Wherever you go in Ibagué, you'll find a new form of music. But we're not talking about folk music, which is the city's main export. Though there's plenty of that to go around, there's also a soundtrack's worth of other music waiting in the wings. See: The plaintive calls of the ducks in Centenario Park, or the reggaeton which tumbles out of the city's nightclubs. Of course, once you factor in the city's long history of cultivating folk music, you'll understand how Ibagué got the nickname, "Th...
Wherever you go in Ibagué, you'll find a new form of music. But we're not talking about folk music, which is the city's main export. Though there's plenty of that to go around, there's also a soundtrack's worth of other music waiting in the wings. See: The plaintive calls of the ducks in Centenario Park, or the reggaeton which tumbles out of the city's nightclubs. Of course, once you factor in the city's long history of cultivating folk music, you'll understand how Ibagué got the nickname, "The Music Capital of Colombia." But our point is that there's more to Ibagué than its claim to fame. While there's no gayborhood in Ibagué, there's still plenty to do and taste. And not just in the darkrooms! (Yes, there are gay clubs here; don't worry.) If you're in the mood for doing, then visit any of the city's parks, squares, or museums. The Conservatory of Tolima is an especially interesting place if you want to learn about folk music and its relation to this city's history. But if you're in the mood for tasting, then try any of the regional dishes on display. There are the usual offerings, of course -- tamales, arepas -- but there are also specialty dishes like lechona (stuffed pork), bizcochos de achira (arrowroot cookies), and viudo de pescado (fish stew). If you're lucky, the ibaguereños will also tell you about the area's local mythology, which rivals that of Ancient Greece and Rome. That said, we might still recommend that you visit Ibagué during the city's famous Colombian Folklore Festival -- or, barring that, during one of the city's many secondary festivals. Those include the Festival Internacional de la Oralidad Mundopalabra, the Festival Internacional Ibagué Ciudad Rock, the Festival de Música Sacra, and the Festival de las Artes. All of these are arts and music-related; however, all of these create a spike in queer tourists. Gay parties tend to increase in frequency during these events. Finally, we might suggest pairing your Ibagué trip with a visit to the surrounding region. Thanks to this city's relative proximity to the Cocora Valley, you can include it in a longer "Coffee Tour" of Colombia. Additionally, the region immediately surrounding Ibagué is hiding some gems. Both the Nevados National Park and the Parque Museo La Martinica are great photography destinations. Additionally, the Nevado del Tolima Volcano is an incredible place to hike. Finally, the Combeima Canyon is brimming with biodiversity. However you choose to spend your stay in Ibagué, you'll feel comfortable and safe throughout your visit. You won't have to worry about the thieves of Cartagena or the gangs of Medellín here. You probably won't even see hoards of prostitutes roaming the streets (a.k.a. a common sight in Medellín these days). As Ibagué is an off-the-beaten-path sort of place, it's not a major site of debauchery in Colombia yet. That is, until you get here.
