Wondering about the best things to do in Manizales, Colombia that are actually cool?!
This article will answer all of your questions about traveling to this sky-high city under the radar - including a sample 2-day itinerary, details about hiking and hot springs, and what else to know for a worthy trip.
So when I told other travelers in Colombia that I was headed to Manizales, I got a lot of blank stares. Many backpackers had not heard of the city, let alone things to do there!
And it was true - I did not run into any other travelers there, besides the ones at our hostel.
Less visited on the backpacker trail, Manizales offers an opportunity to see a real Colombian city in action, without too much tourism like Medellin or Bogota.
Besides its industrial center, most things to do in Manizales involve the nature surrounding the city. After all, Lone Wolfette, I understand it is the earth, art, and culture that excite your spirit.
I’ve written this guide to encourage other solo travelers like myself to visit Manizales on the way to Salento, Jardin, Medellin, or other stops along the Colombian coffee trail. For more information on the coffee triangle, check out my main guide to the coffee region:
I ended up staying 4 nights in Manizales with a couple of other travelers I had met along the backpacker route. We cherished the time relaxing in Manizales, and it also broke up the long rides between Jardin and Salento.
In addition to the best things to do in Manizales, I’ve listed my tips on how many days you need, how to get there, what to pack, and perhaps most importantly - where to stay.
Visit the Cathedral
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia - what a shot!
Manizales’ church in the center of downtown is truly gorgeous. One of the first things to do in the main plaza is to visit the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary.
While the gothic church looks striking from the outside, you can even climb the tower for a view of the city from above.
Plaza del Toros Bullring
Even if you don’t support the tradition, the building is known for its architecture and cultural events.
I’d never seen a bullfight before, and at the time of my visit in March, the bullring was not hosting events.
However, you can still visit the Plaza de Toros Bullring as a tourist attraction during the off-season, as it is an architectural monument. It is open from 8 AM to 6 PM, except for Sundays.
They also host live music concerts and cultural events, if you’re opposed to bullfighting.
Trek in Los Nevados National Park
One of the most popular things to do in Manizales is visit Los Nevados National Park, an adventure hub for trekkers, naturalists, and day trippers.
Los Nevados is home to the volcano Nevado del Ruiz, as well as Lake Verde, Lake Otun, thermal baths, glaciers, and snow-topped mountains.
Cocora Valley, one of the top things to do in Colombia’s coffee region, is actually located in Los Nevados National Park.
While you can reach Los Nevados from main cities like Armenia or Pereira, Manizales remains closest to the park with easy access from the north entrance, making it a wonderful launchpad for a tour or trek.
If you choose to visit Los Nevados National Park, you may need warm clothes and gear for hiking in snow, depending on where you go, though this is often supplied by the tour company.
During my stay in Manizales during the rainy season, there was a lot of fog and little visibility, so I opted to skip the tour to Los Nevados which cost around $75 and up.
However, if you are on the way to Salento and visit Cocora Valley’s wax palms, you’ll be happy to hear that these are also located in the national park, so you can check Los Nevados off your list later on. (And if so, be sure to read my guides first)!
Birdwatching
Photo by Nicolas Pratlong
Did you know Colombia is the country with the most diversity of bird species in the world?
In my hostel, I met a few bird fanatics. They were headed to Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco, a nature reserve near Manizales where you can walk trails full of bird species.
Your options at the reserve include day tours with explanations of each bird species, but you can also stay overnight in the lodging. The grounds contain plenty of trees, flowers, and creeks.
You will have to book in advance to visit Rio Blanco, run by Aguas de Manizales.
Bathe in the Hot Springs
While they are a little bit outside of town, visiting the hot springs in Manizales was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon - especially when the weather was chilly at high altitudes.
The springs here are called “termales” or thermal baths and contain naturally warm water from the volcanic-Andean landscape.
I visited Termales El Otoño, which was dubbed the most “premium” of the resorts, though the day pass was only about $7. The views of the green mountains surrounding the hotel were beautiful. There were 3 pools of varying temperatures, and none had the sulphuric scent. At 2 PM we were the only guests to arrive, but a couple more families and Colombians came afterward. You can purchase drinks with cash, but nothing fancy.
At the hot springs with someone special I met in Colombia :)
To get to Termales El Otoño, you can take a taxi, or ride the bus from the main square in town. The ride was about 45 minutes and cost less than $1, but the views through the mountains were really gorgeous.
Tour a Coffee Farm
The coffee tour in Manizales is interactive, so you can pick your own beans and participate.
For an immersive coffee farm experience, you can visit Hacienda Venecia in the lush western part of Manizales.
This popular finca hosts a daily coffee tour (as well as a chocolate workshop). Learn about Hacienda Venicia’s varieties of beans, origins, and history of coffee, and the different aromas and properties that comprise this regional drink.
The tour is interactive which means you can participate and pick your own beans. Witness the roasting firsthand and visit the “wet mill” if you come on a weekday.
Or maybe a chocolate/cacao tour at the finca is more your style…
You can also stay overnight in the hostel at the Hacienda Venecia, or you can just come for the morning and enjoy a lunch or swim afterwards.
The farm provides a shuttle from the main road, but you must book in advance on their website.
Take a hike and enjoy epic views
For an easy 2-hour trail, Ecoparque Los Alcazares Arenillo is a nature park on the west side of town that is free for visitors.
You can spot a diverse collection of birds while you enjoy Colombia’s beautiful scenery in a tranquil environment.
If you are looking for more of a view, there are unofficial trails all around Manizales.
The sunset from our hike to a creek in Morrogacho, Manizales. I pretty much slid the whole way down…
While I don’t have exact coordinates to pass along, I stayed in Morrogacho and we hiked to a creek at the end of Calle 2. Just walk to the end of the road and the trail opens up to the hillside. The drops are steep, but it made for a beautiful unmatched sunset!
Ride the cable car to Mirador de Chipre
Speaking of epic views, the most famous vista in Manizales is Mirador de Chipre. You can take the cable car from the station next to Parque Fundadores.
The best thing to do in Manizales is get high in the sky - whether you’re hiking, riding the cable car, climbing the cathedral, or just taking in the views.
Once aboard the flying car, glide up to the top where you will be dropped off at Mirador de Chipre park.
At the top, enjoy a bite to eat at the restaurants or sip coffee in the cafes and take in the views at almost 2300 meters.
Stay in a unique accommodation
Honestly, my experience in Manizales was made most memorable by the extraordinary hostel I stayed in the mountains called Mirador Finca Morrogacho.
If you seek a more peaceful experience and plan on doing more of the day trips listed in this article, I would recommend you stay outside of the main city, because Manizales is surrounded by lush mountainsides where it is more beautiful.
The view from my accommodation in Manizales was pretty epic.
At the hostel, Majid was a wonderful host who lives on the property perched high above Manizales, and he also took us on the hike to the creek.
Every morning I said hello to the birds at the on-site sanctuary, ate a hot breakfast with fruit, and then did yoga in the fitness center or on the deck. It felt like we could touch the sky.
Where to stay in Manizales
As mentioned above, I recommend staying outside of the busy town and instead at one of the accommodations in the mountains above the clouds.
Mirador Finca Morrogacho not only has high ratings from myself, but also lists reviews that say “this is the best hostel I have ever stayed at”. That’s actually why I booked it, and it didn’t disappoint.
My second choice in Manizales would be the beautiful Hacienda Venecia, for reasons we discussed before! (Coffee and chocolate... yes).
If you are visiting areas like Los Nevados, Rio Blanco, or the Termales, there is not any real reason you have to stay in the center of town, where it can be noisy. However, many backpackers do stay in the center because transportation options are easier, so it’s your choice.
Uber was not available in Manizales, but there are taxis and buses, along with the cable car.
How many days in Manizales?
Just 2 nights in Manizales will make the trip worth the stop, but if you are doing more tours or want a leisurely experience, you can stay 4 nights like we did.
I’ve listed a sample 2 day itinerary below to make the most out of your experience.
2 or 3 Days Itinerary in Manizales
While 2 days is enough to do the top things in Manizales, 3 days would be better if you want to do additional excursions.
Day 1
Afternoon: Arrive in Manizales. Take the cable car to Mirador Chipre for sunset and eat at the restaurant. In the evening, visit bars on Calle 23 near the main Plaza.
Day 2
Morning: Hike at Ecoparque Los Alcazares Arenillo OR do a shared coffee farm tour at Hacienda Venecia.
Afternoon / evening: Relax at Termales El Otono or other hot springs.
Day 3
All Day: Visit Los Nevados National Park for trekking / adventure
OR
Visit Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco for birdwatching (book in advance)
How to get to Manizales?
Medellin to Manizales
How to get from Medellin to Manizales via bus?
This is the only ticket you can actually purchase in advance online on redbus.com (though not required) so it is a bit easier.
Bus Medellin to Manizales (5+ hours): Take a taxi or Uber to Medellin Terminal Sur. The fine print on the ticket says you need to arrive at least an hour before departure… but I found this was not the case at all. I got there early, yet didn’t board until 5 minutes before, so I just waited in the big lobby. The bus was designed for travel with comfortable seats.
Jardin to Manizales
How to get from Jardin to Manizales… there are two options, but I recommend the first.
Option A: Colectivo van from Jardin to Manizales (5+ hours): This is the only direct van that will get you there in the fastest time, leaving at 6:30am every day. It is a small 9 seat van, so visit Jardin’s only terminal as early as you can to purchase the ticket in cash.
Option B: Chiva bus from Jardin to Riosucio (3+ hours) and then bus from Riosucio to Manizales (2+ hours): This is the route that most travelers take, involving those colorful metal school buses you see all over Colombia that will rattle you like a smoothie in a blender! A true authentic experience. In Riosucio, you will change to a colectivo van.
Salento / Pereira to Manizales
How to get from Salento to Manizales… there are no direct routes, so you will stop in Pereira.
Bus Salento to Pereira (1+ hour): This street bus was not too comfortable but did the job and took about 75 minutes. Buses leave about every hour, the Salento bus station is very small in this village.
Bus Pereira to Manizales (1+ hour): From Pereira terminal, you will buy a bus ticket to Manizales in cash. Their online schedule was inaccurate, as common in Colombia, so just purchase the ticket when you get there. This bus had comfortable seats like a tourist bus.
Is Manizales safe?
Manizales is the capital city of Caldas, so it is certainly a bigger city than other small villages in the region. With that being said, you should exercise caution as you would in other cities. Don’t dar papaya as the Colombians say, meaning don’t be an easy target and hold your phone in one hand on the street for oblivious selfies, or leave your wallet hanging out of your back pocket.
However, many Colombian tourists visit Manizales, and it felt safe to walk around all the areas I listed in this article. There are not many backpackers here, but Manizales has lower crime rates than Medellin, Cali and Bogota. Again, this is anecdotal evidence as a solo female traveler, but all the cities in the coffee region had a much more laid back vibe than the other main urban centers of Colombia.
If you’re heading solo, don’t worry. As always, the hostels are excellent places to meet other travelers, like I did, and enjoy partaking in the sights of Manizales together.
Tips for Visiting Manizales
- To prevent theft, I use this crossbody purse with anti-theft features to keep my belongings safe.
- Don't know Spanish? Manizales is definitely a town where there is little English. I used Italki to gain fluency by practicing with locals online for as little as $5 per session! My teacher is really chill, and it took the nerves off speaking real Spanish, which helped me get around MUCH easier.
- Bring cash for almost all your purchases. However, for all your credit card purchases, make sure you have a card with no foreign transaction fees (I use this Chase card which gives me the BEST rewards that I fly free a lot of the time)!
Where to Go Next?
Where to go before or after Manizales?
If you’re a backpacker on a budget like me and want to take the bus through the best areas of the zona cafetera, check out my complete guide to Colombia’s coffee region, where I discuss neighboring areas like Salento, Armenia, Pereira, Filandia, Buenavista, Pijao and more.
I have no doubt you will meet plenty of other travelers on your solo trip in Colombia.
What to Pack for the Coffee Region of Colombia
When I was in Manizales, I experienced one of the most intense lightning storms I’ve ever witnessed in my life. It was actually epic, Wolfette. At that high altitude, the weather is unpredictable and would shift between sunny days, foggy skies, and rainy conditions.
That being said, you will definitely want to bring:
- Proper hiking boots
-
Lightweight Rain coat or poncho
Layers of clothing for cool nights
Swim suit for thermal baths
I have a lot more recommendations that will make your backpacking life easier in Colombia’s diverse climate. Check out my complete packing list for Colombia here.
Pack for COlombia
What to Wear, Essential Gear, and More
Conclusion: Travel for the Spirit in manizales
When traveling to grow our spirit, sometimes it’s important to take the road less traveled by, as Robert Frost would say.
Manizales is that road less traveled by, and for me, it was really about the neighboring countryside and excursions surrounding the bustling center.
Additionally, it was taking a few days off in the hills to recharge, meditate, read, do yoga, watch birds, eat bananas, and observe the view from a hammock that allowed me to slow down during my trip and not rush to the next place.
Manizales seems like an up and coming city on the tourist route, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is full of backpackers in the next few years.
I hope you enjoy your solo trip and experience many of these cool things to do in Manizales!
hi wolfette, i’m molly
Travel is a spiritual experience for me, especially when adventuring solo.
After visiting 6 continents on my own, I’ve dedicated this project to assisting other Lone Wolfettes on their journeys.
I hope my travel guides help you find the same joy, connection, and empowerment that exploring our planet has given me.
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