Official language: Spanish
Time zone: UTC -5
Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Pereira lies in one of a few places with micro climate in the world. From one spot, where it is warm and dry, to another, where it is humid and cold, you can walk in 10 minutes.
In Pereira there is climate with pleasant temperature and fresh air, which is not typical for South America. Due to this fact, it is often compared to Swiss towns in the Alpes.
In the city there is a zoo founded in 1959, which is considered to be one of the most important in Colombia and the whole South America. In Zoológico Matecaña you can admire 150 species of animals.
Pereira is the capital of the Colombian department Risaralda, situated in the western part of the country. This department is located in the region Paisa, famous for its specific alternation of Spanish language (español antioqueño).
The city is located on the foothill of the Andes, in the neighbourhood known for manufacturing coffee, whose quality was recognized by UNESCO (Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia). Coffee that grows in that place is considered by many experts as the best in the world. Pereira is a perfect base for trips to two reservations - Parque Ucumarí and Santuario Otún Quimbaya.
Pleasant information concerning the city is surely the fact that it is relatively cheap compared to the rest of Colombia, as well as that it is on top of the list of cities, whose citizens feel safe in their neighbourhood. The city is full of life, mainly due to the fact that one fourth of inhabitants are students as many public and private schools are located there.
Pereira is still an underestimated destination, by locals it is called the city with eternal spring. It is situated in a valley surrounded by the mountains, average temperature there is around 22 degrees and stays on the same level the whole year round. Climate is perfect for spending time outside – there are plenty of restaurants, specializing in various cuisines of the world, where you can spend pleasantly the evening.
Where to go to eat? If you want to try dishes of South American cuisine, go for instance to Aly Torres by Carrera 12, 2-62. Fans of Italian cuisine can be recommended La Trattoria by Carrera 17bis 21abis 04, where great pastas with seafood are served. A good choice will be a dinner at Lenos y Parrilla at Carrera 12 2-78, where you can try steaks of very good quality. If you don’t want to spend on a given day too much time for dining, go to bar Sayonara at Avenida 30 De Agosto 41 - 84, where you can eat tasty and quickly.