cafetero
1/29/2017 16:36 EST
This question comes up frequently on this forum, and I´ve thrown in my two cents worth before on other threads, but the question was directed to me in a PM and I´ll share my thoughts once again.
Pereira pros and cons: It´s smaller than Medellin but plenty big enough to have everything you need. And everything in Pereira is easier to get to, no question. A taxi ride across town costs half or less what it costs in Medellin.
The weather is similar, hardly enough differences to write about. However, I give the nod to Pereira because the air is not polluted the way it is in medellin. Medellin lies in a valley and exhaust fumes are held in an introversion and can´t escape, so they appear as smog over the city and the air hurts to breath. That was my experience when I lived there several years ago and I imagine it has only gotten worse with time and more congestion.
Pereira has prettier women, no question.
Pereira has cheaper prices and lower rents, and more options for renting without fiador, no question.
Pereira has friendlier people, no question.
So, given a choice between the two cities, I would definitely chose Pereira. Just my opinion, and its free, so it has very little value, yes?
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SunsetSteve
1/29/2017 17:30 EST
Ya but . . . ya but . . . I had already come to that conclusion, based on pollution, and more importantly, cost. But my burning question is: Pereira, Armenia, or a smaller place nearby? I have booked Armenia as a first stop in the Zona Cafetera, and will reach out from there.
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pocopelo
1/29/2017 17:55 EST
Steve you will only find the answer to this with your boots on the ground. However, one thing that generally pertains, smaller equals cheaper. One thing I found was that the snowy mountain view in the tropics sure is captivating.
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augieman
1/29/2017 18:45 EST
@cafetera
Thanks for publishing your helpful response to an inquiry of inrerest to me as well as others, I am sure.
Wonder why the query was sent PM in the first instance.
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SunsetSteve
1/29/2017 19:06 EST
Poco - right you are, hence my upcoming trip of exploration. However, as a spectator of both mountains and smaller beauties, Cafe's observation in that regard is intriguing!
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livinginmedellin
1/29/2017 19:06 EST
There was a Medellín vs Pereira article on the Medellín Living site last year:
http://medellinliving.com/medellin-vs-pereira/
Pereira to me is like a mini-Medellín that hasn't been discovered by many gringos. I'd add that as another benefit of Pereira as in Medellín you can see many gringos - particularly in El Poblado.
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geoffbob
1/29/2017 19:30 EST
More than once I've read that Pereira has a higher crime rate than Medellin.
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NuevoACol
1/29/2017 19:40 EST
"... Pereira has prettier women, no question...." .... --------------- but anyway. IS IT REALLY AS *HOT* as Medellin?.... I thought it was quite colder (like Manizales) --------- Eddie.
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Kee
1/29/2017 19:42 EST
Steve, Pereira is a city (although not a metropolis). Armenia is more like a town. I can usually walk to where I am going or pay a taxi the minimum (4,000 pesos). Shopping is better in Pereira. Armenia is more tranquil.
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NuevoACol
1/29/2017 19:44 EST
I wrote SMILE in parenthesis after " ereira has prettier women, no question..." but it did not come out. I am still smiling.... :)
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cafetero
1/29/2017 20:11 EST
SunsetSteve is right.....rent an Airbnb for a month or two in Pereria and give yourself time to explore all the area at a leisurely pace.
Augieman, the PM was because the person in question got some bogus information on this forum once before and now he sort of trusts my opinion so he asks me direct.
I disagree respectfully with Living in Medellin......I have lived in and around Pereira for years and I´ve yet to meet more than an occasional stray gringo at random on the street, in fact, only once in five years that I can remember. So no, there is not a gaggle of gringos here. There is a Pereria Social Group in Facebook that has about 100 members and I´m guessing that only a dozen or so of the members actually live in Pereira.
Geofbob......Medellin has a much higher crime rate overall than Pereria. There are dozens of large criminal gangs in Medellin, some of the barrios are controlled by gangs. There are gangs in Pereira too, but not nearly to the extent of Medellin.
NuevoACol......Pereira has a very similar climate to Medellin. Manizales is a lot colder. In Pereira I sleep with one blanket. In Manizales I sleep with two blankets. In Pereira I rarely if ever wear a jacket. In Manizales I wear a jacket pretty much every night, some nights I even wear a wool watch cap along with the jacket in Manizales, but never a watch cap in Pererira.
Every city in Colombia, every pueblo, every vereda, every crossroads, has beautiful women. Pereira is normal in that regard.
I think I will start a guide service. Spend a week here with me, traveling to Pereira, Manizales, Armenia and then some of the main pueblos, and get a feel for what the coffee region has to offer.
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cccmedia
1/30/2017 04:04 EST
Manizales, at 7,000 feet altitude, is a couple thousand feet higher than Medellín, Pereira and Armenia.
Ipso facto, cooler weather in Manizales.
Manizales is also infamously known for its many hills, making it problematic for some retirees.
The existence in Pereira of an Expat-meetup group that gathers up to twice a month .. is either an attraction or a deterrent compared to Armenia .. depending on your views about having other Gringos around.
cccmedia in departamento Quindío
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livinginmedellin
1/30/2017 07:38 EST
In reply to @cafetero. You misunderstood me. I didn't say there are a lot of gringos in Pereira.
I said "Pereira to me is like a mini-Medellín that hasn't been discovered by many gringos."
So I said that is another benefit of Pereira since Medellín has many, particularly in El Poblado.
There are very few gringos in Pereira in my experience spending over a month there.
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cccmedia
1/30/2017 08:20 EST
I don’t subscribe to the theory/concept that any of Medellin is over-run/over-populated with Gringos who are supposedly “Gringo-izing” based on their interest in drugs and female ‘adolescentes.’
The immediate area around Lleras is a possible exception. Also, there’s some obscure town with a name such as Tapanga that got written up.
What is the bias against Gringos all about? What is the problem with having some Gringos around?
I’ve been down in La Zona Cafetera lately. I don’t see any Gringos at all in Quindío .. and -- as much as I like it here -- it wouldn’t kill me to see/talk to some Gringos from time to time.
I’ve seen Gringos in Medellín, but outside of Lleras, there’s no indication that any part of the city is being ‘over-run’ by Gringos.
cccmedia in La Zona Cafetera
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Jaybee315
1/30/2017 11:03 EST
Ccc it depends on the gringos on whether or not having them around is a problem.
The places where gringos become a problem are the places that get a reputation for having cheap and plentiful prostitutes. When that happens the gringos flock there. They aren't interested in culture or cuisine. They don't care about the natural beauty or historical sites. They load up on ED pills and go out looking for women.
When they go back home and brag, many more want to visit. Medellin is big enough they can't take over, but they will try.
The biggest problem is many of them show up believing every woman is for sale and they treat all women that way. Then the locals start treating all gringos like that group.
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ParadiseLost
1/30/2017 11:46 EST
I haven't seen any other mention of it on here but there's a new police code that came into effect today. It deals for the most part with anti social behavior (being rude to policemen, not carrying your id, not cleaning up after your dog).
In that set of codes there's one - with a COP 787k fine for - 'exercising prostitution outside those established in the current regulations'
Presumably that's intended to go after the business outside of the established casas. That might target foreign sex tourists who rent apartments and then bring 'escorts' around.
If that's where this is going - and neighboring apartment owners start calling the cops every time foreign 'tourists' bring a new 'friend' home it might have quite a big impact on the trade. Also are hotels going to allow 'ladies' to join 'gentlemen' in their rooms?
It might also have a pretty big impact on short term rentals in the city a large part of the demand for which I believe is driven by the sex tourism industry.
http://www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/nuevo-codigo-de-policia-mejorara-la-convivencia-NK5837384
(click on the infografia)
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cccmedia
1/30/2017 14:51 EST
Seems like an invitation for more corruption.
Officer interdicts Expat with escort .. escort whispers something to her mark .. somebody slips officer 50 lucas .. cop finds something else to do besides roust Expat.
cccmedia
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Bobfrozen1
1/30/2017 17:56 EST
PL,
If I may make a suggestion.
Start another thread on sex tourism and prostitution. I know these are subjects that are very sensitive to you.
But a regrettably a serious topic for discussion.
Regards
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ParadiseLost
1/30/2017 18:03 EST
Why Bob? All I was doing was adding commentary to a prior post and adding some contemporary information about the new police code.
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WhoaNellie
1/30/2017 18:21 EST
Interesting that the link PL posted for the newspaper story and that ccc commented about, a comment below the story that got the most votes mentions the same thing - that the police are so corrupt, you'll just pay a "vacuna" (vaccination) to avoid the multa (fine)...a sad commentary on the corruption.
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cafetero
1/30/2017 18:31 EST
I agree with Bobfrozen, a new thread addressing the issue of prostitution and police shakedowns would be in order. So, I´ll start a new thread on it.
.......but just a quick retort to the question if ladies are going to be allowed to share hotel rooms with gentlemen.....yee gads, what century are you living in and have you ever been to a hotel with a lady in Colombia?
When you show up in a hotel in Colombia with a lady on your arm the room rate increase by about 20% and they bring you extra towels.
Yes, hotel owners-managers love the idea of you bringing your lady to your room, it gives the hotel a chance to mark up for higher profits.
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exatl
1/31/2017 07:34 EST
The big difference is between a city and town. Most of what you said is true but services and infrastructure is much better in Medellín. If transportation is important, Medellín has an international airport and metro system that is MUCH less than a taxi wherever. I personally prefer the larger city with many activities and new shopping malls.
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cafetero
1/31/2017 09:10 EST
Absolutely, whatever floats your boat, some of us are town people and others are city people, some are beach people and others are mountain people, to each his own.
However, don´t sell Pereira short.
Pereira has an international airport that offers enough flights to satisfy most needs, and shopping malls all over the place, even a new Price Smart with aisle after aisle of American and European products.
Pereira also has European style restaurants, museums, theater, and a mega-bus system. Transportation is easy in this city, with three major arteries serving the various parts. There are seemingly dozens of competing bus lines, besides the mega-bus, offering inner-city and inter-city routes. The minimum taxi fare is 4,700 and you´d be amazed at all the places you can go for minimum fare.
Granted, Pereira doesn´t have any cable cars.....I´ll give that one to Medellin.
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CaptMike
1/31/2017 11:30 EST
Another factor to consider is what areas are more seismicly active than others:
http://earthquake-report.com/2014/04/30/important-historic-earthquakes-in-colombia/
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livinginmedellin
1/31/2017 11:31 EST
Pereira is also quite walk-able. I normally stay in the La Circunvalar area when visiting and can walk most places.
Pereira's so called "international" airport only has one non-stop flight to Panama City and a flight to NYC that stops first in Cartagena. So almost no international options.
While in Medellín you can fly non-stop to several international cities including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, NYC-JFK, Atlanta, Madrid, Panama City, Curacao, Aruba, and Mexico City.
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pocopelo
1/31/2017 12:23 EST
Odd, I don't see the earthquake of 1986 listed. As I write I realize it was a volcanic eruption that precipitated a devastating landslide. Landslides such as the one that blocked the highway between Medellin and Bogota during the New Year are not all that uncommon. At one hairpin turn on the road between Armenia and Ibague I recall seeing a cluster of crosses, a result of a bus passing the wrong place at the wrong time. However, most landslides are out of sight out of mind. So, something else to consider! There you go only glad to cheer you all up. Lol
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WhoaNellie
1/31/2017 12:53 EST
If you don't want to cry do not do any searches for the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in November 1985 where Omayra Sánchez died along with about 25,000 others in Armero...
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pocopelo
1/31/2017 16:02 EST
@WN, yes so it was 1985. Most who perished did so mercifully quick. When I came across the account of that poor child I had to find some solitude to finish reading. I cannot imagine being on the ground there to witness her plight.
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PRS
3/17/2017 09:41 EST
@pocopelo, Was it in Pereira that you can see "the snowy mountain view"?
Thx.
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pocopelo
3/17/2017 12:56 EST
@PRS. No, that was in Armenia. I can't say for sure if it common to see it or that we had exceptionally clear weather. Perhaps someone who lives there could chime in on this? It was visible from the downtown area. Not necessarily from other locations I would think.
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Cocopuff515
3/18/2017 03:21 EST
Thanks so much. I didn't even know about Pereira. I hate smog, didn't know about that. Where do you live?
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pocopelo
3/18/2017 09:07 EST
@coco, when referring to clear weather days in Armenia I didn't mean to imply that on others it was smoggy. It's just that some days are more or less hazy than others. Haze being a more or less natural atmospheric condition. Outside of Bogota and Medellin I have never encountered bad quality air.
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Vstrahl
3/24/2017 09:38 EST
I might be interested in your guide service. Please give more info. I'll be in the area in April-May, 2017. Thanks,
Val
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Elexpatriado
3/25/2017 00:42 EST
I dont know why someone would live in dirty, crime ridden Pereira and not in Armenia or Manizales (Okay Manizales ithe weather can get to you during the wet months).
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Elexpatriado
3/25/2017 00:47 EST
Pereira has an "International Airport " that is shut half the time during the wet months for one reason or another.
You don´t live in the eje cafetero because of travel convenience. Pretty remote location from that aspect.
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Elexpatriado
3/25/2017 00:49 EST
European style restaurants where you can be witness to a Sicario "Hit"
Well I guess it could happen anywhere in Colombia..some more likely than others.
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Elexpatriado
3/25/2017 00:57 EST
Your talking about Nevada Tolima. Only can see it from the Fincas around town, higher up. Or, on occaision, from the high pointon the Pereira-Amenia highway.
I have been to the summit twice (almost 3 times) by different routes.
In Manizales, on the other hand, on the rare occaisions it is not raining, cloudy or Foggy, you can see both Nevada Del Ruiz (active Volcano) and Santa Isabel, Both of which support small to mid-sized glaciers (Okay, Santa Isabel is real far away and you have to squint to see the glaciers).
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pocopelo
3/25/2017 08:45 EST
@ Elex, on clear days you can see two snowy peaks from most anywhere in downtown Armenia looking to the northeast along the carreras.
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Elexpatriado
3/25/2017 08:56 EST
I never have and I have been there a dozen times.
I guess where you look from. Up on the top of the Palacio de Justicio roof maybe.
And there is only one , unless Nevada Quindio has a fresh dusting of snow on it.
If you pointed them out I could tell you for sure, but the bigone with a real galcier is Tolima.
Can youpostpictures on this site? I can post a rel spectacuar picture of Tolima with sun down and Alpine Glow
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cccmedia
3/25/2017 14:52 EST
Dear El Expatriado,
Yes, please post Tolima alpine-glow 'foto'.
cccmedia in Quindío
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tubes
3/25/2017 18:03 EST
I have never noticed anything like an Asian grocery store in Pereira, and likewise no Asian restaurants.
You will find a lot of exotic foodstuffs, but a lot depends on what you define as 'Asian'.
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PRS
3/25/2017 18:11 EST
Thanks for that helpful info, tubes.
I cook Chinese, so we're talking soy sauce, fermented black beans, sesame oil, dried chili peppers. Other ingredients you can get in most grocery stores, vinegar, white pepper, sherry, msg, veggies, etc.
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tubes
3/25/2017 19:22 EST
PRS: you will find your soy sauce, sesame oil, and dried chili peppers in the bigger grocery stores.
Exito / Carulla have departments specialising in imported foods and Chinese is well represented.
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PRS
3/25/2017 19:25 EST
Excellent. Thanks, tubes.
By the way, I'm guessing there are at least Chinese and Japanese restaurants in both Pereira and Armenia.
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cccmedia
3/25/2017 20:33 EST
At the north end of the big Portal del Quindío shopping mall in Armenia, go half a block down the hill .. and there's an upscale Laureles supermarket with many foreign and exotic and special items.
Thirty yards further on the same street is the Ryori Sushi and Japanese restaurant (6pm to 10 pm weekdays, noon to 10 pm Sat/Sunday) where I have dined or gotten take out food about 20 times.
I recommend both places.
cccmedia in Quindío
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tubes
3/25/2017 20:50 EST
The are Chinese restaurants everywhere in Colombia (often really Taiwanese or Hong Kong) which are very popular for their low prices.
Like all foreign restaurants, their food is heavily tailored to the local tastes where spices and strong flavours are not liked.
There are a few Sushi houses in the bigger cities but very few foreign food restaurants.
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SunsetSteve
3/25/2017 22:09 EST
There is an excellent Indian restaurant in Salento. The owner rides a Suzuki DLR650. As good Indian as I've had anywhere.
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Elexpatriado
3/26/2017 15:28 EST
Dont.get your expectations too high.
Sure there is but not like countries that have large Asían population.
All the Asian restaurantes in Colombia ha e Colombian staff.
Fyi I know of One Sushi restaurante in Armenia, I think one in Periera and two in Manizales.
Guess Sushi is Sushi.pretty hard to screw it up.
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dumluk
3/26/2017 15:42 EST
@Elex.......Sounds like you know your way around el eje cafetero muy bien.......Is Pereira really so dirty and crime ridden? Do you see garbage all over the place like in Panama? That would be enuff to kill the prospect for me right there.........How about the general attitude of people in and around Pereira? Do they tend to be the same work oriented, service oriented friendly Paisas as Medellin or Armenia? My ex novia in Costa Rica/Panama was from Armenia and she was great........We have some folks here in David Panama from Pereira working cocina ambulantes and other fixed locale restaurants and they are super nice and relatable....especially in comparison with the local Panas.........
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Elexpatriado
3/26/2017 18:00 EST
Parts of Pereira like around the Viaducto and el Centro do get dirty , yes.
Personally I much prefer Manizales and Armenia. Personal preference.
Only bad experience I have had in Colombia was in Puira restaurante in Pinares (best barrio in Pereira). I was with my GF, we were about to leave, and a sicario came in and wasted a guy in the other side of the restaurant. Bam.bambam..plugged 9 shots into him.
Ironic part, the Narcos involved were all from small towns around Armenia. But they live in small towns and do thier dirty work in Armenia.
But this experience could have happened almst anywhere in Colombia.
My Colombian friend said there are a lot of Narcos in Periera because a lotof them fled there after the collapse and persecution of the Medellin cartel.
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Elexpatriado
3/26/2017 18:53 EST
I tried to post the picture. "Tiny Pic" doesnt seem to work here. I have used it sucsessfully on other forms.
How do you post pictures on this forum.
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WhoaNellie
3/26/2017 19:45 EST
Or just give the link without the IMG tags and people can copy and paste:
http://i66.tinypic.com/a2umgx.jpg
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