Hotel Termales Del Ruiz

We only had one night here, and I wish we'd stayed two or three. The birds alone, especially the hummingbirds, made it a unique visit. There are great thermal pools around the property, a waterfall, a nice restaurant, very good rooms, and a lovely staff. When I was leaving, I realized I'd left a shirt in my room. The staff ran after me to return it, even though I'd walked straight from the room to the car. That was impressive. A special place I think everyone should visit at least once, and I'd love to come back.

We toured the grounds and learned about local birds, plants, and the area. They gave us a small pot to attract hummingbirds, and they came right over. So cute! The service was brilliant too. We could call room service or use WhatsApp, which was convenient, and they welcomed us with complimentary wine and a snack and dessert board. The food and drinks were good quality with a decent selection, and we enjoyed everything. Our presidential suite was large, with a wood burner and a private jacuzzi supplied with a constant flow of thermal water. There are three pools for hotel guests and another also open to day visitors. By 4pm the day visitors had left, so the pools felt nicely uncrowded. The room was worth the extra cost for us. The setting is breathtaking, around 3700m above sea level, above the clouds and looking down the mountain range toward Manizales. The hotel tour is only available in Spanish, and staff generally don't speak English. That's normal in Colombia, but some basic Spanish will help you get around and enjoy your stay. The drive from Manizales takes about an hour. We had an SUV, which I was glad of on the dirt and stone sections. It had rained and hailed heavily before we arrived. That's normal for the area, so take your time on the mountain. I saw a shuttle bus come and go, so it may be worth checking if you don't want to drive. The altitude is high, so be prepared. Afterward we visited El Parque Nacional Los Nevados, which is another 600m higher. Many people find things challenging above 4000m, so bring something to help relieve symptoms if needed. At the parque, coca leaf tea can help. If you enjoy peace and nature, this is a one-of-a-kind place.

The pools were amazing, and the place is beautiful, surrounded by hummingbirds. We stayed for a weekend, but the staff weren't friendly, especially at the front desk. Customer service matters to me, and it didn't work for us.

We spent three days and two nights here. The property is magical, with colibríes, birdwatching, hot springs, and a surreal view of Manizales. Martin's tours were a highlight. He's a kind, knowledgeable guide, and we learned a lot. We went on weekdays in low season, and after checkout we practically had the pools to ourselves, which was so relaxing. The food was delicious, and the bed was huge and comfortable. Still, the experience could have been much better. Loud construction below our room and near the restaurant ran from 9:30AM-4:30 PM, making it impossible to relax in the room. We were mostly out on tours or at the hot springs, but it was still frustrating not to be able to enjoy the room. We asked for a discount, but they couldn't offer one because we'd booked through Booking.com. We booked there because making a direct reservation over WhatsApp had been difficult, since they weren't responsive. Before we arrived, we also called and messaged on WhatsApp several times to ask how to get there without a car. They didn't help us find a way. The front desk could be unresponsive, though maybe the staff are overwhelmed, and they don't seem to manage WhatsApp themselves. Restaurant staff were lovely, but service was hit or miss. Some were very attentive; others forgot items even after we asked several times. The room and bathroom were quite small. That didn't bother us much, but it might bother other guests. I hope the hotel can sort these issues out because the place itself is truly amazing.