Pereira

Department: Risarada Population: 600,000 Altitude: 1,400m Climate: Warm (av. temp 23ºC)

Pereira is the largest city in the Coffee Region with over 600,000 inhabitants. It is situated at a lower altitude than its neighbours Armenia and Manizales and so enjoys a warmer climate. The city also has a more modern feel than either Armenia or Manizales and is clean and well organised.

Pereira and the department of Risaralda as a whole forms part of the Paisa region of the country, along with Antioquia (capital Medellin), Caldas (capital Manizales) and Quindio (capital Armenia). The four departments were once joined together in what is known as 'Viejo Caldas' (Old Caldas). In Pereira you will find a culture very similar to that of the other departments of the region and will detect the same 'paisa' dialect as exists in Medellin for example. Some Colombians from the region will claim the accents aren't identical, but most Colombians would struggle to tell them apart.

Things to See and Do

Pereira isn't exactly bursting at the seams with tourist attractions, but there are enough places of interest in and around the city to keep you busy for a day or two. The city is centred around Plaza Bolivar, a large square featuring a statue of a near-naked Simon Bolivar riding a horse (see photo, right). Around the plaza are the usual amenities including banks, shops and restaurants. A few blocks south-east is Victoria Plaza, a large open square bordered by the Victoria Plaza shopping mall and a large Exito supermarket.

Accommodation

Sweet Home Hostel: Carrera 11 No. 44-30,  Tel. (6) 3454453, Cel. 3134224605,  website

Sweet Home Hostel is a pretty colonial house with comfortable dorm rooms and communal spaces. The hostel includes a kitchen, free breakfast, cable TV, laundry service and wi-fi.

Hotel Golden Suite: Calle 17 No. 6-57,  Tel. (6) 3342618

Another good option.

Sport and Recreation

Deportivo Pereira currently play in division A, although in 2009 only narrowly avoided the drop after beating Division B side Bucaramanga in a relagation play off. They play their home matches in the 30,000 capacity Hernan Ramirez Villegas stadium on the outskirts of the city. Although the team known as the 'Matecañas' have never won a championship they have produced some quality players, most recently Carlos Darwin Quintero, currently playing his football in Mexico.

Transport

Pereira, like various other Colombia cities, has followed in the footsteps of Bogota and installed a Transmilenio-style bus system called Megabus. The lines run from the airport in the west, passing through the city centre and then north-east over the viaduct finishing in Dosquedradas. Reports suggest that the system has gone a long way to alleviating congestion in the city. It's worth taking a ride in the Megabus to get an idea of the size of the city and passing over the viaduct allows for some decent-ish views.