BoldspiritTravels on a budget: Salsa in Cali, Colombia [Solo backpacking on a budget in Latin America]

Did you ever dance salsa? If not, maybe it is high time to change that? ;)

Salsa is both - a type of dance, and a type of music. Its sound is very characteristic and luckily become more and more popular across the globe (along with other Latin dances/music like reggaeton, bachata, zouk etc.). 😁

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Briefly speaking, these are the most important styles of Salsa dance: LA (Los Angeles) salsa, New York salsa, Cuban style, and Colombian style. Each has its representative footwork and rhythm. Nevertheless often dancers combine moves, spins, and styling from various types in order to personalise and simply enjoy what the world of Salsa has to offer (after all “salsa” in Spanish means “a sauce” for a reason 😅 )

At first, I really wanted to spend some time in Cuba. After understanding that it will be complicated (for multiple reasons), I decided to change my destination and go to Colombia. Although, in general, I would say that the Colombian style of Salsa, called Salsa Caleña, is not as popular as other styles, it is definitely worth discovering.

My plan for Cali was minimalistic – to dance as much as possible! ;)

And yes, in Cali it is easy because the music is echoing from everywhere! 😍 You will hear it coming from local buses, taxis, on the streets not to mention bars and many salsa clubs.

I spent my first nights in a hostel, where I stayed in a dorm. This is an uncomfortable mean of accommodation but is always a great way of meeting new people, especially when you travel solo. 🙂

I met Erica, more-less my age, a beautiful dark skinned American from Miami, who was an advanced Salsa LA dancer. She came to Cali to polish both her Spanish and dance skills. We shared dorm and a passion to dance so we became “friends”. From the beginning we knew we are different from other western “viajeros” – we weren’t looking for cheap drinking bars, we wanted to discover the best places for salsa. People on a hostel’s reception were helpful, additionally, we made some research ourselves.

We were going out together each night. During our first night together we met Luis, a Swiss guy whose parents were both from Chile. He owns a salsa school and is a salsa teacher and arrived in Cali mostly in search of old vinyls with salsa music. It wasn’t his first time in this town so he could travel from Europe with this extravagant reason in his head ;) The three of us bonded easily. It was great because it is always a good idea to have a male trustworthy companion in case of any “danger” or harassment. But we didn’t have any unpleasant situations. Moreover, I felt safe and calm among locals in “salsatecas” – clubs with dance floors, where salsa is being played.

When I was not dancing I adored watching Caleños letting themselves go. It was pure pleasure. The way they feel the music and how they interpret it…! 💛

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I only spent 10 days in Cali. But in every club I was, from those more fancy to the typical bars where people were dancing outside, on the pavements 😍, one thing were uniting the crowd. It was the magic of salsa music. Everyone was dancing without judging those who were starting and learning how to dance. The same with salsa styles. Djs were changing music frequently, from La to Cubana to Caleña, so everyone could have fun and enjoy.

Erica, who arrived in Cali 2 days before had already chosen a salsa teacher for herself. After a conversation, I decided to listen to her and book my classes with the same person. I wanted to have a discount so I opted for 10 lessons. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. Personally, I prefer when a teacher is demanding and straightforward. I don’t mind if he/she is strict because the most important to me is to progress. This particular instructor wanted to be nice to the clients and therefore was not too demanding. I had to constantly remind him that I would want him to be more challenging. So as you can see sometimes what works for one person does not necessarily mean it will for you as well.

But these are the things that are difficult to predict. The solution? Always try and ask for a free/discounted lesson that will show you how someone is working and if his/her methods and/or personality suits you. 🙂

One of my favourits spots? Don Ever, aka El Rincon de la Salsa

Eighty-one-year-old Jose Heriberto Bonillo Campo had a tiny bar in his family home where he played the music he loved most – salsa. One day, around five years ago, a group of university students asked him where they could find a place with a dance floor. Since then, students and a mix of everyone else in the city pack Heriberto’s small two-floor space and spill out into the open-air concrete patio in front of the club. Giant murals inside and outside the club pay tribute to the salsa greats of yesteryear, and the records that line the walls are a virtual catalogue of the best of the genre.
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Thank you for being here with me. I hope until next time!
Pura Vida and enjoy your journey! 💛

• More about me here: You can travel without being wealthy aka a girl from a "struggling" family chasing her dreams!

• Some of my recent stories from South America:
  Boldspirit and the death road - la ruta de la muerte - Bolivia # 1 and # 2
  BoldspiritTravels on a budget: Climbing Monserrate - the mountain overlooking Bogota in Colombia [Solo backpacking on a budget in Latin America]