Pereira: The Vibrant Capital of the Coffee Belt
Pereira — the largest city of Colombia's Coffee Region — is a modern, energetic city at 1,411m with a strong coffee culture, excellent food, and access to the UNESCO Coffee Cultural Landscape; it is the commercial and transport hub of the Eje Cafetero
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Bolívar Desnudo Sculpture
Pereira's most famous monument – Bolívar Desnudo (Naked Bolívar) – is a controversial bronze statue of Simón Bolívar on horseback, naked; the sculpture by Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt (1963) caused a scandal at the unveiling but is now a city symbol
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Own Cafetero Central Position
Pereira is at the center of Eje Cafetero - the coffee axis that connects Manizales, Armenia and Pereira; the town's location makes it a natural base for exploring the entire coffee region and Los Nevados National Park
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Plaza de Bolívar coffee culture
The Plaza de Bolívar in the center of Pereira is surrounded by colonial and republican buildings and the city's main cathedral; the square's cafes serve the region's coffee and the square's social life is the city's daily rhythm
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Parque Ukumarí Wildlife Park
Ukumarí Park near Pereira - Colombia's best zoo - has a wildlife rescue center for Andean bears, jaguars and other animals; the park's commitment to rescue and rehabilitation rather than exhibition makes it one of Latin America's most ethical wildlife facilities
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Coffee Farm Agrotourism
The fincas cafeterias around Pereira offer the same agritourism experience as those around Armenia and Salento; the proximity to the city makes even a half-day coffee farm visit from Pereira possible and worthwhile
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Thermales Santa Rosa
The hot springs at Santa Rosa de Cabal — 20 km from Pereira — have natural hot pools at different temperatures among lush cloud forest vegetation; the volcanic hot springs, combined with a waterfall walk, is one of Risaralda's best day trips