Driving in Cali: a practical guide for tourists

1. Can I drive with my foreign license?

Yes. As a tourist you can drive in Colombia with the valid driver’s license from your home country plus your passport. If your license is not written in the Latin alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit too, so police can read it.

Always carry in the car: your passport (or a copy plus the entry stamp), your license and the rental agreement. The car’s own documents — registration, mandatory insurance (SOAT) and the technical inspection certificate — should already be in the glove box. With us they always are.

2. Pico y placa: the plate restriction

To reduce traffic, Cali restricts driving on weekdays during set hours depending on the last digit of the license plate. This is called pico y placa. On your restricted day you cannot drive inside the city during those hours, and cameras fine you automatically.

The schedule changes from time to time, so do not trust an old blog post. Ask your rental company which days and hours apply to your car for your exact dates. We send it to every customer before pick-up.

3. Traffic rules and speed cameras

• Speed limits: generally 50 km/h in the city unless signs say otherwise, and higher on highways as posted. Watch the signs: limits change often.
• Speed and red-light cameras (fotomultas) are common in Cali. You will not get stopped — the fine is mailed to the car owner weeks later, and it is charged to the renter.
• Seatbelts for everyone, and no phone in your hand while driving. Use a phone holder for navigation.
• Zero alcohol. Colombia’s drunk-driving penalties are very strict, even for small amounts. If you drink, take a taxi.
• Headlights on when visibility is low and at night; outside the city keep them on during the day too.

4. Motorcycles, roundabouts and local habits

• Motorcycles are everywhere and they pass between lanes. Check your mirrors before changing lanes or turning, and give them space.
• Roundabouts (glorietas) are common. Drivers already in the roundabout usually have priority; enter calmly.
• Locals use the horn more than you may be used to — usually a short “I’m here”, not anger.
• Waze and Google Maps work very well in Cali and show traffic in real time. Download the area offline before trips outside the city.

5. Fuel, tolls and parking

Fuel

Gas stations are full service: an attendant fills the tank for you. Ask for “corriente” (regular), which is what a car like our Kia Soluto uses, and pay in cash or by card. With us you return the car with the same fuel level you received it.

Tolls

Highways out of Cali have toll booths (peajes). Keep Colombian pesos in cash for them — card payment is not always available.

Parking

Use paid parking lots (parqueaderos), especially at night. On the street you may meet informal attendants who “watch” your car for a tip. Never leave bags or valuables visible inside the car.

6. Safety tips

• Keep windows up and doors locked in heavy traffic, and your phone out of sight at traffic lights.
• Prefer daylight for long drives on rural roads, and check road conditions before leaving — landslides or road works can close routes in the rainy season.
• If you are stopped at a police checkpoint, stay calm, be polite and show your documents. Checkpoints are routine.
• In case of an accident, do not move the car until authorities or your insurance tell you to, and call your rental company right away.

7. From the airport to the city

Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport (CLO) is in Palmira, about 20 km from Cali. The drive to the city takes around 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, on a straight, well-marked road. It is an easy first drive to get used to the car.

Planning to explore beyond the city? Read our guide to the best day trips from Cali by car.