Food · Cali

Cholados at the Canchas Panamericanas

The cholados at the Canchas Panamericanas are sold at about 20 stands on Calle 9, between Carreras 34 and 39. They're open every day, and Sunday is when most people go.

Hours: Every day 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., according to the city government (checked on 2026-10-12).
Price level: $$$$$
Duration: 0 to 2 hours
Address: Calle 9 between Carreras 34 and 39, across from the Canchas Panamericanas, Champagnat, Cali

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Cholado, or 'cholao', is a dessert served in a cup: shaved ice with chopped fruit, condensed milk, syrup or blackberry syrup, and a cookie on top. The recipe started in Jamundí, south of Cali, with pineapple, lulo and lime sweetened with honey; Cali added panela (raw cane sugar), and the Panamericanas stands piled on more fruit, like soursop, blackberry and passion fruit.

The same stands sell lulada, chopped lulo pulp with lime, sugar and ice, tarter and fresher than cholado. There's also fruit salad, maracululo and raspado (shaved ice). The best-known stands are El Oasis, El Cacique, Los Niches and Caliche, and some have been there more than 30 years.

The city government listed the stands as open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day. After the August 2026 earthquake, the Canchas Panamericanas served as an aid point and the Unidad Deportiva Jaime Aparicio housed a temporary shelter. We found no reports of damage to the cholado stands.

What to see

The row of cholado stands under the trees on Calle 9.
The cholado served in a big cup with fruit and a cookie.
The lulada and the maracululo.

Getting there

Taxi to Calle 9 and Carrera 36, across from the Canchas Panamericanas.
From Parque del Perro it's about 10 minutes by taxi.
On Sundays the ciclovía passes nearby; you can get there by bike.

Tips

Order a small cholado the first time; the large one is a lot.
Try the lulada too if you want something less sweet.
Go on a Sunday afternoon for the atmosphere, or on a weekday if you don't want a line.
Sit at the stand's tables; it's part of the experience.

FAQ

What is a cholado?

A shaved-ice dessert with chopped fruit, condensed milk, syrup and a cookie. It's Cali's signature dessert.

What is lulada?

A thick drink of chopped lulo with lime, sugar and ice. It's tarter than cholado.

What time do the cholado stands open?

The city government lists them as open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Are they running after the earthquake?

There are no reports of damage to the stands. The Canchas Panamericanas were used as an aid center after the earthquake; it's worth confirming before you go.