Pereira: Tourism, Things to Do & Places to Visit in the Coffee Region

Pereira is the capital of the Risaralda department and the most important city in the Coffee Region. It sits in the Central Andes, in the heart of the Otún Valley.

Pereira has seen strong urban development, its people are very friendly, and the city is ideal for exploring Colombia's coffee country.

Pereira lies at 1,411 meters, ringed by green mountains and with a pleasant climate all year. Its central location makes it very well connected to Colombia's main cities.

How to get to Pereira

Pereira has Matecaña International Airport, the most important in the area, with domestic and international airlines. There is also a busy bus terminal, with companies connecting the city to the rest of Colombia.

Pereira and the Risaralda department have modern roads and highways that make it easy to reach the various tourist spots.

The distances from Pereira are: Bogotá 320 km, Medellín 215 km, Cali 217 km, Armenia 42 km, Manizales 50 km, Ipiales 672 km, Santa Marta 1,005 km.

Things to do in Pereira

Pereira is a thriving city that has modernized in recent years into a leading cultural, industrial and tourist hub. It has a varied range of hotels and restaurants, and its shopping centers and nightlife also stand out.

Pereira has several attractions and points of interest for visitors:

Plaza de Bolívar

Plaza de Bolívar is the city's main square and marks the historic and commercial center of Pereira. At its center stands the sculpture of Bolívar. Around it rise the city's most emblematic buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Municipal Government Palace, the Risaralda Lottery building and the Hotel Soratama. The square is visited by hundreds of locals and tourists every day.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Poverty

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Poverty faces Plaza de Bolívar and is notable for a structure of more than 12,000 wooden pieces that supports its dome. The cathedral was built in 1875.

Risaralda Government Building

The building has modern, contemporary architecture. It is the work of architect Laureano Forero Ochoa and was praised at the Colombian architecture biennial. It stands between Calles 18 and 19 and Carreras 13 and 14.

Pereira Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden belongs to the Technological University of Pereira and covers 12 hectares, home to tree and plant species from across the country and abroad. It is explored along trails that also let you appreciate the area's variety of bird species — one of the best botanical gardens in Colombia.

Matecaña Zoo

The Matecaña Zoo in Pereira has a varied collection of native and exotic animals, including several Colombian monkey species as well as African and Asian fauna such as elephants, zebras and lions.

César Gaviria Viaduct

The César Gaviria Viaduct is a notable feat of engineering, built to link Pereira with the neighboring town of Dosquebradas and shorten the distance between them. It is 704 meters long and more than 100 meters high.

Departmental Revenue Building

Another of Pereira's emblematic buildings, begun in 1927, today a symbol of the city's development in the first half of the 20th century.

Ciudad Victoria

Ciudad Victoria is a part of the city that was renovated and revitalized a few years ago, comprising several public and private buildings. The area runs between Calles 16 and 18 and Carreras 10 and 12.

Olaya Herrera Park

One of the city's largest green spaces, with facilities for recreation and sport, very close to the Government Palace.

Santiago Londonño Theater

This important cultural building was built in 1990. Besides the theater hall, it has areas for exhibitions and displays.

Lucy Tejada Cultural Center

The Lucy Tejada Cultural Center is in the Ciudad Victoria area and is the hub of the cultural scene in Pereira and the Risaralda department, hosting plays, workshops and exhibitions by various artists and cultural figures.

Museums in Pereira

Pereira Art Museum
Address: Av. de las Américas # 19-88
Phone: +57 6 3172828
Website: museoartepereira.org

Eliseo Bolívar Museum
Address: Avenida 106, Pereira-Belén de Umbría.
Phone: +57 6 3528028

Risaralda Museum Network

The Risaralda Museum Network is made up of various institutions. Its members include:

• The Pereira Institute of Culture and Tourism
• The Pereira Art Museum
• The UTP Botanical Garden
• The Matecaña Zoo
• The UTP Observatory and Planetarium
• The Bank of the Republic Library in Pereira
• The UTP Historical Ecology and Cultural Heritage laboratory
• The Alliance Française of Pereira
• The Colombo-Americano Center in Pereira
• The Quinchía House of Culture
• The Serial Killers Museum
• The Ciudad Latente Corporation
• The Marsella House of Culture
• The Marsella Botanical Garden
• The Eliseo Bolívar House Museum in Belén de Umbría
• The Risaralda Secretariat of Sport, Recreation and Culture

Top sights around Pereira

Marsella

The town of Marsella is 30 km from Pereira, known for its typical local architecture, its church and its House of Culture. Several coffee farms in the area welcome tourists. Points of interest include the Jesús María Estrada Cemetery and the Alejandro von Humboldt Botanical Garden.

Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs

The Santa Rosa de Cabal hot springs are very popular with Pereira residents. They lie 7 km from the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal and have full visitor facilities, along with trails and nature walks to enjoy the setting.

San Vicente Hot Springs

The San Vicente hot springs are a favorite with locals, especially on weekends.

Belén de Umbría

70 km from Pereira is the pretty town of Belén de Umbría. At 1,520 meters, it is surrounded by mountain scenery with various options for ecotourism and weekend trips.

Apía

Apía is a classic Antioquian-style town founded in 1883. Set in strikingly beautiful mountain scenery, its surroundings offer streams, rivers and nature parks to visit.

Nature parks

On the outskirts of Pereira and throughout Risaralda are many nature parks and ecological reserves of great beauty.

• Otún Lagoon
• Nevado de Santa Isabel
• Barbas Bremen Nature Park
• Alto del Nudo Nature Park
• Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
• Agualinda Nature Park
• Ucumarí Nature Park
• Tatamá National Park