Manizales Colombia...

todd-and-johana...is a cool link into Colombia

Manizales is a city and municipality in central Colombia, capital of Department of Caldas and part of the region of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. Nowadays the city is the main center for the production of Colombian coffee and an important hub for higher educational institutions.

Manizales Colombia holds a very dear place in my heart. Manizales is where we keep our second home. When my son graduates from high school in two more years, Johana & I fully intend on living there 4 to 5 months out of the year.

Geography

Manizales is the capital city of one of the smallest Colombian departments. The city is described as having "abrupt topography"; it is built in a mountain region with a number of ridgelines and steep slopes. Combined with the seismic instability of the area, this has required architectural adaptations and public works to make the city safer. Even though Manizales has a very difficult topography, there are many coffee plantations in these fertile lands. The city is located in the north of the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis ("Eje Cafetero"), near the volcano Nevado del Ruiz, which has an altitude of about 5,321 meters. It is in the basin of the Rio Chinchiná and subbasin of the Guacaica River. Natural threats are earthquakes, mud slides, and volcanic eruptions.

There was a mudslide that happened earlier in October that had knocked out water to the city. My family had said restaurants and many businesses were closed. The government was trucking in water, but not enough, for the people living there to at least have some access. My mother-in law vacated the city for family in Ibague. I put a link to the story here.

Climate

YoWindow.com yr.no

Manizales is a subtropical highland climate. Despite being located in the tropics, due to its high altitude, Manizales hardly gets very hot during anytime of the year. It enjoys spring-like temperatures throughout the year. Because of its tropical location, there are only two seasons in the city; the wet and dry seasons that alternate troughout the year with each lasting about three months. Monthly averages are quite uniform, with an annual mean of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) and a low of 11.2 °C (53.4 °F) . Manizales receives about 1,500 millimetres (59 in) of precipitation a year, with October being wettest.

Tourism

• Cathedral of Manizales, the third tallest in Latin America, at 113 meters
• Nevado del Ruiz Natural Park (with caves and snow)
• Thoughts Recinct Park (El Recinto del Pensamiento)
• Los Yarumos Ecological Park
• Ruiz Hot Springs ("Thermal Waters")
• Otún Hot Springs ("Thermal Waters")
• La Rochela
• Santágueda
• Simon Bolivar Park
• (Francisco Jose de) Caldas Park
• Rustic Club
• Manizales Club
• Route of Nereidas
• Route to Neira
• Route of Rioclaro
• Route of Chinchiná
• Route of La Cabaña
• Murillo Route
• Route of "Cerro Bravo"
• Paramo Cocteles

These photo's are of a little private resort just before you reach La Rochela. La Rochela is nice & we enjoy our time with family there...but when Johana & I want some alone time we check in here and are only minutes from the family. Email me & I'll send you the name & number of the resort.....colombia.travel.magazine@gmail.com

This shot is taken from a tour that escorts you up to the top of The Cathedral of Manizales. I highly recommend! This tour is not a "nanny state" tour, by that I mean there's parts where you scamper up the sloping roof!

There are many things I love about Manizales & Colombia. High on my list is the birds. I never was much of a bird watcher, but since visiting Colombia, it has become a hobby of mine. Click here for some photographs of birds that fill the sky with beauty & song.