If you’ve ever tried to book a flight to Cali or schedule a business call with someone in the area, you probably hit a wall immediately. Which "Cali" are we talking about? The confusion usually stems from the fact that "Cali" is a massive global brand. For some, it’s shorthand for the entire state of California. For others, it’s specifically Santiago de Cali, the salsa-dancing capital of Colombia.
Here is the quick answer: If you mean California, the timezone is Pacific Time (PT). If you mean Cali, Colombia, the timezone is Colombia Time (COT).
They are not the same. In fact, they can be as much as three hours apart depending on what month it is. It’s one of those weird geographical quirks that trips up even seasoned travelers. Honestly, if you show up for a Zoom call at 10:00 AM in Los Angeles thinking your friend in Colombia is on the same clock, you’re already three hours late.
Identifying the Timezone for Cali, Colombia
Cali, Colombia, is a city that keeps things simple. While many parts of the world mess around with their clocks twice a year, Colombia doesn't bother.
Cali sits in the Colombia Time (COT) zone. This is consistently UTC-5. Because the city is so close to the equator, the length of the day doesn't change enough to justify shifting the clocks for "extra sunlight." They haven't used Daylight Saving Time since a brief, somewhat experimental stint back in the early 90s.
Basically, what you see is what you get. If you are checking the time in Cali, Colombia, it will always be five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Interestingly, this makes Cali the same as Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the United States during the winter months. When New York is on standard time, Cali is right there with them.
The California "Cali" Timezone Confusion
Now, if you’re using "Cali" to refer to the Golden State—California—things get a little more complicated. California follows the Pacific Time (PT) zone. Unlike its Colombian namesake, California is a big fan of the clock-switching ritual.
For most of the year, California is on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is UTC-7. In the winter, it drops back to Pacific Standard Time (PST), which is UTC-8.
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- Standard Time (Winter): UTC-8
- Daylight Time (Summer): UTC-7
Wait, why does this matter? Well, if it’s July and you’re trying to coordinate between Los Angeles and Cali, Colombia, the time difference is two hours. But if it’s January, that gap stretches to three hours. It’s a moving target. If you’re a digital nomad or a business owner working across these borders, you’ve basically got to keep a mental calendar of when the U.S. "springs forward" or "falls back."
Why Colombia Doesn't Do Daylight Savings
You might wonder why Cali, Colombia, just stays put. It's actually a matter of physics. When you’re at 3 degrees North latitude, the sun rises and sets at almost the exact same time every single day. There’s no "extra" evening light to harvest because the tilt of the Earth doesn't affect the tropics the way it does North America.
In the U.S., people often complain about the time change. In Colombia, it’s just not a conversation. The last time they tried it was in 1992 during an energy crisis caused by El Niño-related droughts. They called it "La Hora Gaviria" (named after the president at the time). It was pretty unpopular and didn't last long. Since 1993, the clocks in Cali have stayed exactly where they are.
How to Check the Current Time Without a Headache
Kinda funny how such a simple question—"what timezone is Cali?"—can lead to such a mess. If you're currently staring at your phone wondering what time it is for a specific person, here is the easiest way to keep it straight:
- Google the City specifically: Don't just type "Cali time." Type "Time in Cali Colombia" or "Time in Los Angeles."
- UTC is your North Star: Remember that Colombia is always -5. California is either -7 or -8.
- The New York Trick: If you know what time it is in New York, Cali, Colombia is usually the same (during winter) or just one hour behind (during summer).
Practical Next Steps for Your Trip or Meeting
If you’re planning travel or a cross-border meeting, don’t rely on your memory. Timezone mistakes are the #1 reason for missed flights and awkward "where are you?" texts.
Check the current date. If it is between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, California is in Daylight Saving mode. During this window, Cali, Colombia is 2 hours ahead of California. If it's the winter months, the gap grows to 3 hours.
For those of you heading to the salsa capital soon, just set your watch to UTC-5 and leave it there. You won't have to touch it again until you cross a border. If you're heading to the West Coast of the U.S., just make sure your phone is set to "Update Automatically," or you'll definitely wake up at the wrong time in March.
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Actionable Insights:
- For Business: Always include the UTC offset in meeting invites (e.g., 10 AM COT / 7 AM PST) to avoid "Cali" confusion.
- For Travel: Double-check your flight itinerary for the specific city code. CLO is Cali, Colombia; LAX or SFO are common California hubs.
- For Tech: Use a world clock app that allows you to save both locations as favorites to see the real-time gap instantly.