The city of Ibagué, capital of the department of Tolima, is located in the middle of the triangle formed by the cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, and is the gateway to the Colombian Coffee Zone. Ibagué and its surroundings are a jewel for those who love nature and adventure. In addition, it is a region full of culture, music and traditional gastronomy. 

So that you can explore this beautiful city and the entire Tolima region, with its exuberant natural beauty and the immense culture that it preserves, the AIMA tourist agency organizes different tours in Ibagué, as well as weekend plans leaving from Bogotá.  

Below we will present some of these tours: 

La Plata Waterfall 

It is a excursion to La Plata waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ibagué and Tolima (490m). The tour lasts approximately five hours, in which the following will be done: we will meet at the Hostal AIMA – Ibagué. We will take a rural Jeep, a means of transportation declared Colombian cultural heritage. Thousands of peasants use it to travel from their villages to the city. This part of the tour is one of the participants' favorites as it allows them to interact directly with the farmers. We will start the hike up the mountain and we will advance for an hour. We will arrive at a stop where we will rest in hammocks and drink lemonade. From this place the ascent to the magnificent La Plata waterfall will begin. 

Combeima Canyon 

The Combeima river forms an impressive canyon that is the entrance to the Nevado del Tolima. This canyon, and its surrounding mountains, are home to more than 300 species of birds and endemic animals such as tapirs, bears, and deer. On this ecological journey to Combeima canyon, the departure will be again from the Hostal AIMA - Ibagué. we will walk up the town market square, where you take a rural Jeep to the town of Juntas. There, in Juntas, we will ride a cable car that takes us to the La Rivera farm. In La Rivera it is the descent through the canyon to the Combeima river, and then take the road back to the city. Unlike the La Plata tour, this one has an intermediate requirement and lasts 4 hours.  

Lost City of Falan 

En the Lost City of Falan hide the ruins of an old colonial citadel. Founded in the XNUMXth century by Spanish colonizers, the town of Falan served as a town for the royal mines of Santa Ana, from which silver and gold were extracted on behalf of the Crown. 

Although the city was abandoned many years ago, the jungle covered and preserved its complex system of tunnels, walls, and stone cellars. Notable figures from the political and scientific history of Colombia passed through its streets, such as José Celestino Mutis (leader of the Botanical Expedition) Alexander von Humboldt, and the father of independence, Simón Bolívar.  

Falan remains, then, as a time capsule in the middle of Colombian nature, and is a hidden jewel of our culture and ecotourism. 

We will meet, once again, at Hostal AIMA – Ibagué. This is where our two-hour journey to the nature reserve begins, which includes tours on both land and water. Upon arrival, we will start the ecological walk for three and a half hours, in which we will cross rivers, waterfalls, ponds and mountain roads, in the surroundings of the Lost City of Falan. During this path there will be 3 canopy tours, as well as a historical tour of Falan, its streets, tunnels, and stone walls. Leaving the Lost City we will visit the natural pools and wells of the Morales River. After lunch we will have the traditional Tolimense, also called "fiambre". And so the 4-hour tour concludes, returning to Ibagué.  

Chicala waterfalls 

In the nature reserve of the town of Payandé, Tolima, is the Chicalá park: a unique ecological paradise in the world. It is a complex of waterfalls in the middle of the mountains, which form spectacular natural pools in their falls, to swim, cool off and relax among the fauna and flora of Colombia. 

For this excursion, the itinerary will be as follows: we will leave for the neighboring municipality of Payandé, Tolima. There we will go to the entrance of the Chicalá ecopark aboard a popular “Torito” (popular means of transportation, hybrid between a motorcycle and a car). We will have an ecological walk to the highest waterfall in the park. We will make the descent through the waterfalls and natural pools of Chicalá. And finally we will return to Ibagué.  

Ibagué: culture and adventure 

Ibagué has a lot to offer to all those who love nature, mountains, rivers, birds and orchids. 

It is an ideal city to explore Colombian music, its gastronomy and its culture, from the province. 

This is the place to enjoy dozens of activities, immerse yourself in the deep Colombia, and travel making friends and having fun. 

Live this and much more traveling through Colombia with AIMA.  

Find more information about their tours, expeditions and accommodations at www.viveaima.com