Manizales Fair — International Coffee Pageant

The Manizales Fair is the most important celebration in the Caldas department and one of the most prominent cultural events in the Coffee Triangle. It takes place during the first week of January in Manizales, capital of Caldas, with the International Coffee Pageant as its central event: representatives from coffee-producing countries around the world compete in a contest that combines culture, elegance, and coffee diplomacy. The fair is also renowned for its international bullfighting festival, one of the most important in Ibero-America.

The Manizales Fair was founded in 1950 as a celebration of the city's patron saint festivities and gradually incorporated bullfighting and coffee components to become the event it is today. With over 300,000 visitors per edition, it marks the start of the festive year in the Coffee Triangle and attracts tourists from Europe — especially Spain and Portugal — drawn by the bullfights.

Dates and Duration

The fair is held for eight days during the first week of January, generally from January 2 to 9. Bullfights take place at La Macarena Bullring during all fair days.

Main Events

Event	Description
International Coffee Pageant	Representatives from coffee-producing countries compete in elegance, coffee culture knowledge, and Colombian coffee expertise.
International Bullfighting Festival	Bullfights at La Macarena Bullring featuring international bullfighting figures. One of Latin America's most important bullfighting festivals.
Comparsas Parade	Dance and music groups parade through Manizales' main streets in a colorful procession.
Concerts	National and international artists at Los Fundadores Park and other open-air venues.
Coffee Exhibition Fair	Coffee exhibition from Caldas' different subregions. Tastings, barista demonstrations, and brewing technique presentations.
Popular Verbenas	Neighborhood parties with live music, local cuisine, and popular atmosphere in different areas of the city.

The International Coffee Pageant

The International Coffee Pageant is the fair's most iconic event. Representatives from countries such as Brazil, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, and other major producers compete alongside Colombia in a contest that evaluates coffee knowledge, elegance, artistic skills, and communication abilities. Caldas' Coffee Queen represents Colombia at international events throughout the year. It is an elegant event that combines diplomacy, coffee culture, and fashion.

How to Get to Manizales

Manizales' La Nubia Airport (MZL) has flights from Bogotá (45 min) and Medellín (35 min), but the runway is short and operations are frequently cancelled due to fog. The Coffee Airport in Palestina (30 min from Manizales) has greater capacity. From Medellín by bus, it takes 3 hours via the coffee highway. From Bogotá, 6 hours via the Honda–Fresno road or 7 hours via Armenia.

Where to Stay

El Cable is Manizales' most dynamic tourist area, with boutique hotels, restaurants, and bars. Chipre has the most spectacular viewpoints over the Cauca Canyon and the snow-capped volcanoes. Downtown offers budget options near the bullring. During the fair, prices double — book 2 months in advance.

Practical Tips

• January in Manizales is the dry season (61–75 °F / 16–24 °C): cool weather with lots of daytime sun and cold nights — bring a jacket.
• For bullfights: purchase tickets in advance on the official La Macarena Bullring website.
• Combine the fair with a visit to Los Nevados National Natural Park (43 mi / 70 km from Manizales): Nevado del Ruiz and the high-altitude lagoons are stunning.
• Try sancocho de gallina, arepa de chócolo, pandebono, and single-origin coffee at street stalls.
• The Chipre viewpoint at sunset, with views of the canyon and snow-capped peaks, is one of the best vistas in the Coffee Triangle.

See also: Tourism in Caldas · Climate of Caldas · Municipalities of Caldas