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city and capital of Risaralda department, Colombia
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South America > Colombia > Andino > Zona Cafetera > Pereira

Bolívar Desnudo looking at the Cathedral of Pereira, Plaza Bolívar

Pereira is the capital city of the department of Risaralda in Colombia's Zona Cafetera. It is in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. It is an urban center in the coffee producing region. Located in the middle of the triangle formed by the 3 main cities in the country: Bogotá, Medellín and Cali and about 3-5 hour drive from these cities.

Understand

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Pereira is a beautiful university city with a population of 482,000 (2023). The city's motto is "Pereira con Vida".

Get in

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By plane

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Matecaña International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the region. Receives domestic flights of Avianca, LATAM, The low-cost Wingo, JetSMART, And ClicAir, Domestic non-stop flights go to Bogotá, Medellín (serves both airports: mainly to Olaya Herrera domestic airport, but also flights to Jose María Córdova - International Airport), Cartagena and San Andrés island. There are also international routes to Panama City operated by Copa Airlines and Miami operated by American[dead link]

Matecaña International Airport features Wi-Fi access to the Internet from almost every location. Taxis are regulated, reasonably priced and safe from the airport. Taxis are metered. A taxi ride from the airport to downtown takes approximately 20 minutes, and can cost COP$26,000 (2024).

There are 3 other airports within the range of one hour drive to Pereira. They are in Manizales, Cartago and Armenia. There are non-stop flights from Madrid (Spain), Miami, New York, Quito and Guayaquil to the airport in Cali (3 hour-drive from Pereira).

By car

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Pereira's historic rail station

Pereira is about 7 hours from Bogota by car, in the Bogota-Melgar-Ibague-Armenia road.

The trip is about 4 hours from Medellín and 3 hours from Cali (Pereira-Cartago-Buga-Cali).

By bus

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Buses run in and out of Pereira's main station, Terminal de Transporte de Pereira. The station is clean and has standard amenities. Multiple bus companies have regular routes to destinations around the country. To get there from the airport you can take a taxi ride.

Some common bus companies in Colombia that are found in this terminal are:

  • Expreso Bolivariano : This company has one of the most extensive networks. Some international destinations as well.
  • Coomotor : Mostly destinations in Southern Colombia
  • Expreso Palmira, Expreso Trejos, Expreso Alcala, Flota Magdalena

Municipal Transport - to small towns nearby : Lineas Pereiranas, Transportes Giraldo.

Get around

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By bus

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There is an extensive network of buses running around Pereira connecting most parts of the city. Costs are around COP$2,000. It runs 5 km along the main avenues, including numerous nearby neighborhoods (barrios) and surrounding barrios. Use caution when visiting lower-income barrios (as you should in any other city). Types of buses range from large buses to smaller vans, and Wilys jeeps are also available for side trips to outlying areas including local mountains and valley floors (prices vary depending on destination but generally are very cheap).

The Megabus is Pereira's version of bus systems developed in Curitiba, Brazil, and Ottawa, Canada, later adopted in Bogotá's Transmilenio: a mass transport system with exclusive lanes for large buses and enclosed stations. Buses are painted green, very comfortable, inexpensive, clean and fast. Buses run from 4:30AM to 11:35PM. You need to get a Megatarjeta to access, available at the stations at a cost of COP$6000 which are your credit good for 3 trips. Fare COP$2,950.

By taxi

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Taxis are relatively cheap but make sure the meter is on. Some taxi drivers are dishonest and try to take advantage of foreigners. For example, if they stop along your route they will charge you an additional fare, and use standing charges while waiting. Some don't have meters, so ask for cost in advance. It's possible to negotiate as well. Fares as of 2024:

  • Minimum fare: COP$6,000
  • Pick-up charge: COP$1,600
  • Every 80 m or 70 seconds in traffic: COP$160
  • Night rate supplement: COP$1,200
  • Charge to the airport: COP$3,000, from the airport: COP$4,500

Pereira is a beautiful university city with many things to see.

Pereira: Aerial view from El Mirador
  • 1 La Pobreza. The Cathedral "La Pobreza" is the city's easy to see sight, why the Spanish would choose locations high up for planting cities, and why the later Colonialists from Medellin and State of Antioquia who founded this city choose this relatively high location to mount a new city 130 years ago. The climate is moderate and very healthy, and nothing like the humidity and heat you'll find in valleys down below!. 
  • 2 Parque Olaya Herrera. Urban park with colonnades and other sorts of monuments, and old train station. 
  • 3 Alto del Nudo. The city has an important eco-park on a mount overlooking the city and beautiful coffee rich valleys down below. The view is 360 degrees, and to east, north and south are views of city that's nestled up against the western side of central Cordillera (Colombia, in the western part of country, is basically divided into sections by three large, wide mountain ranges) and to west are views of the valleys, rivers and coffee plantations down below which contain the famous coffee cities of Santa Rosa de Cabal and La Virginia. It contains beautiful views overlooking the city and affords views of mountains. There are many hiking trails and nature walks, Also, there is also a large conference center and restaurants. (updated May 2024)
  • 4 Plaza Bolivar and Ciudad Victoria. There are two main plazas: Plaza Bolivar and Ciudad Victoria, where people can go to sit and to chat with friends, or to shop and to watch others in afternoon and evening, and to look at the Naked Bolivar statue. Adjacent sits the Municipal Palace administration buildings, as Pereira city is also the seat of Risaralda state. 
  • 5 Pereira Art Museum, Av. Sur #19-88, ☏ +57 6 3172828. Little cutesy things and other sorts of art. (updated May 2024)
  • 6 Cesar Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct, Av 30 de Agosto, ☏ +57 3248179. An impressive bridge. César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct (Q1632036) on Wikidata César Gaviria Trujillo Viaduct on Wikipedia 
  • Centro Cultural Lucy Tejada, Cra 10 No. 16 - 60, Risaralda Pereira Colombia., ☏ +57 6 3116544. Pereira library and cultural events center. 
  • 7 Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira Botanical Garden, by the library at UTP, ☏ +57 6 3212523. Here you can get the low down on botany at this center for academia. Lots of birds and butterflies too. (updated Nov 2020)
  • 8 Parque El Lago. Another city square next to San Antonio Maria Claret Church. (updated Nov 2020)
  • The city has a municipal auditorium and theaters where you can attend concerts, operas, and listen to symphonic music. There are lots of night clubs, discos, and bars that serve up lively house, trance, rock, salsa, and tango music.
  • Pereira offers an exciting nightlife along the main avenue Simón Bolivar, where you will find many of best discos and restaurants, but there is another smaller in upscale residential neighborhood located in south part of city. On weekends, starting on Thursday night, this is where many of younger crowd and students like to gather. There are many fast food restaurants in this area also.
  • Pereira is also home to famous football (soccer) club, 'Deportivo Pereira'. Viewing football is a very important activity here and Once fans pack the 30,000-seat stadium to cheer for their team.
  • La Popa, a hill, gives you a scenic view of Pereira.
  • 1 Bioparque Ukumari, ☏ +57 317 8295213. Zoo with giraffes, rhinos, jaguars, etc. (updated Nov 2020)
  • 2 Parque Consotá, Kilometro 11 Vía Pereira, ☏ +57 6 3135600 ext 2804. Theme park with a lot of water rides and also a miniature replica of Pereira. (updated Nov 2020)
Gothic church and street scene

Shopping Malls

  • Parque Arboleda, Avenida Circunvalar #5-20, ☏ +57 606 3497143. Daily 08:00-21:00. The newest and largest mall boasts a wide array of shops including Victoria's Secret, Zara, H&M, Falabella, Bershka, among other renowned brands. It also features a quality food court, supermarkets and a cinema. (updated May 2024)
  • Centro Comercial Victoria, Cr 11 bis #17-20 (Ciudad Victoria, Next To the Éxito), ☏ +57 606 3515313, . A mall near downtown, Cinemas, clothing, cafes, A supermarket nearby and restaurants. Indoor parking. Near a Megabus station. (updated May 2024)
  • Unicentro, 63-882 a 63, Av. 30 de Agosto #2166 (google maps) (Near the airport), ☏ +57 606 3401414. A beautiful mall with a beautiful ambientce, large variety of shops, a Jumbo supermarket and a cinema. The best place to spend the afternoon. (updated May 2024)
  • Pereira Plaza, Calle 15 #13-110 (near to the Movich Hotel), ☏ +57 606 3251582. Behind the Movich Pereira Hotel, Hanging out, buying groceries and a stationery store, Houses upscale stores. (updated May 2024)
  • Bolivar Plaza. Downtown location, right on Plaza de Bolivar. Many shops and also cinemas, food court, cafes, indoor parking. 

The traditional food comes from Antioquia, the region to northwest and famous for the city of Medellin. Lunch-time meals usually consist of a soup made from plantain (a variety of green bananas), followed by a plate of rice and selection of fried pork, beef, or chicken, with small cabbage salad in vinegar dressing, a natural juice drink made from mango, or if you are adventurous, try one of native fruit flavors, they are delicious but hard to pronounce, this will usually be followed by a coffee. Sometimes, you might be offered a dessert called mazamorra, which is corn and milk with local sugar cane, called 'panela'. They also use panela and water in making coffee, but don't recommend it, as the taste is very sweet, actually coffee served here is exceptionally sweet and unless you are a fan of sugary tasting coffee, ask for coffee made from plain water.

If you're visiting the 'Los Nevados' Natural Park, ask for 'aguapanela con queso' while going there. It's a hot beverage made of sugar cane served with cheese. Also look for cheese ice cream, chorizos from Santa Rosa and obleas.

  • Kilaba. Delicious Arabian food on Circunvalar avenue.
  • Sayonara[dead link]. Colombian-style hamburgers and hot dogs. Try the pepper burger.
  • La Estancia. International food. Try the Trucha Marinera.
  • Mi País Café: International dishes and coffee. Address: Calle 19 # 12 _ 69.
  • "Tradiciones Peruanas" - Peruvian Restaurant. Original Peruvian food, prepared like in Peru. With Peruvian ingredients. Ceviches, Parihuela, Lomo Saltado, Arroz Chaufa and more.

Location C.C. Santa Mónica Plaza

  • Mamá Flor restaurant. Offers local food and drinks, nice balcony in a quiet location. Opens late. Do not miss the traditional Sopa de Guineo, a tasty soup made with an unusual type of plantain, served with avocado, ground beef and rice.
  • Delight, a great display of dishes in a bar, mostly for lunch. Burgers and lasagna for dinner. Not very light, but savory. Two locations: Victoria shopping mall and near Avenida Circunvalar.
  • La Gran Manzana, Cra 7 No 23-74. An ice cream parlor where you can find the best fruit salad of Pereira and surroundings. 

Drink

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Lago Uribe Park

Dance

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Paradise Calle 12

Bars

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  • 1 El Rincón Clásico (La Tienda de Olmedo), Carrera 2 at Calle 22 (downtown). A tiny bar with thousands of vinyl records, mostly tangos and Spanish music. 
  • 2 Zanzibar Club, Centro Comercial Bolívar Plaza (downtown), ☏ +57 6 334 6955. Until 2AM. Cocktails, beer and food served. Pool tables. Terraces with great view of the Plaza de Bolívar. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

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Budget

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Mid-range

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  • Hotel Castilla Real Pereira, Calle 15 No.12B-15, ☏ +57 310 4692201. 
  • Hotel Dann Soratama, Cra 7 No.19-20, ☏ +57 6 3358650. Downtown at Plaza de Bolívar. Comfortable but small rooms. Nice restaurant with great views of the plaza. Parking included but not in the premises. 
  • Movich Hotel de Pereira, Cra 13 No.15-73, ☏ +57 6 3113300. It is the largest hotel in town. Formerly Hotel Melia Pereira. 
  • Hotel Sonesta, Km 7 Vía Pereira-Cartago, ☏ +57 606 3113600. Discover a luxury hotel on "Via a Cerritos" where the warm weather complements the coolness of the pool and the serenity of a lake. Additionally, the hotel boasts "Octavo by Rausch" a unique restaurant that slowly rotates, offering diners a 360° panoramic view of the surroundings without ever leaving their seat. (updated May 2024)

Stay safe

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Another view of Plaza Bolívar

Be careful in some parts of Cuba and Villa Santana. They are colorful and lively but somehow risky.

The water quality here is excellent (Pereira water is on the top 20 of best quality drinking waters in the world). It is very pure also it is possible to drink straight from the tap here (but not in all parts of Colombia is this true), so no need to purchase bottled water and taste is great!

Go next

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  • Hotsprings: The region is renowned in Colombia for its hot springs and resorts, such as the 'Hotspring of Santa Rosa de Cabal'. Each resort offers not just a hot pool for public enjoyment and relaxation but also various levels of hotel accommodations. The prices are around COP$30,000 per day, with facilities remaining open until midnight. Both 'Termales del Santa Rosa' and 'Termales del Nevado' feature lower and upper locations, with the upper pools being nearer to the water source, thus having warmer water. However, the water temperature can vary with the seasons, being warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
  • Worth seeing is the 'Termales del Santa Rosa' Hotel, it is a four star hotel and very nice if you can afford the COP$150,000/night (per person), US$75, however, includes is all meals and entry fees to pools, as well as use of private, exclusive wading pools. Also, both sites at Santa Rosa have incredible, breathtaking waterfalls that are lit with multi-colored lights, visiting at night is best, or if you have time, stay all day as price of entry is for all day!
  • Salento - The little colonial town known for its coffee farms, gateway to the famous Valle de Cocora and a great gateway point for treks to Los Nevados National Park.
This city travel guide to Pereira is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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