What to do in Manizales, Colombia!
Last updated on August 22nd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
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Manizales is a jumping off place for a lot of spectacular things – thermal pools, Los Nevados National Park and of course it is in Coffee country. My first impression of Manizales wasn’t great – but it grew on me after a short time!
It is known as the “City of Open Doors” because of its incredibly welcoming locals and it has the lively buzz of a university town. It also has a couple of things you don’t want to miss. This guide will tell you where to stay, and where not to stay, what to do in Manizales, and give you a few tips and tricks to help you on your visit.
Contents
The 12 best things to see and do in Manizales!
A quick 3-4 day itinerary for Manizales
Frequently Asked Questions about Manizales
Trip Planning Checklist
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All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Accommodation – I use booking.com for hotels, Hostelworld for a hostel, and Vrbo for holiday houses.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. These are my highly recommended options in Manizales:
- Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint
- Snowy Ruiz + Hot Springs from Manizales (Los Nevados National Park)
- City tour in Manizales and hot springs
- Manizales, Colombia: Coffee Tour + Barista Show
Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars
Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
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The best things to do in Manizales
This is my list of the things to do in some sort of order of preference! I do also recommend a city tour to get your bearings and learn about the city:
Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint
1. Climb to the spire of the Cathedral – its an absolute must!
Don’t miss the “Corredor Polaco” (Polish Corridor) Cathedral Tour! I was thinking “Really – is it worth it?” But…. – it was completely brilliant!!
It wasn’t so much the view for me – there are views all over Manizales, it was the climbing up the Cathedral building itself that was so super cool. The Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary) is the tallest cathedral in Colombia – 106 m (348 ft) and you can climb virtually to the top spire!
First you go up some narrow winding stairs then climb up on the roof and then to go to the verry top there is a brilliant spiral staircase that takes you to the viewpoint at almost the top of the spire. If you really don’t do heights this may not be for you but it is very safe all the way!
Don’t forget to go inside and see the amazing concrete construction of this cathedral and the stunning huge stained glass windows that contrast brilliantly with the concrete. Its absolutely worth it as well
2. Hike in Los Nevados National Park
This is the reason most people come to Manizales! There are plenty of hikes and options but the most popular day trip is Nevada del Ruiz – where you go up on the Ruiz volcano – in a vehicle with lots of stops on the way to take in the amazing scenery – including Lunar Valley and Valley of the Tombs! Most tours will take you to the hot pools after you have visited the park. For example,
- Snowy Ruiz + Hot Springs from Manizales
- National Park Los Nevados – Birdwatching and Volcanic Tour (an alternative for birders)
Other hikes you can do vary from 1 day to many and all require a guide and park entrance fees. You cannot go alone. These are the popular ones:
- Nevado de Santa Isabel – you walk up to the “Poleka Kasue” glacier edge to see a tropical glacier surrounded by the paramo, frailejones, and the stunning Laguna Verde. Sadly this glacier is likely to disappear in the next 10 or so years so now is the time! You drive to 4,200m before you start walking and reach 4,700-4,800m! Some tours will take you on the glacier as well.
- Laguna del Otún Viewpoint – you drive past rural farmland to the Potosí ranger station. From there, you hike up to the Asomadera Viewpoint, looking down onto the park’s largest lake. Stunning scenery heading up to 3,800m – 4,100m over 4-5 hours walking.
- Northern Park Travesía (Multi-Day Crossing) – from Manizales to Salento over 3-4 days. You walk through incredible paramo scenery, valleys and lakes – passing Laguna del Otún, sleeping at remote mountain fincas, and finally hiking down into the lush Cocora Valley and its wax palms.
You can book with local tour agencies in Manizales e.g. Ecosistemas Travel or if you speak Spanish or do Google Translate well, then you can try the more local tourism and cheaper operators like Juva Adventures +57 322 7024391 (on WhatsApp) and Adventures Colombia +57 3045298842.
3. Ride the cable cars (cable aéreo)
This is super cool as well. The town is built on mountain ridges and the streets are super steep! As part of the public transport system, there are cable cars which cost the same as a bus ride – about $1! There are three routes – I rode them all just for fun and to see what the suburbs area like.
If you start at the main bus station, the three cable cars all link there so you can cheat and ride them all on one ticket. I did this when I arrived – backpack and all. First, get on the Line 2 cable car to Villamaría and do not get off until you are back at the bus terminal where you started. Then walk over and hop on the Line 3 one to El Cable and do the same. When you get back, jump on the last one – Line 1 to Fundadores and get off in the central town area – which is where you should be staying (more on that later)! If anyone asks where you are supposed to get off (they won’t) just babble something about getting on the wrong one!
4. Wander through Plaza de Bolívar and see the the Bolívar Cóndor!
The plaza is directly in front of the Cathedral and on the other side is the Gobernación de Caldas (the departmental government palace). The plaza is most famous for the Bolívar Cóndor -a dramatic sculpture of Simón Bolívar merging with a condor! Its impressive.
Other things to note are the murals – behind the statue by the steps. The “Vientos de Libertad” (Winds of Freedom) and its counterpart “Preludio de Lanzas Llaneras” (Prelude to Llaneras Spears) celebrate the independence of Colombia and are worth taking a look at. there is also another large statue the locals call “Adán y Eva” (Adam and Eve) which you will see to the side of the plaza.
5. Go skywalking, or head to the top of the Torre de Chipre for more views!
Go to the top of the Torre de Chipre (water tower) on Chipre hill and enjoy a different high viewpoint of the town.
This is a small group tour as such – they send people up in groups, although I guess you could get very lucky and get up there with only you! I was there on a public holiday so no chance – but it was absolutely fine. It costs around $5USD so doesn’t break the bank!
A lovely guide took us around pointing out different buildings and sites in the town, explaining the development of the water tower – and giving restaurant recommendations as she went!
The other thing to do here is the Skywalk – there is a rim around the outside of the water tower you can walk on and face those fears!! Its actually not too scary -sort of! It is probably the cheapest skywalk you can do at about $12-13! You don’t pay extra for going up on the tour.
Tips:
- They have a QR code to give you all the info you need in English if you don’t speak Spanish.
- If you happen to be over 62 there is a small discount for the tower (not the skywalk) – just show your passport!
6. Walk up Chipre Hill to the Monumento a los Colonizadores (Monument to the Colonists)
Walking up Chipre Hill is quite pleasant – it gets lined with food vendors later in the day so you wont go hungry or thirsty. There are views out over the rural area and the Andes and the finale is arriving at the Monumento a los Colonizadores (Monument to the Colonists). Its quite an impressive giant bronze sculpture. It is a tribute to the hardy settlers of the regions – it made me think it could have equally been in South Africa or the west coast of the USA!
(Its the one in the feature photo above.)
7. Visit a local ecopark
There are two right in town and one just out of town and they are all quite different.
First there is the Ecoparque Arenillo Alcázares which is close to Chipre Hill. It is literally a big forest reserve with paths through a small portion of it, and a tower for birdwatching – a quick option for some bird watching or walking. It is also safe as it is guarded by Tourist Police. A little tip from me – at about 4pm some of the birds come down to the little police station at the entrance – you can leave a banana for them and watch them. See the pic below for some of the birds I saw! Free entry.
Second there is the Ecoparque Los Yarumas. This is on the edge of town and you need to take a taxi or bus to get there. This is more of an educational and play place to take your kids. There is a butterfly house, a biology museum, and a short guided walk through the forest – but all are only able to be visited in timed groups – not really for me! All in all I don’t recommend it unless you speak Spanish and have an interest in local flora and fauna, and have some time to fill in!
However just out of town is the Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento! This is is again an organised park but it is out of town, much, much larger and has, some cool bamboo structures, cloud forest, beautiful orchids, and lots of hummingbirds – and of course butterflies – and no timed entries! There is a hotel on site – Hotel Estelar Recinto del Pensamiento which could be a nice option for a night – I did not stay there but check the reviews. It costs about $12.
To get to the park take a bus from the city center going to “Maltería”, “Juanchito”, or “Recinto del Pensamiento” and ask the driver to drop you at the Eco park. It takes about 30 mins and is the standard $1-ish fare. Or you can take it easy and take a tour:
Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour
8. Soak your aches away in Thermal Pools
Okay so you can make a day trip of visiting Ecopark Recinto del Pensamiento and then heading to some hot pools – or just spend the day at the pools!
The Termales del Otoño thermal pools are part of a hotel complex – an option if you would like to stay a night! And the Termales Tierra Viva are a little bit further away but much cheaper!
The Termales El Otoño are a few km further along the road from the eco-park. Take another “Maltería” or “Juanchito” bus when you have finished at the Eco park and ask the driver to drop you at the “Sena de Maltería” intersection and wait for a frequent local shared Willys Jeep or small commuter shuttle that takes you to the hotel. The pools cost about $23 for a day pass and are set in the Termales El Otoño hotel grounds with nice planting around.
The alternative cheaper option is the Termales Tierra Viva! These pools are close to El Otoño and cost about $8 for the day during the week. It has three pools of differing temperatures and is right by a with lovely forest and planting around! I do actually prefer this set up! To get there take the same “Maltería” or “Juanchito” bus from Manizales. Tell the driver you want to get off at the entrance road for Tierra Viva. The bus drops you very close to the entrance pathway.
And to take it really easy – take a tour:
10. Get your coffee fix
Of course you are in coffee country, so first of all, you can stay just out of town at the Hacienda Venecia which is a fabulous working coffee farm and get to wander through their eight hiking trails – including through the coffee plants.
Secondly you can learn all about it on this tour:
Manizales, Colombia: Coffee Tour + Barista Show
11. Go birdwatching at the famous Rio Blanco Reserve!
There are a few ways you can get to this well-known spot for birdwatching in the Manizales area:
- Check on BirdForum for a local guide – Daniel Muñoz is highly recommended!
- The Colombian Way: does tailored 4-hour day trips to the reserve
- Hacienda Venecia have a 6-hour Río Blanco tour starting at 6:00am.
- Manizales Birding Adventures does longer, custom, and all-inclusive regional birding packages.
You might want to stay the night in the reserve if you are a birder, as you will get some great night birding in as well as the day birding. You can book Owl’s Watch at Rio Blanco and get your fill!
Another alternative for those that want some birdwatching and hiking trails is to stay at the Hacienda Venecia – which has eight self-guided hiking trails through coffee plantations, bamboo forests, rivers, and hills – all completely free if you stay there! They also do the Rio Blanco tour so it could be the perfect answer.
11. Tango street at night
What salsa is to Cali, Argentinian tango is to Manizales! Its all a bit of a a local love affair. Tango street is gritty looking during the day but opens up at night and thats when the dancing begins. Its a bit pot luck as to what you will see but give it a shot.
12. Other things to see if you have time!
- The Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción church on the edge of Caldas Park is a stunning Neo-Gothic church known for its unique metal and wattle and daub construction as well as its stunning dark cedar wood interior. It is definitely worth going into when you are nearby! (See the pic below.)
- There is an bull ring which is still used for bullfighting in the season in January – until July 2027 when it will be officially banned in Colombia. It is also used for concerts throughout the year. So if you are there in January 2027 and want to see the bullfighting…. Plus there is a great bull and matador statue opposite it – check it out if you are walking to the Ecopark.
- The Antigua Estacion Del Ferrocarril is free to enter and is an example of some lovely old architecture – an old train station. An old carriage has been converted to a cafe as well. (See the pic below.)
- The San Esteban cemetery is kind of cool being in a circular format. If you haven’t seen a cemetery in Colombia go and check it out – its a bit different from the standard western cemetery!
- Wander around the streets near the central plaza and see some lovely colonial buildings!
A 3-4 day itinerary for Manizales
Day 1. Arrive and go on a city tour. Or go alone and ride the cable cars, walk up Chipre Hill, do the skywalk or climb the water tower and see the Monument to the Colonists.
Day 2. Climb the Cathedral. Check out Plaza de Bolívar and the the Bolívar Cóndor and the buildings in the streets around the plaza!
Go on a coffee tour or visit the Ecoparque Arenillo Alcázares if you are into birds or need a walk (go late in the day so you can see the birds around 4pm). See Tango Street at night.
Day 3. Hike in Los Nevados National Park on a day-trip or a two-day trip.
Day 4. Enjoy the thermal pools and the Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento.
Travel Tips for Manizales
- Stay in the central city area or on the Chipre Hill unless you are specifically staying at the thermal pools or the Hacienda Venecia – I didn’t my first two nights and regretted it!
- Pack layers and take layers when out walking – including an umbrella or rain jacket / poncho – rain happens suddenly!
- Book ahead for the high altitude tours in Los Nevados and spend a couple of nights acclimatising before you go on a tour.
- Book accommodation well ahead in early January as the Feria de Manizales festival is on and it will be harder to get a room!
- Don’t miss the “Corredor Polaco” (Polish Corridor) Cathedral Tour
- You can drink the water from the tap.
Frequently Asked Questions about Manizales
Q: What is the altitude, and will I get altitude sickness?
A: Most visitors only feel mild shortness of breath when walking uphill. But keep hydrated – more than normal and just take it easy and you should be fine. But, if you go on a tour in Los Nevados National Park, you will often go up past 4,000 meters, where altitude sickness is common – so make sure you acclimatize in Manizales for a couple of days first and drink a lot!!
Q: How does the Cable Aéreo system work for tourists?
A: Its easy, fast and fun – and part of the basic transport system so you just buy a cheap (about$1) ticket and jump on!
Q: Is it safe to walk around Manizales at night?
A: Generally in the El Chipre and main city streets areas it is safe – stick to well lit places with lots of locals. Avoid the business areas that are closed after business hours.
Q: What is the “Corredor Polaco,” and do I need to book it in advance?
A: It is the narrow, open-air observation deck at the very top of the Cathedral tower. You don’t need to book days in advance but you need to book a timed slot – so go early and you wont have to wait long. If you arrive after about 10am you will likely have to wait until an afternoon slot.
Q: Which thermal hot springs are the best to visit?
A: Both the Termales El Otoño and the Termales Tierra Viva are close to the city. Termales El Otoño is part of a hotel complex and is more expensive than the Termales Tierra Viva which feels more natural.
Where to stay in Manizales
Higher End -just out of town – the Hacienda Venecia, or, the Hotel Piedras De Maní
Mid Range – I stayed at the very funky Hostal Mirador Andino – also very central and right by the top of the cable car. Great staff and facilities – it is an old building so there will be creaks and not all is pristine. Also try Hotel Belé n Boutique or Break Estudios Manizales
Backpacker / Budget – Do Not stay at Hostal Turistico Ninfa del Mar – just trust me (its out of town and dirty and has beds in the kitchen – do not ask me who gave it the ratings it has!!! But do stay at the very central Golden Frog Mountain Hostel – don’t be put off by the stairwell up to it- its safe and very clean!! An alternative is the central Hospedaje Parque Caldas Fundadores Manizales.
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