Ibague

Wedged into a wide valley on the lush, green side of the Colombian Cordillera Central, Ibague is framed by high peaks of verdant forest and grass. It's enough to give the city a reputation for natural beauty, which comes through in its mix of palm-shaded plazas and flower-blooming botanical gardens. The town centre itself is sandwiched between the wild Jardin Botanico San Jorge and the Alexander von Humboldt Botanical Garden. Blooms of orchids, ferns, waxy palm trees and magenta-hued flowers imbue both with color and biodiversity, showcasing the sheer wealth of natural treasures that sprout from the volcanic soils in Ibague's cleft in the Andes. Beyond, the earthy village of Juntas has soaring mirador lookouts over the ranges, while steaming hot springs and cloud forest treks await in El Rancho higher up.

After you're done wandering the parks and wolfing down tamales at one of the many restaurants that dominate Plaza de Bolívar, Ibague tour guides can help with the cultural side of things. For that, the iconic Conservatory of Tolima defines the essence of the “City of Music”. It's hailed as one of the most prestigious musical academies in the whole of Latin America, with a rich alumnus that's matched only by the rich Republican-era façades of its main concert hall.