Ibagué

Ibagué
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       86     29 19       106     30 20       160     29 20       230     29 19       221     29 20       99     29 19       67     30 19       61     32 20       125     31 19       189     29 19       173     28 19       111     28 19 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       3.4     85 67       4.2     85 67       6.3     84 67       9.1     83 67       8.7     83 67       3.9     85 67       2.7     87 67       2.4     89 67       4.9     87 67       7.4     84 66       6.8     82 67       4.4     83 67 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Ibagué is a 4-hour bus journey from Bogotá, a 3-hour bus journey from Armenia, a 5-hour bus ride from Medellín and a 2-hour bus journey from Honda. Numerous companies serve these routes. The journey to Armenia involves going over the la linea and is notorious for accidents and landslides. Avoid doing this part of the journey at night or in a small minibus.

Aeropuerto Perales in Ibagué is about 40 minutes outside the city, and has non-stop flights from Bogotá, Medellín and other cities in Colombia.

Buses run routes throughout the city. Taxis are everywhere. For safety, make sure you choose a legitimate cab company- not a random car with a “taxi” sticker.

Chiva buses (rustic "goat buses") run throughout the city and are popular with locals and tourists.

• 1 Conservatorio del Tolima, Calle 9 No. 1-18. Founded in 1906, it comprises an old, crumbling building and a modern one. Ask the guard to show you the views from the top. It's just round the corner from Plaza Bolívar. While the building itself is not that impressive, it's an important part of the city's heritage. 
• 2 Jardín Botanico San Jorge, Cra 8 No. 19-120 Barrio Interlaken, ☏ . 08ː00-17ː00 M-F, 08ː00-16ː00 Sa-Su. Botanical garden at the edge of Ibagué boasting over 500 species of plants. It has 7 km of nature trails (visitors can choose between a short, flat walk, or a longer, more challenging one). You'll have the chance to see a coca plant, if you've never seen one before. 
• 3 Fundación Orquidea del Tolima (Reserva Natural Orquídeas del Tolima), Cra 30 No. 13-35, ☏ . 08ː30-16ː00 daily. Nature reserve with an impressive selection of orchids, including the national flower of Colombia, the endangered Cattleya trianae. There is a nature trail leading to a mirador where you can see a large part of Ibagué. 
• 4 La Martinica. A nature reserve along the Armenia bypass that offers a good panoramic view of the whole city of Ibagué and the surrounding area. It is the hill with several telecommunications masts on top of it. Start early, as it can get quite hot. It will take you 2-3 hours to reach the top (1530 metres). 
• 5 Museo de Arte del Tolima, ☏ . Colombian and Latin American art. (updated Oct 2020)
• 6 Alexander von Humboldt Botanical Garden (on University of Tolima campus), ☏ . another garden. (updated Oct 2020)
• 7 Bolivar Square. Because Ibague needs a Bolivar Square and adjoining cathedral listing too. (updated Oct 2020)
• 8 Combeima Canyon. A scenic route through a canyon with waterfalls. Blacktop road so you can drive, bike, etc. (updated Oct 2020)

• Hang between the 3 main malls (La estación, Aqua, Multicentro)
• Caike
• Playa Hawai
• Hang around Plaza Bolívar watching people.
• Comfatolima Lagos Club - swimming pool resort area.

• Shalom, Cra 3 between Calle 8 and Calle 9. Serves good quality, inexpensive set meals. 
• Yel Coctel Delicatessen, Calle 10 between Cra 4 and Cra 5. Try the cakes and avena drink. 
• Mateus, Calle 10 between Cra 3 and Cra 4. Try the delicious freshly baked bread. 

• Tertulia, Cra 5 between Calle 10 and Calle 11. A good indoor venue to enjoy a beer while listening to rock music. 
• Libro y Son. Nice setting to listen to salsa and enjoy a few beers, it's near the Universidad del Tolima away from the City center. 

• Mercacentro 10
• Exito Pedro tafur

If you are just staying in Ibagué overnight, there are many cheap hotels around the terminal. Other options are in the center of the city. The two places below (in the center) are a better option if you plan to stay for a longer time.

• Hotel Luisa, Calle 13 No. 4-17, ☏ , . Double ensuite rooms, with TV for COP$20,000. There is no hot water in this hotel, but the water in Ibagué isn't that cold anyway. 
• ^{[dead link]} Hotel Center, Cra 4 No. 12-52, ☏ , . Has double en suite rooms for COP$41,600. They have hot water. 

• Hotel Acandi, Cra 3 No 11-60, ☏ , , , , hotelacandi@etb.net.co. Close to the city centre, and an en suite double room is COP$88,600. 

• Casa Morales, Cra 3a No. 3-47 Barrio La Pola, ☏ . It's close to the center of the city, and has fine views. A double room is COP$179,500 including breakfast. 
• Hotel Dulima, Carrera 2 # 13 -38, ☏ , reservas@hoteldulima.com. In the city center. A double en suite room is COP$125,400 including breakfast, wireless internet access, parking and other services. 
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Sofitel Ibagué Altamira, Cra 1 No 45-50, ☏ , reservas@sofitelaltamira.com.co. In the outskirts of the city, close to the bypass (variante) to Armenia. A double en suite room is COP$220,000 including breakfast. Wireless internet access available (COP$25,000/24 hours).