Manizales, Colombia: Best Things to Do
A traveler's guide to Manizales, a beautifully set city in Colombia's coffee region known as Zona Cafetera. Tips on where to stay, best things to do, top attractions, and safety advice.
Manizales was one of the most fascinating cities we've visited in Colombia. It is known for being a university city, which means there are many young people in the streets, which is the reason behind the unique atmosphere.
Manizales offers plenty of things to see and do, although most of the activities lie outside the city limits.
We are pretty sure that right after your arrival, you will notice the spectacular surroundings that consist of snow-capped mountains including Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
Manizales is also an important transportation hub in Colombia's famous coffee center, Zona Cafetera.
If you are looking for top things to do in Manizales, one of the best activities everyone enjoys is sipping the coffee throughout the day.
Last but not least, Manizales can serve as a base for exploring some of the must-visit places in the country, such as Los Nevados National Park, famous colonial town Salento, or Cocora Valley renowned for wax palms and great hiking opportunities.
Roads that lead to Manizales are incredibly winding, and as we are often sick on the bus, we really hated them.
We stayed in Manizales twice during our Colombia trip, so the worst feeling was when we already knew what to expect.
On the other hand, we could not wait to see those views again.
Manizales, same as Medellin, sits on the slopes of the valley, but this city brought the experience to a completely new level.
Basically, you will arrive at a bus station that is located in the valley, and to get to downtown that sits on the ridge overlooking the rest of the city, you need to take a cable car.
In this travel guide, we share our tips on the best things to see and do in Manizales and within driving distance from Manizales.
To make your trip as smooth as possible, we've also put together practical information on where to stay, how to get there, how to get around, or what kind of weather to expect.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN MANIZALES
The city of Manizales is set in beautiful scenery and offers lots of activities for every type of traveler.
Would you like to swim in hot springs, climb the glaciers on nearby volcanoes, admire the architecture, or would you rather drink one of the best coffees in the world?
If you've answered yes to any of those questions, then Manizales is the place to go.
You can explore it on your own, but especially if you want to see some of the top destinations outside Manizales, you might need the help of experienced guides.
Fortunately, you can find many tours online, but every receptionist in the town in any hotel will be happy to help you to arrange one or multi-day trips.
DOWNTOWN OF MANIZALES
Manizales is a city with almost half a million inhabitants, but it does not feel too busy and crowded.
The city itself does not have that many must-visit places to offer, and most of the travelers cannot wait to explore the mountainous landscape around.
On the other hand, it would be a shame not to dedicate at least a few hours to visiting Manizales.
The city's downtown is on the top of the valley, and it feels a bit disconnected from busy and loud barrios beneath it.
The real window case of Manizales is Carrera 23. This one-way street is the main shopping zone, and also a place where locals leisurely stroll, meet, and chat.
The street is also lined with hotels, restaurants, and cafes.
One of the best things to do in Manizales is visiting the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary, which is on the corner of Carrera 22 and Calle 23.
This cathedral is really stunning from the outside, its tower is 106 meters high, and it's the highest one in Colombia.
But the real highlight is the view from the tower that shows you the amazing panorama of the city.
You need to take a guided tour for 10 000 COP, but the view is really worth it. Another iconic attraction is Monumento a los Colonizadores alias Monument to the Colonists.
If you prefer to connect with the city on a deeper level, then consider Manizales guided tour, and learn more about it from a local.
RIDE AEREO CABLE CAR
Another great thing to do in Manizales is riding a cable car. As the city sits on the hill, and it is quite hard to get around, building a cable car that connects downtown with the lower part of Manizales was an obvious solution.
Manizales is not the only city in Colombia that has such a feature.
The most famous cable car is probably in Medellin, where the cable car helped to connect the city center with poorer neighborhoods, but also with tourist attractions such as Arvi Park.
If you decide to stay in the downtown of Manizales, you will use the cable car first thing in the city, in order to get from the bus station.
One ride costs 1900 COP, and we recommend you to have a camera ready because the scenery is incredible.
Of course, nothing in Colombia has only bright side, and we could see from above several impoverished barrios.
LOS NEVADOS NATIONAL PARK
Manizales is for many travelers a gateway to one of the most wonderful places in the country, Los Nevados National Park.
We thoroughly explored Los Nevados NP on a four-day trek, and even though we started in Salento, we finished right here, in Manizales.
This was one of the reasons why we visited Manizales twice. On the first visit, we left a few things we did not want to carry in a hostel, and we picked them up several days later.
Los Nevados National Park is worth visiting, no matter if you have only a day, Of course, based on our experience, longer is better, but it is always important to work with what you have.
This national park features glaciers, volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, lakes, but also the unique paramo ecosystem.
This park is located high in Colombian Andes, that's why it is always better to acclimatize before the trip. We absolutely loved the moody atmosphere and incredible scenery.
Los Nevados is one of those places where it is better to take a guided tour as the trails are not very well-marked, and because the park is often covered with mist and cloud, it is easy to get lost.
One of the best adventure tours in Los Nevados National Park from Manizales will take you to Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
VISIT COFFEE FARM
Manizales is a city in Eje Cafetero, alias Zona Cafetera, which is a region, as the name suggests, that produces quality coffee not only for local consumption but also for export.
If you are looking for a first-hand experience, and tasting a cup of coffee in one of the coffee shops in Manizales is not an activity authentic enough for you, consider visiting a coffee farm.
We feel that visiting the Coffee Triangle would not be complete without the farm experience, where you can see the whole process of how the beans grow we get the product in a supermarket.
The most renowned coffee farm close to Manizales is Hacienda Venecia that runs several tours a day, both in Spanish and English.
If you want to elevate your experience to a new level, it is even possible to spend a night at Hacienda Venecia Coffee Farm Hotel.
EL RECINTO DEL PENSAMIENTO PARK
If you want to escape the busy city, but do not want to go anywhere too far from Manizales, a trip to El Recinto del Pensamiento Park is a great choice.
The park is approximately 11 kilometers from downtown, and you can get there either by taxi, which is more expensive but quick, or by a cheap bus, but the drive can take up to one hour.
The park features wonderful trails in nature, ponds, gardens, and you can see several species of butterflies or hummingbirds.
Overall, the area of Manizales is famous for birdwatching.
The only downside is that you cannot visit this place on own, and hiring a guide for 19 000 COP is obligatory.
On the other hand, you can learn interesting things about the area and the unique ecosystem.
VIEWPOINT CHIPRE
The western tip of Manizales is home to the most renowned viewpoint in the city, called Chipre. This viewpoint is within walking distance from downtown, about two kilometers, depending on the location of your hotel.
Chipre is a famous sunset spot, therefore the sunset is the best time to visit, but the views of the valley and towering mountains are perfect any time of the day when the sky is clear.
The park close to the viewpoint is popular with locals, and it also feels a bit touristy, because of the number of vendors.
Even though we think it is absolutely enough to get the vistas from the ridge, it is possible to get even higher, to a paid attraction called Chipre Tower.
SALENTO
Manizales is only two hours' drive from Salento, another must-include town in your Colombia itinerary.
Even though we are convinced that Salento should be a separate travel destination because it is one of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, in case you do not have enough time, it is possible to make a one-day trip from Manizales.
Frequent buses connect Manizales and Salento, so the trip is very easy, even if you are an independent traveler.
Among the top things to do in Salento is the walk around the town itself, but you should also not miss a hike in Cocora Valley to see the wax palms, which is one of the most photogenic and best places in Colombia.
HOT SPRINGS
The area around Manizales is well-known for hot springs, and it is one of the best things to do, especially after hiking in the national park.
The most popular tours combine the wonderful views of the mountains and the dip in a thermal pool such as this tour that features Otono Springs.
We visited Colombia on a shoestring, but after traveling in Iceland, we know that next time this is the activity we cannot miss.
WHERE TO STAY IN MANIZALES
Manizales is a large city, and it offers plenty of accommodation options, that are spread across the area.
Where is the best place to spend the night in Manizales? It all depends on your plans.
In case Manizales is only an overnight stop before you continue to explore the mountains around, you can find a hotel near the bus station.
On the other hand, if you want to see some of the architectural gems enjoy the atmosphere and wonderful views, take a cable car, and book a room downtown.
We've handpicked the best hotels in Manizales for every type of traveler, so you can enjoy a comfortable stay.
Budget | Golden Frog Manizales - Close to the cable car station and cathedral, this hostel is a perfect choice for travelers looking for a decent, clean rooms and dormitories for a reasonable rate.
Mid-range | Hotel Pop Art Las Colinas - Amazing stylish rooms, large beds, tasty breakfast, but also renowned coffee are the reasons why to check out this property.
Luxury | Hotel Carretero - Excellent location, professional service, spacious rooms, and delicious breakfast. We would say that this type of hotel is still pretty cheap by international standards, so if you are looking for a touch of luxury and do not want to break the bank, make sure to make your reservation asap.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Most tourists will arrive at the modern Bus Terminal (Terminal de Transportes) located on the main road in the valley.
From there, it's easy to use the cable car to get to the city center on the top of the hill where you can find a large number of accommodation options. One ride costs COP 1 900.
Other options are taking a taxi or using a public bus.
Just make sure when you take a taxi to tell the driver to use a taximeter or ask for the price if they don't have one.
When you consider the terrain of the city, it is pretty clear that getting around by bus is pretty slow.
Once you get to the downtown of Manizales, we think it is possible to get everywhere around on foot.
HOW TO GET THERE
For us, coming to Manizales from Jardin was a seven hours-long and painful drive by van with an unexpected transfer in La Pintada.
But the majority of tourists will usually arrive from either Bogota or Medellin, which still takes several hours, but the bus is much more comfortable.
Another option is to fly in by plane as there is La Nubia airport 8km away from the city.
Salento, another must-visit destination is 90 kilometers away. The bus terminal in Manizales is quite large, and you will get from here to most of the must-visit places in the country.
MANIZALES SAFETY
Manizales is a university city with lots of students and in general, is considered safe.
Probably the most dangerous place in Manizales is the bus terminal, followed by poorer barrios that you can see from the cable car on the way to downtown.
On the other hand, we do not think there's a reason to avoid these parts except for the night time. As usual, in any other city in Latin America, watch out for petty theft, especially in crowded areas.
You can also read our useful article about Staying Safe in South America.
WEATHER
Manizales is a cooler destination than for example Medellin. The elevation is 2160 meters, so you can expect lower temperatures, and the proximity of mountains, that are above 5000 meters high, promises more rainy and cloudy weather.
The average temperature is around 17°C throughout the year, and thanks to it is Manizales a very pleasant year-round destination, especially if you prefer to avoid warm destinations.
Even though Manizales has a wet season from March to May and then from September to November, it does not mean it cannot rain in the dry season as well.
Therefore, the most essential thing to pack for Manizales is a rain jacket, and we always, pack an old-fashioned rain poncho as well.
WHAT TO PACK
As most of the top activities are outside the city, in the mountains, you should come well-equipped.
We recommend hiking boots, and also a daypack where you can store a snack, a fleece jacket, and also a water bottle .
Remember, that to avoid the headache at such an altitude, it is recommended to drink a lot of water.
We've also written an in-depth South America packing list where you will find more useful tips and advice on what to pack.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
