{"id":21145,"date":"2016-03-10T05:41:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T10:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/?p=21145"},"modified":"2016-03-10T10:11:46","modified_gmt":"2016-03-10T15:11:46","slug":"the-complete-travel-guide-to-manizales-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seecolombia.travel\/blog\/2016\/03\/the-complete-travel-guide-to-manizales-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Travel Guide to Manizales, Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is a guest post by Ashley Peak from Optimism Rampage<\/a>, who lives and works in Manizales, ‘The City of Open Doors.’<\/em><\/p>\n

The first thing locals ask you when they find out you\u2019re visiting Manizales<\/strong> is, “Are you happy here?” Locals are proud of their city, and they want you to be happy in their hometown. Manizales is tucked high in the Andes Mountains of Colombia<\/strong>; it\u2019s surrounded by coffee farms and filled with steep hills. The city is also home to several major Universities in Colombia<\/strong>, which lends to its hip and progressive feel. Manizales is not typically on the tourist route in Colombia, but if you love a city with small town vibes, Manizales is perfect for you<\/strong>, and it will leave you feeling the tranquila <\/em>and embracing simple pleasures.<\/p>\n

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Getting to and Around Manizales<\/strong><\/p>\n

Manizales is easily accessible<\/strong> through two major airports: La Nubia in Manizales (a 10 minute cab ride to the city center) and Matecana in Pereira (an hour bus ride). It also has a large bus terminal located next to the lower cable car station (see below): buses depart to destinations throughout Colombia. For example, Bogota-Manizales takes about 8-10 hours<\/strong> (traffic dependent) and costs between 45-60.000 COP. Once in Manizales, taxis are easily found and very inexpensive, but there is also an extensive bus system that costs only 1,600 COP a ride<\/strong> (no passes, cash only). Look for the signs in the front bus windows to figure out where they\u2019re headed. You can also take the cable car system<\/strong> between certain central location, including to the bus terminal for around 2.000 COP per ride.<\/p>\n

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\"cable<\/a>
Editor Chris (on the left) enjoying the cable cars in Manizales NB. don’t put your feet on the benches, we got told off for it! (Photo: Brigid Fox)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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What to Pack for Manizales<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s an ongoing joke in Manizales that if you don\u2019t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.<\/strong> I would add, or walk in any direction 15 minutes. It\u2019s a very unique climate \u2013 in one part of town, it can be sunny and warm, and in the other, it\u2019ll be raining. Because of this, bring an umbrella, waterproof shoes, and a rain jacket<\/strong>. It might not seem necessary but remember sun-block as well: the Andean sun can be intense when it shines!<\/p>\n

Make sure to bring a good pair of hiking shoes as well, as many of the best day-trips from Manizales<\/strong> involve the great outdoors and hiking, sometimes in damp or muddy spots. Also, don’t forget the swimwear: there are lots of thermal baths to enjoy around Manizales<\/strong> due to the active volcanoes nearby. Check out the section ‘What to do in Manizales’<\/strong> below for more ideas…<\/p>\n

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\"Manizales<\/a>
Eating in Manizales (photo: Ashley Peak)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Where to Eat in Manizales<\/strong><\/p>\n

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