Manizales is an Andean mountain city in the Colombian coffee zone, it is located in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. The tropical Andean region is one of the 25 priority regions for the conservation of life on earth. The city presents a complex urban fabric that has evolved in response to an abrupt topography, within a natural environment of great value in its routes, since the built up area is integrated with the natural environment, configuring a diverse and stimulating urban landscape.
The quality of the landscape that surrounds the city is mainly caused by a variety of climates, which ranges from high mountain landscapes with perpetual snow to valleys cultivated mostly with coffee, among a great wealth of relief shapes and forms of mountain of great depth. The city's altitude of 2,150 meters above sea level, therefore makes it possible to change climates within a radius of 30 kilometers, which vary between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and heights between 5,000 and 150 meters above sea level.
From the moment in which UNESCO [2] declared the Colombian Coffee Cultural Landscape as a World Heritage Site, the region that includes the departments of Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda and Norte del Valle, also called the Ecoregion of the Coffee growing belt, remains included and recognized in the list of world heritage assets, which enables the region to position itself as a property of cultural and natural interest.
The Historical and Traditional Center of Manizales has an important architectural and landscape heritage and is a living center with intense public activity. It's cold mountain climate, with a generally cloudy atmosphere, offers an atmosphere of seclusion. The traditional architecture of Manizales is sober and homogeneous, typical of the architecture of the "Antioquia region colonization": with white-walled bahareque houses in lime and carved woodwork. In addition, in Manizales there is an important urban and architectural heritage, representative of the Republican period, considered the largest group of Republican architecture in the country.
On the other hand, Manizales is the town in the country with the largest number of entities for artistic training or practice (visual arts, dance, theater, literature and music) registered per million inhabitants (according to the Competitiveness Council 2008). And the Coffee Axis is recognized as a cultural and university region for its more than 100,000 students, 14 universities, 12 research and development centers, the largest computational bioinformatics center for research and development in Latin America.
Photographs by Carlos Pineda.
THINGS TO DO IN MANIZALES
In alliance with Visit Manizales and the Chamber of Commerce, we share this information with you so that you can discover the experiences and possibilities that the city of Manizales has to offer.
TOURIST PLANS
What to do in the city of Manizales
Birdwatching Tour Tinamú Nature Reserve
A very special place in Manizales - Caldas, for photography and bird watching, located in the village of San Peregrino, in a dry forest of 15 hectares at 1,225 meters above sea level, home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and a great variety of centenary plants and trees. Learn about the reasons why you should make your Bird Watching trip at the Hotel Tinamú Birding Nature Reserve in Manizales - Caldas, Colombia.
- +220 Registered Bird Species
- Specialized in Bird Photography
- High Level Birdwatching in the Region
- Guidance in Bird Watching
- Lodging in the Middle of Nature
- +3 Km. in Private and Safe Trails
- Bird Photography Platforms
- +40 Years of Conservation of the Reserve
- Strategic location in Caldas
- Reinvestment in Conservation
Contact:
Cel. 311 770 11 20 – 314 771 15 57
Mail. booking@hoteltinamu.com
Web. www.hoteltinamu.com/tour/birding-tour/
Hiking Río Blanco Natural Reserve
Río Blanco Nature Reserve is one of the most important nature reserves in the country, with more than 350 species of birds, which makes it a perfect place to watch them and to take tours of the ecological trails, which include an incredible cloud forest, where you can see the beautiful fauna and flora that represents our region.
Contact:
Tel. 887 97 70 ext. 72187
Cel. 311 775 51 59
Mail. reservarioblanco@aguasdemanizales.com.co
Web. www.aguasdemanizales.com.co/Ambiental/ReservaRioBlanco/Serviciosotrasactividades
Orchid Tour, Landscapes and Fruit Trees at Finca Romelia
The Finca Romelia Orchids & Birds is a family tourism project of José and Marisa, a couple who have dedicated more than 45 years to the collection and conservation of various orchids from around the world, as well as from the farm. In Romelia you can live a natural experience in the midst of more than 6 thousand kinds of orchids, 215 species of birds, citrus crops and incredible landscapes.
This is a cultural and natural experience that opens the minds of travelers to show them how agricultural production can go hand in hand with preservation and conservation of biodiversity. This tourist plan includes:
- Approximate 3 hours of guided tour.
- Walk through the natural trails.
- Tour of the orchid nurseries, bonsai gardens and carnivorous plants, among others.
- Visit to the Main House.
- Class on orchids and planting them.
- Bilingual guide (English / Spanish) subject to availability.
- Refreshment.
- Optional lunch.
Contact:
Cel. 301 708 34 38
Mail. reservas@fincaromelia.com
Web. http://fincaromelia.com/
Hacienda Venecia Coffee Tour
The Venice Hacienda Tour consists of a journey through the world of coffee inside an authentic coffee farm. The Hacienda is used as the setting for this experience, there is no montage in what the visitor can appreciate, simply the normal functioning of the farm in its productive activity.
They walk among coffee plantations and routes with water sources, where native species can be appreciated, they visit the processing plant (“Beneficiadero”) and the Main House kiosk, where they can appreciate the traditional architecture, which is one of the important factors in the declaration of the Coffee Cultural Landscape for its beauty, color and authenticity, as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO).
- Approximate duration: 3 hours
- English language
- Language: Spanish (minimum 4 people per group, with prior reservation and confirmation of guide availability)
*Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; the Coffee Processing Plant (Beneficiadero) is closed.
Contact:
Cel. 320 636 57 19
Mail. posada@haciendavenecia.com
Web. www.haciendavenecia.com/reservas/
With a taste of coffee culture
Touring a farm shows us the process from planting to obtaining the rate, reflecting the coffee culture of the area and the characteristic friendliness of the people.
It includes:
- Transport
- Travel accident insurance
- Guidance
- Lunch
- Tour of the Hacienda
Minimum quota of 5 passengers:
150,000 COP – 58 USD
1 day with support vehicle
low level of difficulty
Height of 1378 meters
City tour
Visits to places of tourist and cultural interest in the city.
It includes:
- Transport
- Travel accident insurance
- Guide
- Snack
- Tickets
Minimum quota of 5 passengers
90,000 COP – 35 USD
Parks and Ecoparks
- Cyprus Tower
- Alcazares Arenillo
- Río Blanco Reserve (Gabriel Arango R. Foundation)
- Los Yarumos Ecopark
- Precinct of Thought
- Alive earth
- La Montaña Aqua Park
- El Prado Popular Forest
- Ernesto Gutierrez Park
- Women's Park (Lovers' Park)
Chipre Boulevard - AV 12 de Octubre, Sister Cities Square, Parque del Agua
On this boulevard, you can appreciate the most spectacular sunsets, where you can enjoy a wide gastronomic offer, bars and nightclubs, and different recreational and cultural activities, such as a tour of the Monument to the Colonizers, Panoramic Tower, Water Park, Plaza de the Sister Cities and the monumental Plaza de Toros.
Zona Rosa Boulevard
Because Manizales brings together a large number of young people from different cultures and regions of the country, because of its climate, its wide platforms, sculptures, restaurants and bars, it is the perfect setting for partying, which is why it has countless places with height and style to have fun. In the pink zone of the Caldas capital, everything invites at night so that the streets are flooded with happy people who are looking for the right place to entertain themselves. The cable zone offers a variety of cafes and bars while enjoying a delicious liquor.
Zone G: Milan - Coca-Cola
In Milan, a traditional neighborhood located to the east of the city, in which international food places, taverns and discos abound, which indicates that the party and recreation have definitely begun. It also has mega-discos that invite dancing, singing and the passion that is a characteristic of all Colombians. Thus, the fury of the night and the rumba infect locals and strangers alike, waiting for the next weekend, to infect us with the warmth and joy of the Manizalita people.
Tango Street
It is located on the emblematic Calle del Tango in Manizales, Cll 24 between carreras 22 and 23, it opens on Wednesdays from 8:00 pm with places to listen and dance the best of Argentine music, the Cuban son, the bolero and some tropical music. On Wednesdays there are tango classes and on Thursdays in the middle of the month they present Argentine or tango-related films.
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