Cali: Street Food Walking Tour with Local Snacks & Ice Cream

Summary

Walk historic cali streets snack on pandebono empanadas ice cream meet locals

You’ll wander Cali’s lively streets tasting snacks like pandebono and empanadas while your guide shares local stories. Chat with bakers, meet community entrepreneurs, and end on wild ice cream flavors you won’t find anywhere else. This isn’t just eating — it’s sharing laughter and little surprises along every block.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cali street food and landmarks walk

• Walk beloved Cali area
• Walk on Colombia's longest tunnel
• See Cali's historical downtown street
• Visit historical house with shops
• Stop at well-known bakery for snacks
• Explore colorful food neighborhood
• Enjoy warm fried local food
• Visit unique lithography printing place
• End tour with ice cream tasting

Top questions

What foods do you try on the Cali street food walking tour?

You can try snacks like pandebono, buñuelo, arepa, empanadas, marranitas, papa rellena, aborrajado, chorizo, champús drink, ice cream (including unique flavors), coffee and more.

Is there vegetarian or gluten-free food available?

Yes, vegetarians and gluten-free travelers will find options at each stop during the tour.

How long is the walk on this Cali food tour?

The route covers several stops across downtown Cali including historical streets and neighborhoods; exact distance varies but is suitable for most fitness levels.

Are drinks included on the tour?

Bottled water is included along with options for juices or coffee at some stops.

Does this tour include pickup from my hotel?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your guide at a central spot in Cali.

How many food stops are there?

You visit multiple stops including bakeries, street vendors, fried snack stands and an ice cream shop—usually three main tasting stops plus smaller ones along the way.

Can children join this street food walking tour?

Yes—infants and small children can ride in strollers or prams during the walk.

Is public transportation nearby for getting to the start point?

Yes—public transportation options are available near the meeting point in central Cali.

What’s included

Your day includes bottled water throughout the walk plus up to two snacks per main stop (think fresh bakery treats or fried specialties) as well as two scoops of inventive Colombian ice cream to finish things off before heading home full—and maybe still craving another empanada tomorrow.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I almost missed the meeting spot because I got distracted by a guy selling mango with salt right outside the tunnel. Our guide, Camilo, just grinned and waved me over like he’d seen this happen a hundred times. That’s how the Cali street food walking tour started for me: already chewing something before we’d even begun. The city was loud in that way only Colombian cities are — horns, laughter, salsa leaking out of shop doors.

We wandered through downtown Cali, past murals so bright you could almost taste the colors. At one point Camilo stopped us by a bakery that smelled like warm cheese and sweet dough — honestly, I didn’t expect to care about bread but biting into fresh pandebono was its own kind of comfort. He explained how these bakeries are basically social clubs here; people drifted in for coffee or just to chat. I tried to order an almojabana myself (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Spanish — probably butchered it), and the woman behind the counter winked at me anyway.

The next stretch was all fried things: empanadas that left my fingers greasy and happy, marranitas stuffed with plantain and pork. Camilo kept telling stories about his childhood snacks — apparently everyone in Cali has opinions about which spot is best for papa rellena. There was this moment where we ducked into a courtyard run by single mothers; they sold souvenirs and coffee but mostly just wanted to talk about their kids or ask where we were from. The air smelled like frying oil mixed with rain on old stone.

By the time we reached the last stop — an ice cream shop tucked behind a mural — I thought I couldn’t eat another bite. But then someone handed me a scoop of passion fruit with caramelized pork (yes, really). It tasted weird at first but then… somehow worked? The owner said he wanted “Colombia in a cone.” Not sure if that’s possible but I still think about that flavor sometimes when I hear salsa music now. Anyway, don’t come full — you’ll regret it.