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Poorbuthappy guide for Ibagué

Hi,

I posted the below guide for Ibagué in wikitravel.org a few months ago (http://wikitravel.org/en/Ibague). The content there is all under the creative commons license (and I am the sole author of the entry so far, as indicated by the article history) Peter, if you wish, please feel free to recycle it as a poorbuthappy guide as well.

Ibagué
From Wikitravel

Ibagué is the capital city of the Tolima department, and is located on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central. It is known as the musical city of Colombia, due to its famous conservatory. At 1250m above sea-level, it has a spring-like climate. Ibagué is a starting point for travellers who wish to do the Nevado del Tolima trek. Apart from that, it's a small, safe friendly city, with a special charm, although there's not an awful lot to do here.

Get in

By plane

Aeropuerto Perales in Ibagué is located about 40 minutes outside the city, and has flights from Bogotá and various other cities in Colombia.

By bus

Ibagué is a 4 hour bus journey from Bogotá, a 3 hour bus journey from Armenia, 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 nortorious for accidents, landslides and occasional guerrilla activity. Avoid doing this part of the journey at night or in a small minibus.

See

The Conservatorio del Tolima (Calle 9 No. 1-18) founded in 1906. It comprises an old, crumbling building and 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.

The Jardín Botanico San Jorge (Cra 8 No. 19-120 Barrio Interlaken. Tel: (098) 2638354) is a botanical garden located at the edge of Ibagué. It boasts over 500 species of plants, and 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.

The Fundación Orquidea del Tolima (Cra 30 No. 13-35. Tel: (098) 2605995) is a 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.

If you want a good panoramic view of the whole city of Ibagué and the surrounding area, climb up to the top of La Martinica, a nature reserve along the Armenia bypass. 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).

Hang around Plaza Bolívar watching people.

Eat

Lechon and Tamal are the typical dishses of the region.

Shalom serves good quality, inexpensive set meals (Cra 3 between Calle 8 and Calle 9).

Try the cakes and avena drink at Yel Coctel delicatessen (Calle 10 between Cra 4 and Cra5).

Try the delicious freshly baked bread from Mateus (Calle 10 between Cra 3 and Cra4).

Drink

Tertulia is a good indoor venue to enjoy a beer while listening to rock music (Cra 5 between Calle 10 and Calle 11).

Libro y Son has a nice setting to listen to salsa and enjoy a few beers, it's near the Universidad del Tolima away from the City centre.

Get out

Juntas is a nearby village, especially popular at weekends and holidays, where people go and eat almojabanas, bunuelos, sancocho soup and river trout in a peaceful mountain setting. There is also a mirador from which, if you are lucky and there are no clouds, can see the Nevado del Tolima (early morning is best). You can get to Juntas by taking a bus in Cra 1/Calle 14 from "La Ibaguerena" bus company.

From Juntas, you can walk up to El Rancho, some thermal springs in the cloud-forest at 2600 metres above sea-level; it's about a 4 hour leisurely walk uphill alongside the impressive canyon of the Combeima river, or you can take the morning lechero. El Rancho is the starting point for the trek up El Nevado del Tolima (5215 m). This is the mountain in Colombia wher most mountaineers have lost their lives, and to reach the summit a guide is essential. See the Latas route in this Summitpost entry for more details.

From el Rancho, you can walk also walk via the Filtros route to Laguna del Encanto and Salento.

From Juntas, you can also walk to El Derrumbe de las Perlas: when you cross over the river, turn right immediately instead on continuing towards the mirador. After a couple of hours of leisurely walking you'll reach an open valley with a river, an ideal picnic spot. If you continue along this route you can also reach the summit of the Nevado, but this is a quite a long way round. The route is known as Las Nieves', and is via some thermal springs at 3900m where a hermit known as Don Canon lives.

By ixent on Dec 25, 2006, 11:30 in Travel tips.

Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 26, 2006, 16:09:

Great guide! Only need some places to stay now, anyone?

Poor but snappy

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jake074701 says on Dec 27, 2006, 10:01:

Places to stay Been there three times and stayed twice at the Sofitel Hotel in the southern part, 5 star service, scenery and restaurant in Ibague. Also, there is the Comfatolima Lagos club in the north eastern part of Ibague and the nice Club Calambeo. All are fairly cheap and nice atmosphere.

Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 19, 2007, 16:21:

Places to Stay Ibagué has many hotels, below is just a small selection.

Budget hotels

If you are just staying in Ibagué overnight, there are many cheap hotels around the terminal. However, this is a red-light district, and many double up as love hotels or brothels. If you prefer not to stay there, take a short taxi ride to the centre. The two places below (in the centre) are clean and friendly:

Hotel Luisa (Calle 13 No. 4-17, Tel. (098) 263 7952/ 263 9268) has double ensuite rooms, with tv, for 20,000 COP. There is no hot water in this hotel, but the water in Ibagué isn't that cold anyway IMHO.

Hotel Center (Cra 4 No. 12-52, Tel. (098) 263 7311/ 263 7322, www.hotelcenteribague.com) has double ensuite rooms for 41,600 COP. They have hot water.

Mid-range

Hotel Acandi (Cra 3 No 11-60, Tel. (098) 2610010 / 2610244 / 2611803/ 2614068, email: hotelacandi at etb.net.co) is close to the city centre, and an ensuite double room is 88,600 COP.

Top End

Casa Morales (Cra 3a No. 3-47 Barrio La Pola, Tel. (098) 261 9404, www.hotelcasamorales.com) is located close to the centre of the city, and has fine views. A double room is 179,500 COP including breakfast.

The Sofitel Ibagué Altamira (Cra 1 45-50, (098) 2666111, reservas at sofitelaltamira.com.co, http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/resort/2156/fiche_hotel.shtml) is located in the outskirts of the city, close to the bypass (variante) to Armenia. A double ensuite room is 220,000 COP including breakfast. It is currently the only hotel in Ibagué with wireless internet access (25,000 COP/24 hours).

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 19, 2007, 16:36:

Wi-fi Hotspots in Ibagué Peter - I thought it might be useful to include information on hotspots for all places in the poorbuthappy guide.

In Ibagué there is currently only one... at the Sofitel Ibagué Altamira hotel :(

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 20, 2007, 14:49:

Getting a guide/equipment for the Nevado If you want to climb to the summit of the Nevado, which is, arguably, the main reason many foreigner travellers come to Ibagué, a guide is strongly recommended. You'll also need mountaineering equipment, such as crampons and an ice axe.

Pedro Camacho is an experienced guide with whom I climbed to the peak of the Nevado del Tolima (5215m) for the first time. I definitely recommend him, he knows the area well, is very safety conscious, and was good company. He’s a member of the mountain rescue people and has been involved in rescue operations in the past. He only speaks Spanish and charges 80,000 COP/day.

His partner, Beatriz Tafur, rents out mountaineering equipment you will need, such as sleeping bags, sleeping mats, stoves and has home-made backpacks, crampons and ice-axes. Prices vary from 3,000 to 8000 COP/day; you’ll need to leave a document (e.g., driving license) as a safety deposit as in the past people have not returned equipment.

Their address is Calle 37 No. 4B-67, Ibagué. Tel: (098) 264 0976. Pedro’s cel: 300 241 3314. Beatriz’s cel: 301 351 6849 or 316 377 1604.

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ibemeubeu9001 says on Jan 28, 2007, 13:58:

A Great Holiday Spent In Cucuta, Colombia Well, I just want all of you to know that the Holiday fun started Dec 24th following a long flight that started from Los Angeles, to Bogota, followed by a 4 hour layover, then 45-50 minutes flight to my inlaws at the I will call it, Cucuta, International Airport, Wow. But really, After marrying a Farm Girl, from Cali, and between verious relocation through out Colombia, the family settled in Cucuta.
So Cali, Ibaque and other cities, I just don't go there.

I remember my first time seeing Cucuta, and it was like a place ya don't want to see twice. But being open minded I say the most wonderful place in the wourld if you like real people and a atrue latin-city.

If you don't speak spanish, don't worrie, just point or go to your nearby College or University, and hirer and interpeter, I hope thats the correct spelling, Smile.

Let me get to the point: I will be retireing in 3 years and I am going to build a home in Cucuta, Goviza area, If I could get some information reguarding contracting and blueprints it would be great.

I just want to say to all that reads this, if you have never been to cucuta, go go go

Happy New Years and I hope to here from you soon.
ibemeubeu9001 at yahoo.com

I just happen to be from Long Beach,CA, and I love visiting South America, My first visit was to Bogota, Ibaque, and Cucuta and not being a spanish speaking person, I had a great time. Would I travel to South America again, You Bet! The people are wonde

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rhydewithdis says on Jun 24, 2008, 09:29:

Just fyi, but from what I understand, the Sofitel Ibagué Altamira has changed its name to Altamira Mercure now.
http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/2156/fiche_seminaires...

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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