The '''Jardin Botanico San Jorge''' (Cra 8 No. 19-120 Barrio Interlaken. Tel: (098) 2638354) is a botanical garden located at the edge of Ibague. 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 '''Fundacion 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 Ibague.
If you want a good panoramic view of the whole city of Ibague 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).
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).
'''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.
If you are just staying in Ibague overnight, there are many cheap hotels around the terminal.Other options are in the center of the city. The two places below (in the centre) are a better ptions if you plan to stay for a longer time:
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 Ibague 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@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 Ibague Altamira (Cra 1 45-50, (098) 2666111, reservas@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 Ibague with wireless internet access (25,000 COP/24 hours).
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 where most mountaineers have lost their lives, and to reach the summit a guide is essential. See the Latas route in this [http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/179838/parque-national-los-nevados.html 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.