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Santuario is a beautiful town in the department of Risaralda. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Getting There
Getting to Santuario is possible from the bus terminal in Pereira. Transportes Tatamá has regular service about once every hour and Flota Occidental has limited service. The ride is just under two hours one way.
From Santuario, it’s easy to visit a couple other towns – Apía and Pueblo Rico. Both are accessible by waiting for a bus along the main road at La Marina (at the turn to Santuario). To get to Apía, flag down a bus headed north. It’s about a 20 minute ride. For Pueblo Rico, you need to make sure the bus is going past Apía. It will take just over an hour.
Tatamá
Santuario makes a great base for Tatamá National Park. The entrance to the park is just a few kilometers from town.
Hotel Santuario Plaza
Probably the best place in town to stay the night is Hotel Santuario Plaza. It’s located right on the plaza, just next to Plaza de Mercado. They have simple yet comfortable rooms at decent rates as well as a friendly staff.
Hotel Montes
Hotel Montes, located just off the plaza, is a decent place to stay. Rooms are simple and clean, and the staff is very attentive. Both single and double rooms are very affordable.
Rooms on the second floor are more susceptible to outside noise while rooms on the first floor are much quieter. Just don’t be too surprised when the church blasts Ave Maria through the entire town at 6am.
Como Le Vaaa (Permanently Closed)
If you’re looking for a relaxed place to have a coffee, look for Como Le Vaaa. It’s located a block uphill from the plaza. The owner, Archie, is a great guy and loves chatting with foreigners. (Update: Como Le Vaaa is now solely a computer repair shop.)
