 13 after dark.
Travel
Bus
The bus terminal is around a 25-minute walk northeast of the center, 10 minutes by a frequent city bus and about US$1.50 by taxi. Buses run regularly to Bogotá (US$25, 12 hours), Medellín (US$18, nine hours) and Pasto (US$14, nine hours). Pasto buses will drop you off in Popayán (US$5, three hours) and there are also hourly minibuses to Popayán (US$6, 2½ hours). There are regular departures to Armenia (US$8, four hours), Pereira (US$9, four hours) and Manizales (US$12, five hours).
Air
The Palmaseca airport is 16km northeast of the city, off the road to Palmira. Minibuses between the airport and the bus terminal run every 10 minutes until about 8pm (US$1, 30 minutes), or take a taxi (US$12).
Avianca has more than half-a-dozen nonstop daily flights to Bogotá for national and international connections. SAM has nonstop flights to many other major Colombian cities, including Cartagena, Medellín, Pasto and San Andrés.
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