The 5 Hidden Murals of San Antonio That Aren't on Instagram

The other side of San Antonio: beyond the viewpoint and the usual photos

If you've climbed the Loma de San Antonio in Cali, you surely know the Mirador, the Church, and that giant mural of the "Gorda de San Antonio" that appears in all the tourist guides and on half the world's Instagram feed. But there is a San Antonio that doesn't show up in viral reels. A San Antonio of narrow alleys, neglected facades, and walls that tell stories that no one tags. In May 2026, while the city fills with tourists looking for the same sunset photo, there are five murals that have been there for years, waiting for someone who knows how to look. They are not on the official street art maps, they don't have popular hashtags, and some are so hidden that even the locals overlook them. This article is for urban photographers fleeing the cliché, travelers who want to take home a story instead of a like, and curious locals from Cali who think they know their neighborhood. Here are five gems of alternative street art in San Antonio, with exact coordinates, real stories, and tips to capture them without anyone interrupting you.

Why these murals go unnoticed

San Antonio is a neighborhood that breathes art, but most of the visible street art is concentrated on Carrera 10 and around Parque de San Antonio. Those murals are pretty, yes, but they were commissioned by brands or made during festivals like "Cali es Cali". The ones I'm going to show you are different: they were painted by local artists with no budget, on walls that no one asked to be intervened, sometimes at night, sometimes with permission from a neighbor who later moved away. They have no plaque, no visible signature (or it's so small you have to look for it), and they are in alleys that Google Maps doesn't mark well. Some are half-erased by the sun, others covered by power lines. But that's exactly what makes them authentic: they weren't made for Instagram, they were made for the neighborhood.

The 5 hidden murals: coordinates, history and how to find them

For this walking route, allow about two hours if you walk at a leisurely pace, stopping to take photos and hydrate (it's hot, remember). Bring water, sunscreen, and an offline map because the signal in some alleys fails. We start from the Church of San Antonio, but instead of going down the main route, we turn left.

Mural 1: "The girl of the butterflies" – Calle 5B # 10-42 (side of the garage)

This mural is the hardest to find because it doesn't face the main street, but the side of a private garage on Calle 5B. To locate it: from the Church, go down Calle 5 towards the west, and before reaching Carrera 10, go into the alley next to the store "Donde Lucho". The mural is on the concrete wall facing the patio of an old house. It measures about 3 meters high by 5 meters wide, and shows a girl with loose hair surrounded by purple and blue butterflies. The artist is María José "Majo" Rengifo, a woman from Cali who painted this in 2019 as a tribute to her grandmother, who lived in that house for 40 years. The butterflies represent the souls of the women in her family. The mural is somewhat worn by the sun, but the butterflies still retain their color if you see it between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, when the light hits from the side. Fun fact: the house was demolished in 2023, but the wall remained standing because the owner of the neighboring lot protected it. Ask at the store "Donde Lucho" if you want more context; the owner, don Lucho, knows the whole story.

Mural 2: "The faceless musician" – Carrera 11A # 4-30 (alley of the water tank)

This one is my favorite. It's in an alley that goes up from Carrera 11A, right behind the neighborhood's communal water tank. To get there: from Parque de San Antonio, walk south on Carrera 11, then turn right on Calle 4. You'll see a narrow alley with concrete stairs. At the end, on the left, there is an exposed brick wall with a black and white mural depicting a saxophonist. It has no face: just the torso, hands, and instrument. The artist is Carlos "Caco" Mosquera, a graffiti artist from the neighborhood who passed away in 2021. He painted this in 2017, and according to the neighbors, the faceless saxophonist is a tribute to all the anonymous musicians who played on the corners of San Antonio before gentrification arrived. The ideal light for photos is at dawn (between 6 and 7 am), when the sun enters the alley and casts long shadows on the mural. Be careful with loose dogs in the morning; the neighbors are friendly, but some dogs are territorial.

Mural 3: "The window to the past" – Calle 6 # 9-50 (inside the cultural house "La Tertulia")

This one is not on the street, but inside a cultural space that few tourists know about. La Tertulia is an old house on Calle 6, between Carreras 9 and 10, that functions as a community art workshop. Entry costs $5,000 COP (reference price as of May 2026), but it's worth every peso. In the inner courtyard, there is a mural that covers an entire 4-meter-high wall: it's a painted window that looks real, with white curtains and a landscape of Cali from the 1950s, with the Cali River unpolluted and Cerro de las Tres Cruces in the background. It was painted by Hernando "Nando" Salazar in 2022, a 68-year-old artist who has lived in San Antonio since he was a child. The window is an optical illusion: if you stand at just the right angle, the landscape seems to extend beyond the wall. The light is good all day because the courtyard has a glass roof, but avoid weekends when there are children's workshops and the place is full of kids. Ask for Nando if he's around; sometimes he gives informal talks about the neighborhood's history.

Mural 4: "The cat of the hill" – Calle 3 # 8-50 (stairs of Carrera 8)

This mural is small, barely one square meter, and is on the stairs that connect Carrera 8 with Calle 3, right next to a pink house. It's a black cat sitting, with yellow eyes and a crescent moon behind it. It looks simple, but it has a deep meaning for the neighborhood. The artist is Valentina "Val" Ospina, a 22-year-old young woman who grew up in San Antonio. She painted it in 2023 after a stray cat from the area, nicknamed "La Loma", was hit by a car and died. The neighbors remember her because she was part of the landscape: she was always on those stairs, watching people go up and down. The mural is an improvised altar; sometimes you find dried flowers or candles at its base. To photograph it, it's best with low light: at sunset, when the moon in the mural seems to shine against the sky background. Don't use flash because it reflects off the paint and ruins the effect. The stairs are narrow, so be careful going down or up while taking the photo.

Mural 5: "The embrace of the hills" – Carrera 9 # 5-20 (wall of San Antonio School)

The last mural is on the exterior wall of Colegio San Antonio, on Carrera 9, but not on the main facade, but on the side facing Cancha de la 9. To get there: from the Park, go down Carrera 9 towards the south, pass the school, and you'll see a basketball court. The back wall, facing a vacant lot, has a huge mural (about 8 meters wide) showing two hills embracing, with the Cali River snaking between them. The colors are earthy: browns, greens, and ochres. It was painted by a collective called Arte Sin Fronteras in 2020, during the pandemic, with the idea of remembering that Cali is surrounded by mountains that protect us. The mural is in poor condition: humidity has erased parts, and there are graffiti tags on top. But that gives it an interesting texture for black and white photos. The best time is at noon, when the sun is high and there are no shadows from the trees. If you go on a weekday, the kids on the court will ask you what you're doing; if you explain, they'll tell you stories about how they painted the mural with the artists.

Walking route: simple map to not get lost

Here is a route that connects the 5 murals without backtracking, designed to be done in two hours at a leisurely pace. You don't need a digital map, just follow these directions:

1. Start at the Church of San Antonio (Carrera 10 with Calle 5). Go down Calle 5 towards the west until Carrera 10A. Look for the alley of "Donde Lucho" for Mural 1.
2. Go back up to Carrera 11, turn right on Calle 4 and look for the water tank alley for Mural 2.
3. Return to Carrera 10, go down to Calle 6, and enter La Tertulia for Mural 3. Pay the $5,000 COP entry fee.
4. Leave La Tertulia, walk along Calle 6 east to Carrera 8, go up the stairs of Carrera 8 to Calle 3. Look for the pink house for Mural 4.
5. Go down Carrera 9 to Cancha de la 9, behind Colegio San Antonio, for Mural 5. From there, you can walk back up to Parque de San Antonio in 10 minutes.

If you prefer a digital map, download the PDF with the exact locations of the murals (includes GPS coordinates and reference photos) at the end of the article. It is optimized for printing or saving on your phone without needing internet.

Timing and light tips for crowd-free photos

San Antonio is a quiet neighborhood, but on weekends it fills with tourists and locals at the viewpoints. For these murals, the best day is between Tuesday and Thursday. The ideal time depends on the mural:

• Murals 1 and 2: best between 6 am and 8 am, when the light is side-lit and there are no people. Loose dogs are the only downside, but the neighbors already know them.
• Mural 3: between 10 am and 2 pm, because La Tertulia opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm. Avoid weekends when there are children's workshops.
• Mural 4: at sunset (5 pm to 6:30 pm), just when the sun sets behind the hill. The moon in the mural looks more realistic.
• Mural 5: at noon (12 pm to 1 pm), to avoid shadows from the trees. If you go in the afternoon, the kids on the court will be playing and might appear in your photos (ask their permission, they are friendly).

Bring a wide-angle lens for the large murals (Murals 3 and 5) and a fixed 50mm lens for the details (Mural 4). Do not use flash in any case; natural light is sufficient if you choose the right time.

Local tips for a more authentic experience

• Talk to the neighbors: Many of these murals have stories that aren't on the internet. Ask at the stores or on the court. The people of San Antonio are open if they see you with respect. Offer a coffee or a lulo juice (at the corner store it costs $3,000 COP) and they'll tell you details you won't find in guides.
• Don't leave trash: The neighborhood is residential and the neighbors take care of their streets. If you take photos, don't touch the walls (some paints are fragile) and leave no trace but your footsteps.
• Bring cash: La Tertulia charges entry in cash, and the neighborhood stores don't have card machines. There is an ATM on Carrera 10 with Calle 5, but it sometimes doesn't work. Withdraw money before going up.
• Use repellent: The alleys have mosquitoes, especially in the morning and at dusk. Dengue is real in Cali, so don't let your guard down.
• Respect the silence: San Antonio is a neighborhood of family homes. Don't play loud music or shout. The neighbors appreciate respect and will return it with a smile.

Frequently asked questions

Are these murals in danger of disappearing?

Some are. Mural 1 ("The girl of the butterflies") is already worn and the lot owner could sell it at any time. Mural 5 ("The embrace of the hills") has humidity and graffiti on top. There is no official conservation plan. If you want to see them, don't wait months; visit them soon. If you are interested in helping, ask at La Tertulia how to support urban art restoration in the neighborhood.

Can I take photos for commercial use?

It depends on the mural. Those in public spaces (Murals 1, 2, 4, and 5) have no legal restrictions, but ethically it is appreciated if you mention the artist if you publish the photos. Mural 3 is inside La Tertulia, which is a private space, so ask for permission upon entry. If you are going to sell the images, it's best to consult with the artists or the cultural house.

Are there guided tours that include these murals?

There are no commercial tours that include them, because they are not on the tourist circuits. However, at La Tertulia they sometimes organize informal walks on Saturday mornings, guided by neighbors. Ask at their reception or call before you go (we don't have the #, but you can stop by any day from 10 am to 5 pm). If you prefer to go on your own, the PDF map we offer below will help you.

Download the PDF map with exact locations

So you don't miss a single mural, we have prepared a downloadable PDF with the GPS coordinates of each one, reference photos, and an optimized route. It also includes the names of the artists and contact information for La Tertulia in case you want to schedule a guided visit. The PDF weighs less than 2 MB and works without internet. To download it, just click on the link below (available until December 2026). If you find another hidden mural in San Antonio that is not on this list, share it with us in the article comments or on social media with the hashtag #MalokalSanAntonio. The idea is to build together a living map of street art that doesn't appear on Instagram.

Download PDF map (2.1 MB) – Link active until December 2026.

What to do

Explore the murals of Calle 5

This street is a true canvas reflecting Cali's culture. From the "Gorda de San Antonio" mural to other lesser-known works, every corner offers a story. Insider Tip: Don't just look; interact with the local artists who are often working on their projects. Ask them about their inspiration and techniques, you can learn a lot!

Visit Parque de los Gatos

This park is famous for its cat sculptures, but it also houses murals that pay homage to the fauna and flora of the Valle del Cauca. Insider Tip: Bring your camera, but also take a moment to observe how the people of Cali enjoy their time in this space. A picnic here can be a perfect way to enjoy the afternoon.

Stroll through San Antonio neighborhood

This neighborhood is an emblem of Cali's culture, full of colonial architecture and urban art. Besides the murals, you'll find cafes and craft stores. Insider Tip: Visit the local cafes and try a "tinto" (black coffee), while chatting with residents about the neighborhood's history. They have stories that you won't find in tourist guides.

Where to eat or drink

La Casa de la Cerveza

This place is ideal for enjoying a good variety of local craft beers. Additionally, the decor is a tribute to Cali's culture and the atmosphere is perfect for relaxing after a tour of the murals. Insider Tip: Try the fruit beer, one of their specialties, and don't leave without ordering some beef empanadas.

El Meridiano 70

This space is known for its diverse gastronomic offering, including typical dishes and international options. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is vibrant, ideal for sharing with friends. Insider Tip: Visit during the weekend, when they usually have live music, which adds a special touch to your culinary experience.