Getting Around Pereira
Pereira is a compact Andean city, and most visitors find they can cover the centre on foot while relying on buses, the Megabús rapid-transit system and taxis for longer hops. The city sits in Colombia's coffee-growing region, so many trips also involve reaching nearby towns such as Salento or Santa Rosa de Cabal. Here is how the main options fit together.
Megabús: the rapid-transit backbone
Pereira's flagship public transport is Megabús, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system modelled on the systems developed in Curitiba, Brazil, and Ottawa, Canada, and later adopted in Bogotá's Transmilenio. It uses large green buses running in exclusive lanes and serving enclosed stations, which makes it comfortable, clean and fast compared with ordinary street traffic.
- How it works: Trunk lines run along the main avenues, with feeder routes connecting outlying neighbourhoods to the system. Main transfer stations include Olaya Herrera, El Viajero and Cuba.
- Tickets: You need a rechargeable electronic card, the Megatarjeta or Megacard, to ride. Buy and recharge it at any station. The card itself carries a small cost and comes loaded with credit for a few trips; each ride is then deducted from the balance.
- Transfers: Moving between trunk lines within a set time window is typically free or discounted, so you can chain routes without paying twice.
- Hours: Buses generally run from early morning until late evening, with a reduced schedule on Sundays and public holidays and high frequency at peak hours.
- Accessibility: Stations and buses generally have ramps and designated spaces.
- Planning: Route maps are available online and at stations, and Google Maps integrates Megabús routes, so you can plan a trip before you leave your hotel.
Buses and other public transport
Beyond Megabús, an extensive network of conventional buses criss-crosses Pereira, connecting most parts of the city along the main avenues and into the surrounding barrios. Fares are very cheap, and the fleet ranges from full-size buses to smaller vans. As in any city, take care when visiting lower-income neighbourhoods.
For side trips into the surrounding mountains and valley floors, Willys jeeps are available; prices vary by destination but are generally very cheap. These iconic vehicles, known as chivas or yipaos, are also used as shared taxis for tours in the nearby coffee town of Salento.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Licensed taxis in Pereira are yellow with a roof light and a licence number. They are relatively cheap, and you can hail one on the street, call a company such as Radio Taxi or Tax Individual, or pick one up at a taxi stand. Fares are metered, but it pays to be alert.
- Insist on the meter. Some drivers are dishonest and try to take advantage of foreigners. If a driver stops along your route they may try to charge an additional fare, and waiting time can accrue standing charges. Some cars have no meter at all, so agree the price in advance or negotiate.
- Know the extras. Expect a minimum fare, a pick-up charge, a per-distance-or-time charge in traffic, a night-rate supplement, and an airport charge that differs depending on whether you are going to or from the airport.
- Pay in cash and carry small bills.
- At night, be cautious about hailing on the street; use a stand or a phone booking instead.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Didi and InDriver are commonly used and are often cheaper than taxis. InDriver lets passengers propose their own fare. The apps provide GPS tracking and driver and vehicle details, which adds a layer of reassurance.
Walking
Pereira's central areas are compact enough that walking is a practical way to reach many sights, restaurants and services, and the city's main avenues are lined with the bus and Megabús routes you can fall back on when distances grow. As anywhere, use ordinary caution, particularly after dark and in lower-income barrios.
Getting from the airport into the city
Matecaña International Airport (PEI) is the largest and busiest airport in the region, serving domestic flights on Avianca, LATAM, Wingo, JetSMART and ClicAir, plus international routes to Panama City and Miami. It offers Wi-Fi access from almost every location.
- By taxi: Taxis at the airport are regulated, reasonably priced and safe, and they are metered. A ride to downtown takes roughly 20 minutes. Expect an airport-specific charge on top of the metered fare.
- By bus: To reach the main bus terminal, Terminal de Transporte de Pereira, from the airport, take a taxi.
If you are arriving by long-distance bus instead, the Terminal de Transporte de Pereira is clean and has standard amenities, with multiple companies running regular routes around the country. Operators based there include Expreso Bolivariano, which has one of the most extensive networks and some international destinations; Coomotor, serving mostly southern Colombia; Expreso Palmira, Expreso Trejos, Expreso Alcalá and Flota Magdalena; and municipal services to small nearby towns such as Líneas Pereiranas and Transportes Giraldo. Common onward destinations include Cali, Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales, Armenia, Santa Rosa de Cabal and Salento, with frequent minibus services to several of the closer towns.
Other options
Car rental is available, with international agencies at the airport and in the city; pre-booking online is advised. You will need a valid driver's licence, an International Driving Permit, your passport and a major credit card in the driver's name. Colombians drive on the right and seatbelts are required. Major highways are good but secondary roads wind through the mountains, many major roads have tolls, and heavy truck traffic is common on mountain routes, so avoid night driving and allow for rain. Paid parking is available, though street parking is limited.
Motorcycle and scooter rentals are uncommon for tourists and not recommended for unfamiliar drivers. There is no city-wide bicycle-sharing programme, though some hotels and tour operators rent bikes for coffee-farm routes.