Manizales perched in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee axis, was officially recognized as the “best city for living” in Latin America by the UN-Habitat LATAM Award, an honor that highlights innovation in sustainability, urban planning, and citizen culture across the region. While larger metropolises such as Bogota and Medellin often dominate the spotlight, this medium-sized city of around 400,000 residents is quietly setting the standard for what urban life in Latin America can look like.
Manizales, the best city to live in Latin America
The award, grated after rigorous international evaluation process, positions Manizales as a benchmark for quality of life and urban management. According to local newspaper La Patria, it was the only Colombian city to reach the final stage of the competition, joining nine other standout urban centers from across LatinAmerica. In total, more than 15,000 cities with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 inhabitants were examined. Out of that vast pool, Manizales emerged at the very top.
What made the recognition particularly noteworthy was the depth of the evaluation. The jury analyzed 85 technical indicators aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, measuring areas such as sustainability, social equity, innovation, and climate resilience. The review did not stop at paper plans. Teams looked closely at public service efficiency, territorial equity, citizen participation, and innovative governance. Institutions involved in the review included the City Science Media Lab at MIT, the Urban Mobility Research Institute of Public Policy and Governance Research, among others, organizations with a global track record in evaluating how cities are built and how they serve their people.
For Manizales, the results confirmed what residents have long felt. The city has steadily invested in sustainable mobility projects, such as its urban cable car system and bike-sharing programs, while also recovering public spaces, expanding social infrastructure, and implementing ambitious environmental management initiatives. The award also recognized the importance of citizen culture — the collective behaviors, traditions, and attitudes that foster coexistence and civic pride. Far from being a technical footnote, this cultural dimension was seen as central to Manizales’ ability to grow sustainably while maintaining a strong sense of community.
The international spotlight reinforced that Manizales is not only livable today but also planning intelligently for tomorrow. The city’s ability to combine efficient services, forward-thinking policies, and grassroots civic engagement was exactly what the UN-Habitat jury wanted to highlight as an example for the region.
Challenges, achievements, and the road ahead
While the award has placed Manizales on the map, it also underscored the challenges of being a medium-sized city in Colombia. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas, speaking to local station Blu Radio, emphasized that the achievement was reached largely without significant support from the national government. “When cities are the ones moving the economy of the country, leading social projects and infrastructure we should not be left alone,” Rojas said. “We need the resources to keep building sustainable cities. Today, unfortunately, we do not have the accompaniment of the national government in terms of investment, even though that should be the case,” he added. His remarks drew attention to the persistent gap between local ambition and central government backing, a dynamic that many Colombian municipalities face.
Despite limited support, the city’s progress has been visible. The sustainable mobility network has improved access across its steep terrain, reducing dependence on cars. Public spaces have been revitalized, giving residents more opportunities to meet and interact, strengthening the city’s reputation as one of the most welcoming places in the world. Environmental policies have targeted air quality, waste education, and water management, all crucial in mountainous region where landslides and climate change pose serious risks.
Cultural and educational investment has also been central to Manizales’s success. The city is home to several major universities, attracting thousands of students each year and fueling innovation. Festivals such as the Manizales International Theater Festival and the Feria de Manizales reinforce its identity as a cultural hub while drawing international visitors. These traditions, combined with its welcoming spirit, led to Manizales being ranked fourth among the world’s most welcoming cities by Booking.com earlier this year.
For many residents, the Unied Nations recognition is not simply an award but a validation of the values that have guided the city’s development: inclusivity, sustainability, and citizen participation. The mayor’s office described it as a “confirmation of Manizales’ commitment to sustainable development and stimulus to continue building an urban model that is balanced, innovative, and deeply human”.
Looking ahead the challenge will be to maintain momentum. As climate change intensifies and urban demands grow, Manizales will need sustained investment and stronger alliances with both the private sector and national government to expand its projects. The award, however, gives it leverage in those conversations, positioning the city not just a national leader but a Latin American reference point.
What sets Manizales apart is its ability to combine technical achievement with human warmth. This is not a city defined solely by infrastructure or policy reports but by the pride and optimism of its people. Surveys have repeatedly shown that residents are among the happiest in Colombia, with over 90% expressing satisfaction with life in the city. That sense of belonging, amplified by international recognition, could prove to be its most valuable asset.
In a region where urban growth often comes with rising inequality, insecurity and environmental strain, Manizales offers a different story. It is proof that a medium-sized city, far from the glare of the capital, can model what sustainable, inclusive, urban living looks like. The UN-Habitat LATAM Award has made that story official, but for those who live in the City of Open Doors, it has always been self-evident. Manizales is not just a good place to live; it may well be the best.