Pereira is the largest city in Colombia’s Coffee Region. It makes a great base for exploring the region.
My Posts on Pereira
General Info:
Areas:
- Cerritos (Suburb)
- Dosquebradas (Suburb)
- Pereira city center
Attractions:
Events:
- 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament
- Deportivo Pereira vs Boca Juniors (2023 Copa Libertadores group stage)
- Marc Anthony concert
- My new life in Colombia
- Orthodox Easter in Colombia
- Romeo Santos concert
Brief History of Pereira
Pereira sits on the original settlement of Cartago, which was founded in 1540 and moved to its present location in 1691. The city we know today was officially founded as Cartagoviejo on August 30, 1863, by Father Remigio Antonio Cañarte (1790-1878).
In 1869, Cartagoviejo was renamed in honor of Cañarte’s friend, lawyer and politician Francisco Pereira Martínez (1783-1863), who had died six days before the city’s foundation. Pereira’s son, Guillermo Pereira Gamba, had donated the land for the new settlement, which in its initial stages consisted of about 6 city blocks and 100 homes.
The city experienced a tremendous period of growth during the first few decades of the 20th century, boosted further by the arrival of the railroad in 1917. Some the rural areas are included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
Getting to Pereira
There are two ways to get to Pereira – by air and by bus.
Matecaña International Airport
Matecaña International Airport (PEI) is located a convenient 10-15 minute taxi ride from the city center. It was originally built between 1944 and 1947, and replaced with a new terminal in the early 1970s. Thankfully, a much nicer and more modern terminal building opened in 2020.
The airport contains a decent food court, underground parking, and some shops. In the arrival area, there are a few places to rent a car.
There are frequent domestic flights to cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Santa Marta, and Cartagena. International flights arrive from New York City, Lima, and Panama City (as of January 2025).
Bus Terminal
The bus terminal is located near the city center. Several bus companies run routes to major cities and smaller, regional towns and villages. There’s frequent service to major cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Armenia, Manizales, and Cali.
Getting Around Pereira
Getting around town is easy on foot and via taxi. It’s generally safe to walk around during the day, but you need to be careful in certain parts. You’ll recognize a seedy area if you see it. At night, take a taxi if you’re outside the Circunvalar area.
Shopping in Pereira
For shopping, the nicest place is Parque Arboleda on Circunvalar, which has upscale shops, a movie theatre, and good restaurants.
Victoria Mall, just south of the city center, has a few decent stores as well. It also has a movie theatre and some decent places to eat.
There’s also Unicentro (near the airport) and Pereira Plaza (next to the Movich Hotel) which are both filled with good shops and restaurants as well.
Ciclovía
Looking for a fun way to keep fit during your trip? Every Sunday and holiday from 7am to 1pm, the city shuts down the eastbound lane of Avenida 30 de Agosto for Ciclovía. Locals come out on bikes, rollerblades, or on foot to get some fresh air and exercise. It runs all the way from the western entrance to the city until the beginning of Avenida Circunvalar. You’ll even find free public fitness events such as dance therapy at Parque Olaya Herrera.
Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas
Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas is the home of the local football club, Deportivo Pereira. It can accommodate over 30,000 people. It also holds concerts.
Nightlife in Pereira
The city has some decent nightlife. Avenida Circunvalar has several clubs and bars. You’ll find plenty of places up and down the strip to check out.
La Obra (Permanently Closed)
La Obra is located on the top floor of Parque Arboleda. It’s a great place to spend a Friday or Saturday night. First of all, the live music is excellent and the DJs do an amazing job. Overall there’s a wide variety of Latin music on display. Cover charge is reasonable, and reservations are highly recommended. The only negative is that it’s a little tight for dancing with all the tables.
Service is fantastic as well. They were short-staffed for the first hour or so and our server still managed to take care of our drink orders in a reasonable amount of time. As for the cocktails, the bartenders are very good. There are also snacks on the menu like empanadas, burgers, and more.
La Cantaleta
We tried La Cantaleta one night but ended up leaving because they required us to buy a bottle if we wanted to enter.
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