An outdoorsy getaway from Cali, Colombia
We spent 2 nights in Pance, but you could easily fill a week exploring different hikes, enjoying the river and getting to know the village.
How to get there
The bus to Pance runs from nearby the main bus station in Cali, several times every day.
The timetable below is correct as of January 2024, and applies to every day of the week, including Sunday. For return journeys to Cali, see the ‘Llegada Pueblo’ (meaning arrival in Pance), as the bus turns around and heads back to Cali as soon as it drops off its passengers in Pance.
The exact spot for catching the bus is sat at the ‘40’ speed sign on Avenida Vásquez Cobo, outside a private garage. The coordinates are as follows,
3°27'53.7"N 76°31'23.1"W
The trip cost 3,000 COP per person (about 50p) and took just over an hour. It’s a cramped bus and there’s no storage so pack light!
Where to stay
There are numerous options for accommodation in and around Pance, although these can be a little difficult to book through the usual apps/methods. We found that Whatsapp was the best method for contacting hosts and booking.
The campsite Piedra Luna was our top choice due to location and budget. The river and some beautiful swimming spots are less than a minutes walk away, and the area is so peaceful due to being quite far out from the village.
We paid 18,000 per person per night and the host was very attentive, and lit our fire stove for us each night for cooking!
What to do
The best thing to do in the area is hiking, and there are an abundance of gorgeous walks to choose from.
Toco Nubes hike
We used the maps.me to plan and follow our route around ‘Toco Nubes’, a 26km hike which ended up slightly skirting a proper path, and involved a lot of scrambling through bushes!
While the first half of this walk was lovely, I have included a map of an amended route which allows you to remain on the path!
To find this area on maps.me, search Toco Nubes (it doesn’t exist on Google Maps) and it will take you to the correct location, where it is then possible to see the paths in the surrounding area.
Pico de Loro & Pico Pance
These hikes are both apparently ‘restricted access’, and require a guide due to their complexity and popularity. Pico Pance is allowed only 50 visitors per day, and therefore it is recommended to book ahead, especially in the high season and at weekends.
Information about these hikes is quite hard to come by online, but communication with hostels such as Casa Batara in Pance itself is most likely your best bet to find out all you need to know.
Visiting the river & Chorrera del Indio waterfall
For a free alternative, pick a spot to go for a dip in the river! It runs parallel to the road connecting Pance, Cali, and all the other little towns in this area. There are numerous spots which are for perfect to stop and take a dip; be warned, the water is not warm!
Try the local food
Enjoy!
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you’ve been inspired to get off the beaten track and explore some of the nature surrounding Colombia’s Cali!
Travel insurance
Going on a trip? Don’t forget to buy your travel insurance; I use SafetyWing which is the best option out there. It’s super flexible as it’s a rolling monthly subscription, so you can cancel or extend whenever! It also covers all manner of activities, so whatever you’re up to, you’re covered! And the best part is that with this link it’s $10 off your first month!!
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