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Nestled between the Colombian Heritage Towns (Pueblos Patrimonio) of Salamina and Aguadas is the small town of Pácora.
Introduction to Pácora
Pácora was originally inhabited by the indigenous Quimbaya people. The modern town was founded on October 12, 1832, by settlers from Antioquia. The main economic activity is agriculture, which is dominated by coffee cultivation. Sugarcane production is second, followed by banana and other fruit trees. There are also livestock and fish farms around the town.
There’s nothing of interest for visitors to go out of their way to see the town, but if you’re traveling between Salamina and Aguadas, it’s a decent place to stop and stretch your legs. Pácora is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Getting to Pácora
If traveling between Salamina and Aguadas, all buses will make a stop in the main plaza. Pácora is also reached from Manizales via Salamina in about four hours. The road from Salamina is at times unpaved and in horrible condition while the road from Aguadas is fairly smooth.
Plaza de Bolívar
The pleasant Plaza de Bolívar is the main square. It contains some trees, a fountain, an interesting sculpture, and a statue of Simón Bolívar (1783-1830). The fountain has never functioned on any of my visits to the town.
The square contains all of the town’s administrative buildings, including the town hall and a cultural center. There are a few historic buildings around it as well.
Church of San José
The Church of San José (Iglesia de San José) is the most prominent building on Plaza de Bolívar. It doesn’t look like the other typical churches of the region. It was designed in the Romanesque style by English engineer William Martin and completed around 1881.
The church has a three-aisled nave separated by columns and a beautiful wooden ceiling. The altarpiece was carved by Sinforoso Valencia and the main altar is made of white marble. The bells, named Juana and María, were manufactured in Troy, New York, and delivered in 1893.
Cristo Rey
Perched on a hill towering above town is Cristo Rey. It’s a statue depicting Christ with outstretched arms and stands about 14 meters high. The statue was manufactured in Manizales and brought by vehicle to Salamina in several pieces. It then made the last stretch of its journey by mule and was assembled in 1942.
Where to Eat in Pácora
On my few visits to town, we’ve only had one meal there, and it wasn’t in the town proper.
Restaurante La Felisa
While driving in from Salamina, we passed by Restaurante La Felisa. It’s about 25 minutes from Pácora. It’s a small place with a fantastic setting and gorgeous views. We ordered chorizo and rice for breakfast, which was excellent. It came with an arepa and plantain, and a delicious cup of hot chocolate. Staff is friendly and prices are fair. We’d be happy to stop there again.
