Discover nightlife, waterfalls, gastronomy, and freshly brewed coffee in the Pearl of the Otun River – Pereira! Also known as the City Without Doors, this is the biggest city in the Coffee Axis of Colombia and the capital of the department of Risaralda. Here we present to you the long time coming and carefully researched Pereira Travel Guide!

Editors Note: As of October 2025 the information in this travel guide has been updated to reflect current prices and information.

The Pereira Travel Guide

This travel guide is the culmination of over a decade of experience and exploration in the City Without Doors, our beloved Pereira. It is a beautiful but modern city full of hidden corners and interesting possibilities. Welcome!

History

Cartago Viejo was founded on the site of what we now call Pereira prior to 1540. When a better town site was discovered (and river shipping became a thing), the pueblo moved to what we know as Cartago in the present day. Pereira would remain dormant, and wait until the year 1862…

In 1862, Francisco Pereira Martin, the city’s name-sake, gave some land, once known as La Villa Robledo to some colonists for a town site. Some houses and a small church were built around a central plaza, known today as Plaza Bolivar. Situated on an important crossroads, Pereira became a very progressive city over time due to the pass by traffic it has always received. The first transcontinental call to Paris was made from Pereira. There was even a mass transit trolley car option, called the “Transvia.”

Today, Pereira is a thriving city whose lifeblood is a combination of coffee, local business, factory production and tourism. To say it is a mecca of diversity is an understatement as a lot of agriculture and local products also have competitive advantages due to farmers markets and demand.

Where to Stay

Ikelé Rural Eco-Lodge, nestled just outside Pereira in Colombia’s Coffee Axis, offers a serene escape on a family-owned former award-winning coffee farm now dedicated to sustainable tourism, growing plantains and fostering wellness retreats. Guests can enjoy minimalist cabins—including a main cabin with two bedrooms for families and a secondary cabin for couples—along with an outdoor kitchen, refreshing pool, kiosks for yoga or events, and picnic areas, accommodating up to 10-15 people or day visitors via “pasadia” access. Ideal for meditation, yoga, small business gatherings, weddings, or family getaways, the lodge emphasizes tranquility, prohibiting loud music and hard alcohol while allowing moderate wine and beer; additional services include airport pick-ups and local day trips. For reservations or inquiries, contact them via WhatsApp or cell at +57 316 281 8640, or follow on Instagram at @ikelerural.

Where to Eat

Finding well-prepared delicious food, isn’t always as easy as looking up TripAdvisor. In fact, call us crazy, but some of these sites are so full of advertising and fluff, its easy to get off-track! On this list are restaurants which we have hand-picked for our readers. Enjoy!

Spanish and Mediterranean Cuisine by Spanish foreign residents > Be sure to try El Olivo! Located west of Pereira in C.C. Cerritos del Mar.
Great Well-Made Hamburgers > We recommend La H – Hamburgueseria, by locals who have traveled and perfected their recipe and ingredients, at a great price!
Authentic Peruvian Cuisine by Peruvian foreign residents > We recommend Tradiciones Peruanas located in Dosquebradas in the Santa Monica sector only a couple blocks east, off the main road.
Fine Upscale Dining with plates curated by a local award winning chef > We recommend Ebano Cocina de Autor located on the second floor terraza of Movich Hotel on Avenida Circunvalar.

Attractions

Botanic Garden walking tour at Universidad Technologica de Pereira.
Cascada de los Frailes waterfall hike and the Yarumo Blanco birdwatching and nature area.
Estacion Pereira, you can ride a marrano (single track train), natural swimming pools and scenic route.
Don Manolo coffee farm tour, it’s the best and also the most famous in this area!
La Florida local municipality with art, culture, music and food attractions.
El Rincon Clasico for over 8,000 vinyl records of classic music and time-capsule ambiance.
Free performance of the Pereira symphonic band every Friday at 4:00 pm.
La Cuadra, art walk and local product market, the FIRST Thursday night of each month, at 8:30 pm.
Galicia Arepas, a local vereda (or rural area) where you can eat the BEST sweet corn arepas and cheese, cooked with wood fired ovens.
The Biggest Skate Park in Colombia, with half-pipes, swimming pools and tons of fun skate obstacles for all types of experience levels.
Museo de Arte Pereira, our very own art museum with special exhibitions which change monthly.

Where to Drink Coffee

El Barista Slow Coffee, a beloved specialty coffee haven in Pereira, Colombia, captivates coffee enthusiasts with its dedication to premium Colombian beans sourced from small farmers in nearby Marseilla, offering an immersive “from seed to cup” experience through diverse brewing methods like V60, Chemex, Aeropress, and French Press. Nestled in the heart of the city, this cozy spot serves an array of hot and cold coffees, teas, delightful breakfast options, decadent cheesecakes, carrot cake, and even moderate pours of wine or beer, all in a relaxed ambiance perfect for quiet reading, working with free WiFi, or joining engaging barista classes led by knowledgeable staff like Sebastian and Yesid—praised as a trip highlight by visitors for its exceptional service and hospitality. Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked among Pereira’s top cafes, it features outdoor seating, dine-in, and in-store pickup for a serene urban retreat. Located at Carrera 15 #4-17, Pereira, Risaralda, reach them via WhatsApp at +57 314 287 8574 or email at elbaristarutadelcafe@gmail.com.

Unique Bars in Pereira

Pereira has a unique sort of nightlife environment. It isn’t as heavy as Medellin or as dangerous as Bogota. Things happen but those who stay vigilant rarely have issues. You can dance, drink or chat the night away with people who share your musical style and interests. For more information about the unique bars of Pereira, click here:

10 Unique Bars That Will Get You Drunk – Have fun! Be Safe!

Pereira City Tour

Our exclusive VIP experience which is curated for YOU! Come along with us as we show you the secret hidden places as your personal Pereira Travel Guide.

We will meet you in a central location and take you on an adventure of your choosing:

Gastronomy: where we will taste exotic fruits, street foods from vendors we trust and the best coffee shops!
History: where we will show you important landmarks, sites of interest and stories which even some of the locals probably haven’t heard!
Art & Culture: where we will take you on an exclusive home tour which will take visitors to the early days of Pereira. When you step inside this place, you will find yourself transported to another environment entirely. Garden, home and gallery tour by prior reservation only and limited to owner availability.

For more information: email “Erin” at: coffeeaxistravel@gmail.com or Whatsapp: 312 794 8245

Cost: 600,000 for up to 2-3 people for a full day tour.

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, bring an umbrella as needed and carry small amounts of money for coffee, souvenirs etc…

Pereira Tropical Dance Tour

Our customized VIP experience is curated for the footloose music lover who can’t sit still! Experience the dance scene of Pereira in a safe environment which offers you and your friends a way to go out, enjoy and actually have someone to dance with (who knows what they are doing). All levels of dancers attended with care and attention!

We will meet you in a central location and take you to the best dance clubs of Pereira:

Salsa & Merengue: Whether your focus is solely salsa, or a variety – in Pereira this is a must!
Bachata: A lesser known dance in this area, our taxi dancers know all the moves which you were hoping to bust out – they might even be able to teach you something new!
Cumbia & Costeno: We dance all the tropical rhythms, come enjoy with us!

For more information: or to schedule your tour email Erin at coffeeaxistravel@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 312 794 8245

Cost: 600,000 + cover fees/drinks/taxi costs, for an evening of dancing and fun!

Note: Cost includes one (1) dance couple who will teach and/or dance and accompany you to ensure the best experience possible!

Expat Life

Living here has tremendous benefits, but you must also take the proper precautions to ensure the best experience possible. We can recommend visa agents, properties which are for sale and opportunities for teaching.

Our Recommended Visa Agent: Luz Dary Ballesteros of Emigrando, a great woman who is very smart and able to sort out almost any type of situation you might encounter.
Start Your Own Business: With the help of a local lawyer who is fluent in English and all the legal ramifications you may need to know about in order to start your dream business!
Decide if Pereira is Right for You: With an article we wrote talking about the Realities of Life Abroad in Colombia. It isn’t for everyone!

Conclusion

The Pereira Travel Guide is a conglomeration of over a decade of experience. It is the ultimate result of our investigations, happen-stance and stumble-upons which we have collected into one place. Our hope is that it will, for you, be the definitive reference for all things Pereira. Be sure to share it with your friends, pin it to the top of your page and keep it bookmarked for future reference!

As always, you will see that our recommendations follow our belief in #BuyLocal, #SupportLocal and #EatLocal where we will encourage you to patronize businesses whose profits return to the local economy.

Thank you for choosing us as your #1 source for all things related to local lifestyle and tourism in Pereira!