Day trips

The 11 Best Day Trips from Manizales

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 11 good day trips from Manizales, Colombia, led by Medellín, Ibagué, Pereira. The closest is Dosquebradas, about 35 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Manizales at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Medellín131 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Ibagué78 km SE1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Pereira35 km SW40 minHalf-day trip
Tuluá133 km SW2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Dosquebradas31 km SW35 minHalf-day trip
Facatativá131 km E2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Madrid143 km E2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Cartago57 km SW1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Quibdó145 km NW2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Mosquera147 km E2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Funza149 km E2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Manizales

  1. 1

    Medellín, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car131 km north of Manizales4 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for El Hombre creador de energía.

    Also nearby: Bello, Itagüí, Envigado, Rionegro.

  2. 2

    Ibagué, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car78 km south-east of Manizales3 hr round trip
  3. 3

    Pereira, Colombia

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car35 km south-west of Manizales1 hr 20 min round trip
  4. 4

    Tuluá, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car133 km south-west of Manizales4 hr 10 min round trip
  5. 5

    Dosquebradas, Colombia

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car31 km south-west of Manizales1 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Facatativá, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car131 km east of Manizales4 hr 10 min round trip
  7. 7

    Madrid, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car143 km east of Manizales4 hr 30 min round trip
  8. 8

    Cartago, Colombia

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car57 km south-west of Manizales2 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Quibdó, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car145 km north-west of Manizales4 hr 30 min round trip
  10. 10

    Mosquera, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car147 km east of Manizales4 hr 40 min round trip
  11. 11

    Funza, Colombia

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car149 km east of Manizales4 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Manizales to Medellín

A realistic pace for Medellín, 131 km from Manizales. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Manizales
  2. 09:35Arrive in Medellín (2 hr 5 min drive)
  3. 09:50El Hombre creador de energía
  4. 11:50Lunch
  5. 13:05Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Medellín
  6. 15:35Head back to Manizales
  7. 17:40Home in Manizales

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Manizales?
The best day trips from Manizales are Medellín, Ibagué, Pereira, Tuluá, Dosquebradas. The closest is Dosquebradas, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Manizales?
Dosquebradas is the closest, 31 km south-west of Manizales, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Manizales?
2 places are within about an hour's drive of Manizales: Dosquebradas (35 min), Pereira (40 min).
What is the biggest city near Manizales for a day out?
Medellín is the largest city in day-trip range, 131 km north of Manizales and about 2 hr 5 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Manizales?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Funza at 149 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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