natural wonder
Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora)
A dramatic valley in the coffee region filled with towering wax palms reaching 60 meters, the tallest palm trees in the world and Colombia's national tree.
39 km · about 45 min drive
South AmericaColombiaTolima Department
Ibagué
Tolima Department, Colombia · South America
About Ibagué
Ibagué sits on the route: 20 minutes from Coello, 39km from Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora).
Ibagué is in Tolima Department, Colombia, with about 530,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Coello, about 11 km away.
Ibagué (Spanish pronunciation: [iβaˈɣe]) (referred to as San Bonifacio de Ibagué del Valle de las Lanzas during the Spanish period) is the capital of Tolima, one of the 32 departments that make up the Republic of Colombia. The city is located in the center of the country, on the central mountain range of theRead more
Colombian Andes, near Nevado del Tolima. It is one of the most populous cities in the country, with a population of 500 thousand people approximately, making it the eleventh most populous in Colombia, and with a population of 544,132 in the municipality. It was founded on 14 October 1550, by the Spanish captain Andrés López de Galarza. The city of Ibagué is divided into 13 communes and the rural area has 17 corregimientos. As the capital of the department of Tolima the city hosts the Government of Tolima, the Departmental Assembly, and the Attorney General's Office. It is the main epicenter of political, economic, administrative, business, art, culture, and tourism activities in the area.
Ibagué was one of three cities in the country chosen by the World Trade Center Association (WTCA) to build headquarters along with Cali, adding to the one existing in Bogotá. The economy of Ibagué is based primarily on the industrial, tourism, and agricultural sectors, with its textile industry being the third largest in Colombia. According to "Doing Business" from the World Bank in Washington DC, Ibagué tops the ranking of the cities with ease of doing business and investment in the country after Manizales. The city is also part of the Colombian coffee growing axis.
The city is known as "The Musical Capital of Colombia and America", thanks to the Conservatory of Tolima (one of the most prestigious and important in Colombia), folklore festivities, and its many monuments referring to music. The city's main educational institutions are the University of Tolima, the University of Ibagué, and the Conservatory of Tolima.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ibagué?
Within an hour or so of Ibagué: Cocora Valley (Valle de Cocora) (39 km), La Línea Tunnel (44 km), Salento (47 km), Colombian Coffee Triangle (Eje Cafetero) (53 km).
Where is Ibagué?
Ibagué is in Tolima Department, Colombia, about 11 km from Coello.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 529,635
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Colombia
- Region
- Tolima Department
- Timezone
- America/Bogota
- Coordinates
- 4.4357, -75.2029
Tags
Worth the detour from Ibagué
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
tunnel
La Línea Tunnel
At 8.65 km, the longest road tunnel in South America, burrowing beneath the 3,300 m La Línea pass to link Calarcá and Cajamarca across the Cordillera Central.
44 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Salento
A colorful coffee town with balconied colonial houses and the gateway to the Cocora Valley, in the heart of Colombia's coffee-growing region.
47 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Colombian Coffee Triangle (Eje Cafetero)
A UNESCO Cultural Landscape of rolling coffee plantations, colorful haciendas, and traditional Paisa towns in the heart of Colombia's coffee country.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Ibagué
- 44 kmLa Línea TunnelAt 8.65 km, the longest road tunnel in South America, burrowing beneath the 3,300 m La Línea pass to link Calarcá and Cajamarca across the Cordillera Central.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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