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La Florida is a touristic rural district of the city of Pereira. It’s about a 20-minute drive southeast of the city center.
Overview of La Florida, Pereira
La Florida is a popular area with locals, who usually visit on weekend mornings for a relaxing escape from the busy city center. Many arrive by bike, stopping in the small village for breakfast or lunch. The rural road continues into lush green foothills, where there are plenty of recreational activities for nature lovers.
Vía La Suiza
Vía La Suiza is the rural road heading east past the village, roughly following the course of the Río Otún. It passes through the Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary and the village of La Suiza. The road ends at El Cedral, where you can continue on foot toward La Pastora, Ucumarí Regional Nature Park, and up into Los Nevados National Park.
Vía La Suiza is popular with bikers and hikers, and the gravel road is suitable for passenger cars. The further you travel, the thicker the vegetation gets. Along the way, there are a couple of nature parks and other outdoor activities to enjoy.
Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary
The Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (SFF Otún Quimbaya) was created on August 3, 1996. It’s a large protected area with three main trails and great opportunities for spotting birds and butterflies.
The visitor center is in the heart of the park, past La Suiza, and is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Guided hikes are offered at 10:30am on weekdays and at 10:30am and 2:30pm on weekends and holidays. Reservations are required, or you can enter with an authorized guide or tour agency. Admission is current as of January 2026:
- Admission is COP$11,500 for citizens and residents of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, age 6+, and free for kids under 6.
- Admission is COP$19,000 for citizens of other countries.
CARDER Guard House
The CARDER guard house is at the entrance to Otún Quimbaya. CARDER is the regional environmental authority responsible for conservation in the area. The guards greet visitors and give a short informational talk before letting you continue. This includes rules about bringing back your garbage, staying quiet and not playing loud music, and not entering trails without authorization. Pets and support animals are not allowed beyond this point. You’ll also have to sign in.
Río Otún
A bridge to the left of the guard house offers a good view of the Río Otún. The river’s source is Laguna del Otún, an alpine lake in Los Nevados National Park fed by snowmelt from Nevado Santa Isabel. As the primary source of drinking water for Pereira, the river is crucial to the city.
Vereda La Suiza
Just before reaching Otún Quimbaya, you’ll pass through Vereda La Suiza. It’s a small village with a few fincas lining Vía La Suiza. There’s a small kiosk at the entrance selling coffee and snacks.
As you walk through the village, you can admire a few colorful buildings and see creeks flowing down from the hills.
Yarumo Blanco
The turnoff to Yarumo Blanco is just before the Otún Quimbaya visitor center. It’s a community-run association promoting the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic well-being of the Río Otún through sustainable education and tourism. They offer lodging, food, and recreational activities, including hikes to Cascada de los Frailes — a 70-meter-high waterfall. Programs run Friday through Sunday and on holidays. Prices are current as of January 2026:
- A 3-hour guided hike, entry to the waterfall, and lunch costs COP$61,000 per person.
- The Lunada — a bonfire with a welcome drink, dinner, marshmallows and canelazo, an Andean music presentation, and fire ceremony — costs COP$70,000 per person.
- Overnights including the hike, waterfall, Lunada, breakfast, lunch, and dinner cost COP$170,000 per person.
How to Get to La Florida, Pereira
If you don’t have your own transportation, you can hop on a chiva run by Transportes La Florida. It’s a fun way to experience traditional Colombian transportation.
Chivas depart from Plaza Victoria in Pereira on weekdays at 9am and 3pm, and on weekends and holidays at 7am, 9am, noon, and 3pm. They pass through La Florida and continue along Vía La Suiza all the way to El Cedral. The last return trip to Pereira leaves El Cedral at 5pm.
Where to Eat in La Florida, Pereira
The main road through the village is lined with restaurants serving traditional Colombian food. The local specialty is torta de trucha, a favorite made with trout, breadcrumbs, finely chopped onion, garlic, cilantro, and sometimes mild local spices. The mixture is shaped into small patties, pan-fried or grilled, and served with an arepa.
La Delicia de los Abuelos
In the main village, we stopped into La Delicia de los Abuelos for breakfast. I had a calentao with eggs and chorizo to fuel up for our hike. Service is fast and friendly, and prices are reasonable.
La Vara
La Vara is just past the CARDER guard house on the road to La Suiza. It’s a rustic spot beside the Río Otún that also offers basic accommodation.
We visited on a Saturday, when the daily special was fríjoles with chicharrón. It came with a fried egg, rice, plantain, salad, and aguapanela. It was an amazing home-cooked meal and exactly what we needed after hiking. We enjoyed lunch under the shelter while the rain poured down outside.
In addition to the food and accommodation, La Vara hosts artist Carlos Andrés Gómez, and you’ll find his work displayed around the property.
