Menga on Foot: The Alley of Forgotten Murals
Menga, that neighborhood many associate with the smell of charcoal from the grills and the noise of bars on weekends, holds a secret few take the time to notice. Behind the main avenue, amidst the traffic of motorcycles and the sound of sound systems, there is a handful of murals that are falling apart. They are not in tourist guides, nor are they mentioned by passing influencers. They are the work of neighbors, of kids who grew up here, of a collective that left its mark over a decade ago and that today, in May 2026, barely holds up against the sun and neglect.
This tour is not for those seeking perfect selfies. It is for those who enjoy discovering art where no one cares for it, for the street photographer who knows that beauty also lies in peeling paint, and for the local who wants to see their neighborhood with new eyes. We start from the corner of the soccer field, where a cat welcomes us.
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Introduction: The Art That Fades Away
Menga is a working-class middle-class neighborhood in northern Cali, which grew around the old road to Yumbo. During the 2000s, graffiti arrived as a way to appropriate public space, to say "this is ours" in an area that didn't have much cultural offerings. The murals that still survive are witnesses to that era: signatures of collectives that no longer exist, faces of anonymous women, mythological animals, and phrases that time has been erasing.
Today, many of those murals are covered by layers of gray paint, by humidity, or by simple neglect. But hidden gems can still be found if you know where to look. What follows is a walking route that won't take you more than an hour, but will leave you thinking about how popular art sustains itself without budget or spotlights.
What to Do: The Route of Forgotten Murals
Starting Point: The Soccer Field Corner (Mural of 'Gata Flora')
The tour begins at the corner of the neighborhood's soccer field, at 70th Street with Carrera 3E. There, on the wall of an old two-story house, is the mural of 'Gata Flora'. It is a huge feline, with faded colors, that seems about to pounce on a soccer ball. It was painted by a neighbor known as "El Mello" about fifteen years ago, when his daughter Flora was five years old and they called her "la gatica" (the little cat).
Today, the mural has its left hind leg completely erased by humidity, and its right eye looks like a yellow blur. But the animal's expression remains intense, as if it were watching every person who passes by. If you look closely, in the lower right corner there is a date: 2011. It is one of the oldest murals still standing.
Fun fact: The owner of the house where the mural is located is Mrs. Leonor, who sells empanadas at the door on weekends. She herself says she has never asked anyone for money to maintain it: "If it gets erased, it gets erased, but as long as it's there, it's part of the neighborhood's history."
Callejón de los Tanques: 12 Deteriorating Murals
From the soccer field, walk two blocks north, along Carrera 3E, until you reach the alley everyone knows as "el de los tanques" (the one with the tanks). It is a narrow passage, about a hundred meters long, lined with brick and concrete block walls. Here there are twelve murals, side by side, in various states of conservation.
The first one you see upon entering is a woman's face with flowers in her hair, signed by the collective "Pintas Urbanas" in 2013. The colors are no longer vibrant; the blue background has turned greenish-gray, and the hair is stained with rust from a water pipe dripping from the roof. Next to it, an abstract mural of concentric circles looks like a shooting target, but with paint chipping off in pieces.
The most striking of all is the one at the back: a skeleton dancing salsa, wearing a hat and holding a cane. It was painted by an artist known as "Beto Graf" in 2015, and it is the only one that still retains its original colors, because it is protected by a zinc awning. However, the base of the mural is starting to detach from the brick. If it is not restored soon, it could be lost in a couple of years.
Recommendation for photographers: The light at sunset, between 4 and 5 pm, cuts through the alley and creates long shadows that make the murals appear more three-dimensional. Bring a 50mm lens to capture the details of the cracks and signatures.
The Wall of the Old Billiard Hall: Signature of the 'Los Vagos' Collective
Continuing through the alley, as you exit on the other side, you reach Carrera 3F, where the wall of the old billiard hall is located. The establishment has been closed since 2019, but the facade wall remains intact. Here is the largest signature in the entire neighborhood: a mural about eight meters wide that says "Los Vagos" in huge letters, with a classic 90s graffiti style, featuring three-dimensional shadows and red and black colors.
Below the letters, there is a scene of a group of young people playing billiards, with cues and balls, all in black and white. It is a tribute to the place that was a meeting point for several generations. The mural was painted in 2012, and although the sun has faded it, the signature is still legible. If you get close, you can see that some neighbors have written messages on top of it, like "Thanks for the memories" or "This is where I learned to play."
Little-known fact: The "Los Vagos" collective was made up of five friends who grew up in Menga. Today, two live in Spain, one in Bogotá, and only two remain in Cali. According to them, they never asked for permission to paint: they did it one early morning, with spray paint cans bought with borrowed money.
The Hidden Mural Behind the Mango Stand: The Only One Signed by a Woman
The last point on the route is the hardest to find, but it is worth it. Behind the mango stand located at the corner of 71st Street and Carrera 3E, there is a small mural, barely one square meter, painted on a wall that almost no one sees. It is the only mural in the neighborhood signed by a woman: "Luna", written in cursive, with a heart next to it.
The mural depicts a monarch butterfly, with orange and black wings, perched on a hibiscus flower. It is very deteriorated: the flower has lost almost all its red, and one of the wings has a hole through which the brick is visible. But the signature remains clear, as if it were painted yesterday.
According to neighbors, Luna was a seventeen-year-old girl who lived two blocks away. She painted the butterfly in 2014, when her mother sold mangoes at that same stand. Today, Luna studies art at the Universidad del Valle, but the mural remains there, forgotten, waiting for someone to look at it.
To find it: The mango stand is only open Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm. If you arrive on a Saturday, the mural is visible but behind a gate. Ask for Doña Martha, the owner of the stand, who will tell you the whole story while she peels a mango for you.
Where to Eat or Drink
After walking, hunger and thirst set in. Menga is not famous for its gastronomy, but there are honest and cheap options that complete the outing.
Doña Martha's Mango Stand
At the corner of 71st Street and Carrera 3E. Mangoes in all presentations: in juice, with salt and lime, green or ripe. A large cup costs $3,000 COP (reference price as of May 2026). The bonus is the chat with Doña Martha, who knows the history of every mural in the neighborhood.
La Fonda de la Abuela
At Carrera 3D # 70-42. A daily menu restaurant, serving bandeja paisa, chicken sancocho, and natural juices. Dishes range from $12,000 to $18,000 COP. Open Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm. It is not gourmet, but the food is homemade and plentiful.
La Terraza de Menga
At 70th Street with Carrera 4, a rather small bar with tables on the sidewalk. They sell cold beer for $4,000 COP and have a speaker playing salsa and champeta. It is the place where neighbors gather after work. Don't expect trendy cocktails, but you will find an authentic atmosphere.
How to Get There and Transportation
Menga is in northern Cali, about 20 minutes by bus from downtown. Here are the options to get there:
- Bus: Take any bus on the P10A or P10B route heading towards Menga. Get off at the stop on 70th Street with Carrera 3, right where the soccer field is. The fare is $2,700 COP (2026).
- Taxi or app: From downtown, a taxi costs between $12,000 and $15,000 COP. From the south of the city, it can go up to $25,000. Ask to be dropped off at the corner of the soccer field, which is the starting point of the route.
- Bicycle: If you come by bike, use the bike lane on Avenida 3N up to 70th Street. The neighborhood is flat, so there are no issues with hills. There is a bicycle parking lot at the soccer field, watched over by Don Álvaro, who charges $1,000 COP to leave it all day.
- Private car: There is street parking, but it is limited. Look for a spot on Carrera 3E, near the soccer field. Do not leave valuables in sight.
Recommendation: Arrive in the morning, between 8 and 10 am, when the neighborhood is quieter and there is less traffic. On weekends, the route can be done without rushing, but keep in mind that some food stalls close on Sundays.
Local Tips
- Bring water and repellent: The sun in Menga is strong, and there are mosquitoes near the water tanks in the alley. There are no stores along the route, so stock up before you start.
- Don't use your cell phone in plain sight in the alley: It is a quiet neighborhood, but the Callejón de los Tanques is narrow and has few exits. Better to keep your phone away and use a discreet camera. If you go in a group, there is no problem.
- Greet the neighbors: People in Menga are friendly if you approach them with respect. If you see someone at their door, say hello and ask about the murals. They will tell you stories that aren't written anywhere.
- Photo times: The best light is between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm. The afternoon sun hits the murals in the alley from the side and highlights the textures. Avoid midday, when the light is flat and shadows disappear.
- Don't touch the murals: Some are so fragile that the paint comes off when touched. If you want to clean one for a photo, do not use water or chemicals. Just blow the dust off carefully.
- Download the PDF map: Before you go out, download the mural map from the link in Malokal's bio. It has the exact coordinates of each point and reference photos so you don't get lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to walk around Menga alone?
Yes, it is generally safe during the day. Menga is a residential neighborhood, with people moving around and open shops. The Callejón de los Tanques can feel lonely, but it is in an area where there are always neighbors at their doors. Keep your belongings discreet and avoid using headphones to stay alert. At night, it is better not to do the route alone; the murals don't look good without natural light.
Can I paint a new mural in Menga?
Technically, you need permission from the wall's owner. Most of the current murals were done without formal permission, but with the approval of the neighbors. If you want to paint, first talk to the Junta de Acción Comunal (JAC) of Menga, which meets on the first Saturday of each month at the soccer field. They can guide you on which walls are available. Do not paint over existing murals, no matter how deteriorated they are: they are part of the neighborhood's memory.
How long does the full tour take?
If you go without rushing, stopping to take photos and talk to neighbors, the tour takes between one hour and an hour and a half. There are only four points, separated by a few blocks. If you also stay to eat a mango or have a beer, you can stretch it to two hours. It is a perfect outing for a Saturday morning.
Is there any mural that is still in good condition?
The skeleton dancing salsa in the Callejón de los Tanques is the best preserved, thanks to the zinc awning that protects it from the rain. Also, the "Los Vagos" signature on the billiard hall wall remains legible, although the colors are faded. The rest are in fair or poor condition. Precisely for this reason it is called the route of the "forgotten murals": the charm lies in seeing them before they disappear completely.
Share your photo of the most neglected mural with the hashtag #MuralesMenga so the Junta de Acción Comunal knows which ones need priority restoration. And if you feel like it, download the PDF map from the link in Malokal's bio so you don't miss any details.