'''Pereira''' is the capital city of the department of Risaralda in Colombia. 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 near Bogota, Cali, Medellin, and the sea.

Understand

Motto: "Pereira con Vida"

City Population: (2005 est.) 576,329

Districts of Pereira

Get in

By plane

  • '''Matecana International Airport''', the largest airport in the region. Receives domestic flights of Avianca, Aires, Aero Republica, ADA airlines, etc. There are international direct flights to Panama City as well. It features Wi-Fi access to the Internet from almost every location. Taxis are regulated, reasonably priced and safe from the airport. A taxi ride from the airport to the center takes approximately 20 minutes, and can cost US$3.
  • By car

    By bus

    The safety of bus travel in Colombia has greatly improved in recent years. However, foreigners should take precaution of not traveling to areas of unrest and travel only during the day. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you as robberies are known to occur along some routes.

    Service in the 'upscale' buses is very good and they are very comfortable. Pick the most expensive service (just a couple of dollars extra) as these buses tend to be newer and better mechanical condition.

    Currently 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 Expreso Bolivariano- This company has one of the most extensive networks. Some international destinations as well. Coomotor [1] Mostly destinations in Southern Colombia You will find many others there.

    Megabus (Modern sistem of massive urban transport), very cheap, clean and fast service.

    By bus

  • Expreso Palmira
  • Expreso Trejos
  • Expreso Alcala
  • Flota Magdalena
  • Municipal Transport: Lineas Pereiranas, Transportes Giraldo.

    Massive Transporting: Megabus

    Get around

    La popa gives you a scenic view of Pereira. There is an extensive network of buses running around Pereira connecting most parts of the city. Costs are around $1,100 Colombian pesos/person (approx. US$0.40 for one-way trips). It runs 3 miles 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).

    Taxis are relatively cheap, 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, but standard daytime fare is $2,200 pesos, and higher after 8 pm and weekends, holidays, when it's $2,500 pesos. As of December 2006, you could hire a taxi by the hour; the fare is $15,000 Colombian pesos; the equivalent of US$6.50...!

    See

    Summer dusk in Pereira, There are many things to see. This is a beautiful university city, famous throughout Colombia for the numerous private and public universities. It's reported that 1/4 of city (pop. 300,000) residents here are students, females seem to outnumber males by margin of 3 to 1. So students can be seen everywhere, either walking to classes along Avenidas Las Americas, 30 de Agosto, Circunvalar, or sitting in the myriad cafes along Avenida Santander after class while chatting with friends and watching others strolling along the avenue.

    The city has a real European, small city feel to it, like being in Switzerland or the Alps. In winter season it rains a lot (almost every day, but not for too long), but you can find very dry days on summer season. The air is always fresh, good temperature, and can be balmy depending on which part of city you're visiting.

    The city is also famous for being one of only with 8 separate micro-climates in world, depending on which elevation and barrio you're in. For example, it's possible in just 10 minutes to go from a spot that's cool and foggy to one that is warm and balmy (like La Olympic Villa)

    Cathedral "La Pobreza", In this city it's easy to see 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!

    The city has a beautiful park called 'Olaya Herrera' 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.

    The city has a important eco-park called El Cedral. It contains beautiful views overlooking the city and affords views of mountains. There are many hiking trails and nature walks, and city just completed a new indoor ice skating rink, which has a great music system! Also, there is also a large conference center and restaurants.

    The city has 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. Plaza Bolivar contains the Municipal Palace administration buildings, as Pereira city is also the seat of Risaralda state.

  • Zoo Matecana
  • museum Art modern,
  • Orchids and Catleyas Garden,
  • Bolivar Square (Plaza de Bolivar),
  • Museum Natural History in Zoo Matecana,
  • Museum Technologic in U.T.P.,
  • Museum Gilberto Toro Garcia,
  • Museum of Gold of Republic Bank Building
  • Do

    The city has a municipal auditorium and theatres 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.

    The city offers an exciting nightlife along the main avenue Simon 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.

    The city 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.

    Also, the region is famous in Colombia for it's [http://www.anotherworlduk.com/destinations/pereira.htm hot water springs] and resorts such as 'Hotspring of Santa Rosa de Cabal' . Each contains not only hot pool where the public gather to soak and relax, but many levels of hotel accommodation. Prices are approx. $16,000-$20,000 per day, and all stay open till midnight. The 'Termales del Santa Rosa' lower and upper locations, as does the hot springs at 'Termales del Nevado.' At both locales, the upper pools are closer to water source and so have hotter water, but water temperature also fluctuates depending on which season it is, winter or summer. Worth seeing is the 'Termales del Santa Rosa' Hotel, it is a four star hotel and very nice if you can afford the $150,000 peso price (per person), US$75.00, however, included 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!

    Learn

    Learn

  • Diario del Otun
  • Periodico La Tarde
  • Buy

    Shopping Malls

  • '''Victoria Plaza''', Centro comercial. Located near downtown and a big Exito supermarket. Cinemas, clothing, cafes and restaurants. Indoor parking. Near a Megabus station.
  • '''Unicentro'''. The newest mall with a large variety of shops, a Carrefour supermarket. Located near the airport.
  • '''Pereira Plaza'''. Located just behind the ''Hotel de Pereira'' and the convention center. Houses upscale stores.
  • '''Bolivar Plaza'''. Downtown location, right on Plaza de Bolivar. Many shops and also cinemas, food court, cafes, indoor parking.
  • Eat

    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, called 'panela'. They also use panella 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.

    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!

    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 icecream, chorizos from Santa Rosa and obleas.

  • '''Sayonara'''. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and much more. Colombian Style of Course. Try the ''Pepper burger''. $$
  • '''Mama Flor''' restaurant. Offers local food and drinks, nice balcony in a quiet location. Opens late. Do not miss the traditional ''Sopa de Guineo'', a tasty soup made with an unusual type of plantain, served with avocado, ground beef and rice. $$
  • '''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''. $$
  • Drink

    Dance

  • '''Heaven''' Night Club.
  • '''Mango Bich'''e. $$$
  • Bars

  • '''Bristo'''l. A nice beer house located right downtown in an old colonial house. Nice home-made beer, music and clientele. Address: Carrera 7 at calle 22, near Parque de Bolivar y Parque El Lago. Two blocks from Megabus station. $$
  • '''El Rincon Clasico''', also know as ''La Tienda de Olmedo'' after his owner's name. A tiny bar with thousands of vinyl records, mostly tangos and Spanish music. Carrera 2 at Calle 22. Near downtown. $
  • Sleep

  • '''Hotel Dann Soratama''', Cra 7 No.19-20.
  • '''Hotel de Pereira''', Cra 13 No.15-73.
  • '''Hotel Castilla Real Pereira''', Calle 15 No.12B-15.
  • '''Gran Hotel''', Calle 19 No.9-19.
  • '''Hotel Abadia Plaza''', Cra. 8 No.21-67.
  • Hotel Pereira Lago. alle 25 No. 7-10. 33 6813. ww.jecultura.com/pereiraturistico. 5,000. Located downtown, right across from Parque El Lago. Reasonable rates. Rooms include a mini refridgerador.
  • Hotel Central La 18. alle 18 No. 7-32. 33 4493. 7.000. A cheap, basic, but clean and safe hotel downtown. Cable TV and big rooms with large windows; but no hot water, too soft beds.
  • Benidorm Hotel. alle 21 No. 7-20. 34 0587. ttp://hotelbenidormpereira.com/. 0.000. An upscale hotel in the heart of downtown. Price includes breakfast, WiFi, gym.
  • Hotel Suite Center. alle 16 No. 7-56. 33 0989. ww.hotelsuitecenter.com. 8.000. An inexpensive but nice hotel downtown. Pretty lobby. Breakfast available. Friendly staff. Free WiFi in lobby, plus one internet computer available for $2k/hr. Cable TV, hot water, rooms with views. Laundry service available.

    Stay safe

    Avoid Cuba and Arabia.

    Get out