Manizales is in the famed Coffee Zone about 1.5 hours drive from Pereira where there is an international airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Matecaña) with direct flights from Miami and Panama.
It is best to have your hotel or other travel service arrange to pick you up at the airport and bring you to Manizales.
There is a bus terminal in Pereira with service to Manizales but it is a 20 or 30 minute taxi from the airport to the bus terminal depending on traffic.
If you don´t mind paying a little extra, my recommendation is to fly into either Medellin or Bogota and then to Manizales. Our airport is small and is sometimes closed due to weather but still…
Medellin and Bogota are super popular destinations now with so much to do. It is worth it to spend a few days either before or after your time in Manizales.
See our Bogota and Medellin travel info.