CityBuddy
Gato de Tejada
Best time to visit
Late afternoon around 4-5 PM, when the golden light hits the bronze cat and the riverside comes alive with joggers, families, and street food vendors. Weekday mornings are quietest for photos without crowds.
Budget tips
The sculpture and surrounding cat trail are completely free to visit year-round. No tickets or passes needed, just show up and walk the riverfront.
Recommended for
Photo takers and selfie seekers, Art and public sculpture fans, Strollers and riverside walkers, Families with kids
Plan your visit
30-45 min
About
Quick facts: Weighing 3 tons and stretching over 3 meters long, this giant bronze feline lounges along the Cali River. Around it, 15 smaller painted cats created by different artists form a playful public art trail that locals call the "Galería a Cielo Abierto."
Highlights: The artist Hernando Tejada was nicknamed "El Gato" long before he sculpted this cat, making the work a sly self-portrait of sorts. During Cali's annual Feria, locals dress the bronze cat in a giant sombrero and scarf, a quirky tradition that transforms the sculpture into a festive landmark overnight.
Insider tips
- Visit on a Sunday when Avenida Río is closed to cars and becomes a pedestrian promenade full of cyclists and street performers.
- The best photo spot is from the pedestrian bridge just south of the cat, which gives you an elevated angle with the river and palm trees behind.
- Skip the daytime crowds and come at sunset when the bronze patina glows and the nearby salsa bars start warming up their speakers.
- Each smaller painted cat has a plaque with the artist's name, hunt for your favorite one along the 500-meter riverside stretch.
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