Manizales and around

Founded in 1849 by migrating paisas, Manizales grew alongside Colombia’s booming coffee industry. Its legacy lives on in the city’s Neoclassical architecture, with the historic center now declared a national monument.

Perched at 2,150m in the Andes, Manizales sits at the foot of Nevado del Ruiz, a snowcapped volcano that, on a clear day, can be seen sending plumes of steam into the sky from the bridge near Teatro Los Fundadores. Its hilly streets are a direct result of the geologically restless land beneath it — earthquakes here are not uncommon.

Manizales is a key stop along Colombia’s famous Coffee Triangle and a gateway to incredible high-altitude adventures. To explore more of what the country has to offer, check out the best places to visit in Colombia.

Much of the town’s charm lies in its large student population, who help create a festive atmosphere, with night-time entertainment centred mostly on Cable Plaza. The party comes to a head in the first weeks of January during the Fería de Manizales, when there are colourful parades, a beauty pageant in search of a new Coffee Queen and bloody bullfights staged in the Plaza de Toros (C 8 and Cra 27). Manizales also makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding coffee farms and the Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados.

Plaza de Bolívar

In the centre of the city, the main square is dominated by the vast Catedral de Manizales, made of reinforced concrete and featuring a virtigo-inducing, 106m-tall tower that you can ascend with a guide; tours start on the hour. In the centre of the plaza stands an obligatory statue of Simón Bolívar, but with a twist – Bolívar-Cóndor, the creation of Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, is half-man, half-condor.

Recinto del Pensamiento

Butterflies and birds are the main attraction at Recinto del Pensamiento, a nature park 11km from Manizales. As well as visiting the colourful butterfly enclosure, you can also wander through a medicinal herb garden, relax in the Japanese Zen garden, enjoy a stroll through the orchid forest and marvel at the gigantic guadua bamboo gazebo, used for conventions and wedding ceremonies. Guides are compulsory and included in the admission price.

Reserva Ecológica Río Blanco

Around 3km northeast of Manizales, the Reserva Ecológica Río Blanco is home to 362 bird species, 350 butterfly species and more than forty mammals. Tranquil orchid-lined uphill hikes through impressive cloudforest reveal dense jungle flora entwined in a battle for a place in the sun; if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the reserve’s endangered spectacled bear. There is also a hummingbird farm.

Torre al Cielo

In the northwest suburb of Chipre, on a high bluff at the end of Avenida 12 de Octubre, the 45m-tall Torre al Cielo is the town’s best lookout. On a clear day you can see seven departamentos and three mountain ranges. Buses run to Chipre from the Cable Plaza along Avenida Santander every minute or so.