Manizales sits in the middle of Colombia's eje cafetero and the surrounding country is full of easy day trips.
Los Nevados National Park (44 km south) is the headline trip — volcanic páramo and the snow-capped Nevado del Ruiz. Allow a full day with a tour operator.
Salento and the Cocora Valley (about 2.5 hours south) — the picture-book Andean town and the famous valley of giant wax palms. Easily a long day from Manizales, but better as an overnight.
Pereira (1.5 hours south) — the larger sister city, with a modern centre and the Matecaña Zoo.
Chinchiná and the coffee farms — the heart of working coffee country, with multiple haciendas accepting visitors.
