Aventuras De Viaje's Blog, page 9

8 Cool Things to Do in Armenia, Quindio, Colombia

This list of cool things to do in Armenia gives a short review of each of the things to do in Armenia, links to more detailed reviews (where applicable), advise on accommodation in Armenia, and information on getting to Armenia.

I originally chose Armenia as a place to stay for a while. Rent an apartment, learn Spanish, and work a little. It didn’t work out as I planned and I ended up moving onto Medellin after a couple of weeks, but I did do some cool stuff while I was there.

8 Cool Things to do in Armenia
1. Carrera 14

The first thing on this list of cool things to do in Armenia is Carrera 14 which is the main street in the city. In the city center it becomes a walking street with vehicles not allowed, and you can follow it all the way to Lorena and beyond. It makes navigation in Armenia very easy.

Turns out I never took a picture of this!

2. La Lorena

La Lorena is district in Armenia north-east of the city centre which has the Universidad del Quindío and Parque De La Vida. It is a peacful area to walk around (when not on the main road).

Parque Fundores in the north of Armenia.

3. The Outskirts of Town Center

When I first arrived in Armenia I stayed in a hotel just on the edge of the main part of town. During the day it’s a busy section of the city with lots of shops and restaurants. At night it seems a bit dodgy, so be sure to explore during the light of day.

There is also plaza with a fruit market and people selling second hand (or stolen) goods. Don’t flash your valuables here.

Market area on the outskirts of town center.

4. Swimming

One of the top reasons I chose to live in Armenia over Ibague was for this public swimming pool. Unfortunatley it was under maintenance while I was there but I suspect it re-opens when the University starts up again.

5. El Parque De Vida

A fairly large and peaceful park just north of the city. Only 1,500COP entry. You can walk there from the center in about 15 minutes.

6. Plaza De Bolivar

As always in Colombia, the Plaza De Bolivar is a good place for eating ice-cream and people watching. The one in Armenia also has a cool looking church.

7. Filandia

Filandia is a small town less than an hours bus ride from Armenia. It is a quaint little town with a great mirador (look-out point). It is a good day trip.

8. Salento

The last thing on this list of cool things to do in Armenia is to go to the little town of Salento which is less than an hour bus ride from the terminal. Here you can visit a coffee plantation, go hiking in Valle de Cocora, sample their specialty dishes, and/or just chill in this beautiful little town.

Getting to Armenia

I took a bus from Ibague. From Ibague bus terminal just look for any sales window with Armenia, and that has a worker behind it. I used Velotax. It cost 20,000 COP and was a comfortable bus. The ride there is through the mountains, i.e., if your prone to motion sickness, take some pills. It took about 3.5 hours in total. Try to get a seat near the front because the toilet is at the back and it stinks.

Accommodation in Armenia

Whilst doing all these cool things to do in Armenia I stayed in a number of different places while attempting to find a more permanent apartment.

The first was Hotel San Sebastion which I booked online a while before I arrived. It was okay. Decent sized room with a private bathroom, okay security, close to town but in a bit of a dodgy area at night. No hot water but cable TV and decent internet.

The next one I got of Air BnB was in a share house which I tested as a long term option. There where a few different types of rooms, from very basic with shared bathrooms, all the way to having a small kitchen. Most guests here were long term foreign teachers. It was fine but not for me – I prefer to have something all to myself.

The third was called Hotel El Meson De Las Flores and was also off airbnb. This one was a proper boutique hotel. A bit nicer than the previous two and had the price-tag to match, although still not that expensive (under 25usd). It was in a great location. A little noisy during the day, especially around lunch, but easy to sleep in at night. Very comfortable and good dicounts if you stay for a week or more, which is the great thing about airbnb.

The fourth was a hotel near the center called Hotel Imperial. I’d say it was on par with San Sebastian, only a tad further from the center.

The final place I stayed at was another long-term potential off AirBnb located quite far from the center but super close to the Portal Norte which is the biggest shopping center in Armenia. It was a share house. The hosts where great and the place was nice but it just wasn’t for me.

Book your stay in Armenia.

Getting into Central Armenia from the Bus Terminal

From the bus terminal I just walked it. You could catch a bus but I don’t know which one exactly. I boarded one that said centro but after talking to the driver I discovered it was headed in the wrong direction, so make sure.

The buses have different prices, but it is displayed on the bus so just pay whatever the price is. Somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 COP.

A taxi to shouldn’t cost more than 10,000 COP.

Here’s a video slideshow of all the pictures taken in the Quindio area including Armenia, Ibague (not really Quindio but close enough), Pereira (also not really Quindio), Filandia, and Salento.

Got anything to add to this list of cool things to do in Armenia? Let us know them (or anything else you want to say) in the comments

Graffiti Tour Comuna 13, Medellin, Colombia

On my first weekend in Medellin someone I had been in contact with through Couch-surfing invited me to come along on something called the Graffiti Tour Comuna 13. I didn’t really read the advertisement well but thought I’d go along – mainly because of the word graffiti.

It turns out the person was the tour guide for the event and the tour was a 3 hour (approximately) walk through the infamous Comuna 13, which was at one time the most dangerous neighborhood in all of Latin America (no small feat) with military, para-military, and guerrilla groups all fighting for control of the strategic area.

Cost(s): 20,000 COP + Transport (metro fare to and from the barrio from the city).

More Information: Facebook.com/pg/ardillacolombia

Graffiti Tour Comuna 13

Now-a-days Comuna 13 is relatively safe to walk through (during the day). You can see all the amazing street-art and take a ride up the famous outdoor escalators.

You could walk though the area yourself but I highly recommend this tour. You get a great insight into the history of the area as well as the meanings behind many of the artworks. It was much better than I expected and there is a great view at the end.

Pretty much as soon as you get off the metro you see artwork in the streets. This isn’t even in Comuna 13 yet.

I can’t remember the significance of these pot-plants, if there even was any. I guess I was too busy soaking up the atmosphere.

You walk from the station through the barrio up to the antenna. Don’t worry, the walk isn’t very hard and you take the outdoor escalator for some of it.

This mural was painted after some sort of election. I think it has some significance to peace. It looks like a peaceful painting.

Some cool stairs and a little plaza. It has a sign referring to the stairway to English or something like that. Perhaps they have small English classes here.

This artwork on this wall had a lot of significance. I won’t go into detail but it was very interesting.

I just liked this one because it had reference to the barrio, i.e., 13. I’m not sure the exact meaning of it. I should have asked.

I think the guide said this was her favourite piece. It’s pretty cool, a tree growing out of the woman’s head.

I thought this was awesome. Stairways covered in graf-art. My photo doesn’t give it any justice.

The view of the barrio below from part of the way up.

Around about now there is the escalator because vehicles can’t go any further up (I think motorbikes can, but that’s all).

We walked up the old way for a bit to get a feel for the place. This photo is of a side alley.

A shot of the escalator and the old school way up next to it.

This tree with the outline of South America embedded in it was probably my favorite piece of the day.

They built this slide in remembrance of a child that died during one of the conflicts. It is there to remind people of their inner child.

The money shot from the top. Great view.

Have you taken the Graffiti Tour Comuna 13 before? Share your thoughts in the comments

Exploring Salento, Quindio, Colombia

On my way to Medellin from Armenia I spent a few days exploring Salento. Salento is quite a famous little town in Quindio. I think ‘quaint’ is the best word to describe it. Actually, it is a lot like Filandia but with more tourists.

Exploring Salento

I arrived in Salento from Armenia around 12:30pm and after checking in to my accommodation I went for lunch and a little walk.

It’s a pretty little town with lots of colors in the street.

There are plenty of places to eat and artesian shops.

It has a pretty little town square with free wifi, places to sit and lots of vendors for snacks and drinks. Try a limon y coco drink (coconut and lemon), although its available all over Colombia, at least it is in Quindio.

There’s also a nice little church. Pretty standard near the town square in a Colombian city.

I ended up going up to the mirador which is probably number two on the list of every tourists “must do things” in Salento, and for good reason. The view is incredible, and unlike the one in Filandia, it is free.

Such an incredible view that I have to include a second picture of it.

After a good rest I went for dinner and ate a dish that is only found in Salento called patacon. It was ridiculously delicious. Kind of like a cross between pizza and nachos.

The next day I went to the Ocaso Coffee Farm and took their tour. I’m not much a coffee person but I thought this was really good.

When I got back to Salento I went to climb the colorful stairs. You can follow the story of the crucifixion of Jesus.

The stairs lead me back up to the mirador, only a different part.

The view was better at the section I went to the day before, but this one was still pretty spectacular. You can easily walk between the two, and there a few hiking trails also.

The walk back down the stairs gives you a pretty good view of the town below.

On my last day in Salento it was a Colombian holiday (independence day I think) so my friend from Armenia came up to go hiking in the Valle de Cocora with me.

Before we set off we caught a bit of parade in town for the festival. There were many more people n Salento than the previous two days.

Valle de Corora was amazing. Definitely a must do while in Salento. Do the long trek (5 to 6 hours). It is worth it!

After our long day hiking we ate dinner at a local restaurant. I went for Salento’s other “famous” dish, trucha, which is a type of fish. I’m not really a fan of fish but thought I should give this specialty a go. It was fine. The crispy thing that comes with it is fried plantain and is also used as the base for patacon.

The next morning I took the bus to Medellin.

Getting to Salento

Catch a bus from Armenia. Maybe you can get one from other towns also, but it is really close to Armenia. Less than an hour away and costs less than 5,000COP.

From the terminal in Armenia. Walk in the door and turn right. To the right of the Periera ticket sales (amongst other cities) is a door leading outside. Go through it and go straight (slight right). Find the stand for Salento and just get on the bus. Once you are out of the city they will collect money from you.

Accommodation in Salento

There is a lot of accommodation in Salento, but it is probably a good idea to book ahead because it can get pretty busy with tourists, both foreign and local.

I ended up booking a place via AirBnB called “Habitación doble-baño privado”. It had an actualy name of a hostel but this is the title on AirBnB.

It was fine. No hot water, but it wasn’t cold either- luke warm. I got a private room with a bathroom, cable TV, and wifi. It was comfortable enough, although a bit noisy sometimes due to the other guests. The lady that ran the place was very nice.

Dorms and private rooms with shared bathrooms are also available.

The location was really good. About a five minute walk to the town square and in a quiet area.

It cost 30,000COP per night + AirBnB fees.

Address is Calle 7 #5-21.

Book your stay in Salento.

What did you do while exploring Salento? Share your thoughts in the comments

Hiking in the Valle de Cocora, Salento, Colombia

On my last day in Salento my friend came up from Armenia and we went hiking in the Valle de Cocora. I hadn’t been on a nice wilderness hike in a while, and this one was great.

Hiking in the Valle de Cocora is a big tourist draw and for good reason. It is beautiful, and although it is famous in the region, it really isn’t that crowded. It was even a national holiday and we never had to wait too long to cross bridges and things. I guess the majority of people to the shorter version, as opposed to the 5 to 6 hours version.

If you do ever go to Valle de Cocora, do the long trail. You won’t regret it.

Cost(s): 2,000COP to enter the walking trail + transport there from Salento. Horses available.

Address: Km 11 Vía al Valle del Cocora Salento, Salento, Quindío, Colombia. valledelcocora.com.co. +57 310 2275091

Hiking in the Valle de Cocora

To do the long hike, walk up the road where the jeep drops your off (or where you parked your vehicle) and follow the sign to Los Nevados Parque Nacional on your right.

On the way in to start the hike there is a truche farm where you can go and feed the fish. It costs 3,000COP. It’s not really anything special unless you have never fed fish a school of fish before. Good for the kids.

In the actual hiking area there is quite a few different terrains which is nice. Makes it a bit more interesting. There are a number of rustic suspension bridges to cross too. One at a time!

You can see fields with cows and their cowboy close-by.

And plenty of great views on the way. It was a great day for hiking, not hot but not raining. Pity about the lighting for photos.

After a little bit the path goes turns into a forest trail.

Some parts have lots of butterflies. I also saw some birds but not much other wildlife.

For the first 1/3 or so of the trail you follow the river.

There are a few muddy parts. I’m sure the horses play a big part in this.

Following a river we were bound to come across a waterfall.

Each bridge seems to be a little more dodgy than the last, but they are all safe.

In this section you basically have to rock hop across the river. It’s not hard though, there are lots of rocks.

At a certain point you take a path up the mountain to circle back. We missed this the first time and went all the way to some nature reserve which we didn’t go in. Then we took a different path up the mountain for 10 minutes or so before deciding that it was the hike to Tolima (days and days). Evently we came back to the main path.

If you don’t want to climb the mountain you can just back-track along the river.

The path goes up a fair bit. It’s a good hike and eventually it clears out of the trees.

This cow was just standing there for ages. I had to get a picture and give it a little pat.

There are some great views of the mountain.

Keep walking and you pass these tall trees.

Eventually you overlook the valley below where you started hiking 3 to 4 hours earlier.

At the end of the walk you see the famous coconut trees. You can go straight to these trees from the carpark if you don’t want to do the full hike. It only takes about 30 minutes (one way).

Such a great view.

Last one.

Getting to Valle de Cocora

First off, get to Salento.

My friend had a motorbike so we drove in. Parking costs 3,000COP. It’s a bit more for cars.

The best way to get in if you don’t have transport is by willy (jeep). I think the last one leaves at 1030 from the town plaza (in Salento). Go to the booth near all the jeeps and ask to go to Valle de Cocora. It probably costs under 10,000COP for a round trip.

Have you been hiking in the Valle de Cocora before? Share your thoughts in the comments

The Ocaso Coffee Tour, Salento, Colombia

On my second day in Salento I took the Ocaso Coffee Tour. I’m not a big coffee person but I really enjoyed this tour. It was extremely informative and I even bought some bags of coffee at the end, mostly for gifts but also one for myself.

Cost(s): 15,000COP for the basic tour + 6,000COP for a return ticket on the jeep. The jeep is optional. You can walk there from town if you want.

Address: Via Vereda Palestina Kilometro 3, 8, Salento, Quindío. fincaelocasosalento.com. 312 2968668.

The Ocaso Coffee Tour

In the interest of making the 11am tour I opted for the jeep ride to Finca El Ocaso as opposed to the 60 minute walk. The walk in looked as though it would be quite nice. Perhaps walk in and then catch a jeep back.

You can stand on the back of the jeep if you want.

Upon arrival you “check in” and then hang around a few minutes until the start of the tour. The area is really beautiful and you can even sleep there if you want, although I imagine it is pricey.

There are lots of nice places to sit and admire the view.

The tour is in either Spanish or English and was really informative. First we were told about the different types of coffee plants and a bit about their characteristics and history.

Colombia is the 3rd largest producer of coffee in the world and by goverment law, all coffee plantations must grow arabic coffee which is sweeter than robusta. In the 80’s they crossbred two different species (both of the arabic strain) to create a plant resistant to fungus and also of a good size for the shorter Colombians to pick the seeds.

FYI: The first largest coffee producer is Brazil and the second is Vietnam. Both of these countries grow robusta.

We were all given little baskets to tie around our waists and went to pick some coffee.

Once the coffee is picked it is put through a larger version of this machine to separate the bean from the outer shell.

It is then de-husked and the coffee beans (almonds) are cleaned.

After 24 hours or so it is dried either by fire, or using the longer but better traditional method, via the sun.

Finally, it is sorted by grade and either packed as beans or turned into powder.

A lot of the process is done manually for quality control and job creation, how-ever, this is on the decline due to free public education for the youth. I guess they would rather make money in other ways, and I don’t blame them. Harvesting coffee is hard work!

At the end of the tour you get a cup of their A grade coffee brewed the traditional Colombian way. It was good. No sugar, no milk – just pure high-grade Colombian coffee.

Getting to the Ocaso Coffee Tour

You can walk there in about an hour.

Alternatively, go to the town square and where the jeeps are there is a ticket booth. Tell the person you want to go to the Ocaso Coffee Tour. It costs 21,000COP which covers a return journey on a jeep and the entry fee.

If you go their without the jeep you can just pay for the tour at the finca. You can also catch a jeep back even if you didn’t get one there. Just pay the driver. I assume it is 3,000 COP.

Have you been on the Ocaso Coffee Tour before? Share your thoughts in the comments

Parque De La Vida, Armenia, Colombia

After visiting Filandia I met up with a friend and we took a walk though La Parque De La Vida. La Parque De La Vida (literally the Park of Life) is a peaceful place to go to get out out of the city in Armenia. It is the biggest park in Armenia but is still small enough to walk around in an hour or so.

I had been to La Parque De La Vida once before but didn’t take any pictures. This time I took a few. They are not great but enough to write a post on it.

Cost(s): 1,500COP.

Parque De La Vida, Armenia

There is a single entry gate into Parque De La Vida and after the carpark and a few small kiosks the first thing you see is this stage.

There is quite a bit of wildlife around. You can spot lots of birds and I saw a couple of small mammals (I think they are mammals). An animal that I have never seen before. My friend told me the name but I forgot it.

I turned right after the entrance and came across this little bridge/shelter type thing.

The pathways are nice and there wasn’t too many people. Last time I went in the morning and there were even less.

They have en eco-school inside as-well which is good.

This bamboo (Guadua Bamboo) is native to Colombia and is protected.

You can walk to the top of the hill but the view is pretty dismal.

It is much nicer to walk along the path adjacent to the water.

Soon enough you will come across this bridge.

A shot of the stream you can walk along from the bridge.

We also saw this more jungle-type path but my friend wasnt too keen to follow it so we didn’t.

There is also a roller skating rink. The park in Pereira had one also. It seems to be popular in Colombia, although my friend insisted it wasn’t.

Getting to Parque De La Vida

Parque De La Vida is within walking distance from the city. You could also catch just about any bus heading north from Parque Sucre.

Have you been to Parque De La Vida before? Share your thoughts in the comments

A Day in Filandia, Quindio, Colombia

After spending more than week in Armenia looking for a suitable apartment I gave up and decided to move onto Medellin instead, but before leaving I spent a day in Filandia.

Filandia is a pretty little pueblo located in-between Armenia and Pereira. It is really easy to get to (from Armenia) and is great for a day trip.

A Day in Filandia

I arrived in Filandia at around noon and got off the bus at some random stop in town.

Luckily, Filandia is not very big so I quickly found my bearings and started to make my way towards the Mirador Colina Iluminada, also referred to as Mirador De Quindio. You can see it in the distance.

It took about 10 minutes to walk there, but I also saw some jeeps taking people. You can board these at the town square. I don’t know how much it costs though. Less than 3,000COP I imagine.

Here is the mirador up close.

The mirador is 6 or 7 levels and most of them have a little information about the history of Filandia. Apparently Filandia is known for being the set in some famous Colombian TV shows due to its beautiful scenery, and in one show because of this graveyard.

Note: The Mirador Colina Iluminada costs 8,000COP to enter.

From the top the view is breath-taking.

Here is a shot of Filandia from the top of the Mirador Colina Iluminada.

They even made this tiled butterfly pond in the mirador.

The surrounding area was nice too. There is this mural.

And this old tyre pot-plant shaped into a swan.

Walking back into town for some lunch I spotted a little street-art. There isn’t much of it in Filandia, but the general colors of the buildings makes the whole town look like one giant piece of art-work anyway.

Town square is nice. It has lots of places to sit, is surrounded by restaurants and other shops, and has free wifi.

At the town plaza is a nice church you can have a look in.

There is also a second mirador closer to town called Mirador Los Angeles. It’s got nothing on the main mirador but since it is so close to the town square it is worth the short walk. Also, it is free.

Getting to Filandia

From Armenia go to the bus terminal. As you enter turn right and to the right of the buses to Ibague (and other places) there is a door leading outside. Go through it and then turn right again and you will see a booth with Filandia written on it. Get on the bus with the sign Filandia on it. Just sit. They take money off you later. It costs 4,400COP.

To get back to Armenia from Filandia the best place to board the bus (I think) is at the bottom of Carrerra 7, just around the corner from the central plaza. You can catch it from other places (just wave it down when you see it) but you may not get a seat.

The bus back to Armenia stop out the front of this shop, at the bottom of Carrerra 7.

Have you spent a day in Filandia before? Share your thoughts in the comments

7 Things to do in Pereira, Colombia

This list of 7 things to do in Pereira gives a short review of each of the things to do in Pereira, advise on accommodation in Pereira as well as information on getting to Pereira.

After constant fails in trying to find an apartment in Armenia I decided to check out Pereira for a few days. Initially I was going to stay for 5 nights but quickly changed my mind once I got there and ended up only staying two.

Not that there is anything particularly wrong with Pereira, it just wasn’t for me. Since I only stayed a very short time in Pereira this list only includes things in the city. There are plenty of things to do out of the city, but they will be covered in the things to do in Armenia post (coming soon) since I will do them while based there.

7 Things to do in Pereira
1. Parque Lago

The first thing on this list of things to do in Pereira is Parque Lago. Basically, for the first five or so items on this list I just walked east on Carrera 8. Well, except for this first one where I walked a tad west since it was right next to my hotel.

Parque Lago was actually quite a pretty little park. Well, not really a park, and not rally a lake. But it has these fountains in it. They are not on 24/7, I guess I was just lucky.

2. Churches

There are a few nice churches in Pereira, as there are in every city of Colombia. A nice place to go to get out of the rain.

3. Fresh Market

This was quite a bit further east, across the road from Parque de Liberdad (I think). Seemed like a bit of a dodgy area to me, which is why I didn’t take a picture inside the market, but rather from across the road in the relative safety of the park.

4. Pedestrian Street

There are two pedestrian streets in Pereira. For me, neither were as nice to stroll down as the one in Armenia, but there are a few handy crafts and snacks to look at/taste along the way. Of course, a lot of Carrera 8 itself has these things too, just with cars going by.

5. Plaza De Bolivar

As in every city in Colombia, Plaza de Bolivar is a good place to people watch. It also has this statue and a small shopping center across the road with a small food court, a cinema, and some shops.

6. Plaza Victoria

Plaza Victoria has a shopping mall, which is pretty much like any other shopping mall. It has shops and a food court.

The more interesting thing is the actual plaza across the road where they have little events. I have been there two times in my life. Once was years ago while backpacking through South America with some friends. We were in Pereira for one night and had dinner at the food court. In the plaza was a modeling competition (I think) and people were selling beers in the street.

This time I went during the day and there was a band playing.

7. Lago La Pradera

The last thing on this list of things to do in Pereira is Lago La Pradera. Lago La Pradera is a park with a lake and a bunch of sporting facilities. My first impressions of this place were not very high, but after a little walk around I decided it was easily my favorite spot in Pereira (from the extremely short amount of time time I spent there).

If I was to live in Pereira (which I wouldn’t) it would be next to this park. There is “gym” equipment, playground equipment, a ~25m pool, a roller skating track, a small bmx track, a football pitch (soccer), two tennis courts, paintball, a lake with small boats you can hire, a couple of food stalls, a small go-kart track, and a fair amount of wildlife (mainly water-birds) which you can get surprisingly close to. It’s actually pretty impressive for a relatively small area.

To get to Lago La Pradera via public transport go to Carrerra 5 and catch the #23. There are other buses on that street that say Pradera but I’m not sure if they will actually do to the park. It drops you off on the corner. Follow it on your GPS or ask the bus driver to let you know when to get off. It costs 1,800COP (just hand to the driver on the way in, change will be given within reason) and takes about 15 minutes to get there.

On the way back get off at Carrerra 4 as they are one way streets.

Some Things I Didn’t Do in Pereria

I only stayed in Pereira for two nights and honestly, it was enough for me. I did research about more things to do but decided against doing them for various reasons, such as:

Zoologico Matecaña that I read was closed, and I wouldnt have gone there anyway, because it’s a zoo.
The botanical garden in the Universidad Technologica de Pereira. I read that you had to have a guide (not optional). I would have gone if I could just walk through on my own. Not a fan of guides.
An Art Museum that I heard had no permanent exhibits so often there is nothing on display.
The coffee park which I discovered is like a theme park. Not really my thing.

Getting to Pereira from Armenia

This is pretty straight forward. Just go to Armenia Bus Terminal, buy a ticket to Pereira and then get on the bus. The ticket was under 8,000COP and the ride was less than 90 minutes on a minivan.

Once at Pereira bus terminal either catch a bus into the city (number 6) or a taxi. I do not suggest walking in. I mentioned it to a friend (from Pereira) and she had a fit asking if I wanted to get robbed. I took the bus. It went the wrong way but then looped back around. I think it was 1,800COP but I’m not 100% sure. Usually I just hand over a 2,000COP note and they give you the correct change.

On the way out I caught a taxi. It cost 4,200 from Carrerra 5. It shouldn’t cost anything more than 5,000cop from anyway in the city.

I think #26 and #5 buses go by on Carrerra 5 but just look for anything with terminal on it and then double check with the driver.

Accommodation in Pereira

Whilst doing all these things to do in Pereira I stayed at the Hotel Sueños del Cafe.

Cost: 35,000COP/Night for a single room.

Address: Carrera 8a # 23-14, Pereira, 660004, Colombia.

Hotel Sueños del Cafe was fine for the price. The room was small but had a hot shower, cable, fan, good wifi, free tea/coffee, and free purified water, although apparently the water in Pierera is top notch straight from the tap.

Security was good and although it was not in the best side of the city, it was safe enough. There’s lots of food very close-by anyway so you don’t have to stray far if you get peckish at night.

The guy that checked me in was super friendly. Not the best English but I felt like he enjoyed practicing with me.

Book your stay at Hotel Sueños del Cafe or some other accommodation in Pereira.

Got anything to add to this list of things to do in Pereira? Let us know them (or anything else you want to say) in the comments

9 Awesome Things to do in Ibague, Colombia

This list of 9 awesome things to do in Ibague gives a short review of each of the things to do in Ibague, links to more detailed reviews (where applicable), and advise on accommodation in Ibague as well as information on getting to Ibague.

Ibague was one of two possible places I considered living in (the other being Armenia) so I went there for a couple of days to check it out. It was nice to get back into some warmth after Bogota.

9 Awesome Things to do in Ibague
1. Jardin Botanico San Jorge Senderos

The first thing on this list of awesome things to do in Ibague is the botanical garden. I went there but didn’t actually go in, mostly due to miscommunication and laziness on my part. In any case, it was a nice walk through the city to get there and also around the general area.

2. Plaza De Bolivar

I think every city in Colombia must have one of these. A park for people watching, snack foods, and free wifi.

3. Carrera 3

Carrera 3 goes right through the city centre and a part of it is blocked off to traffic. It’s a good place for shopping and food.

4. Ibague Art Musem

Unfortunately this little museum was closed when I went there. I couldn’t quite figure it out due to my poor Spanish but I think it re-opens at the end of July.

5. Parque Centenario

The biggest park in Ibague (I think) set inside a “dip” in the city. There’s an outdoor stage with seating, giant bamboo, exercise equipment, a basketball court, playground, a little bridge, and these funky stairs, which are technically not part of the park.

There are a couple of other parks dotted around the city also. Ibague strikes me as a good place to practice parkour.

6. La Martinica Parque

La Martinica is an ecological park where you can hike up high and get a spectacular view, apparently. Truth is I wouldn’t know because I never actually made it.

I walked all the way there from town, but when I got there I could’t figure out how to get into the place. I have a feeling I just needed to go up the road another 1/2km or so, but by then I didn’t feel like climbing a mountain anyway so I caught a bus back to town.

7. Fundación Orquídeas Del Tolima

This is one thing I didn’t even bother to try getting to but I thought I’d include it anyway because if I stayed another day I would have tried.

From what I read on the internet it has a nice orchid garden and a nature trail to a pretty good view.

8. Eat Tolima Specialties

The Tolima region has a couple of specialties that I found about, tamalas and lechona. You can get both of these all over Colombia (I think) but apparently they are extra delicious in Tolima. Also, the food is cheaper in Ibague in comparison to Bogota. 1/4 chicken, rice, arepa, drink, and salad for only 6,000 COP!

Photo Credit: Quelverd Arias Camargo via Flickr.

9. MultiCentral Commercial Chapinero

The last thing on this list of awesome things to do in Ibague is to check out this market style shopping complex. There’s also a fresh food market next to it. You can find it in the southern part of Carrera One.

Getting to Ibague

I caught a bus from Bogota. From where-ever your hotel is, make your way to the South Terminal. A taxi will probably cost about 15,000 from the city. I caught a bus to the Auto Sur and then just walked over the bridge into the terminal (2000COP). You can google maps it for the best transit directions from your location.

Once in the South Terminal go to a ticket booth for the Tolima Region. There are a few companies to choose from. I used Bolivariano. My ticket cost 25,000COP and the ride took about 3.5 – 4 hours. It was on a mini van and was non-stop, so use the bathroom before you leave.

There is one stop just before Ibague where some people get off. Wait till you get to the terminal.

Once in Ibague you can walk to the city centre pretty easily. A taxi is always an option, or catch a bus from across the road (up Carrera 1). Just give 1,600COP to the driver as you board. Destinations are on signs in the buses front window.

Accommodation in Ibague

Whilst doing all these awesome things to do in Ibague I stayed at Hotel Center.

Cost: Approximately 47,000COP per night for a single room with a private bathroom.

Address: Cra. 4 #1252, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. hotelcenter.co. +57 8 2637311

I got a single room with private bathroom. I’m pretty sure the single room is the same as the double. They just charge you more if you have another person.

Good location, clean, nice sized room, TV, fan, desk to work at, excellent internet. I was pretty happy with it.

Book your stay at Hotel Center or some other accommodation in Ibague.

Getting to Hotel Center

I just walked there from the bus terminal. It’s less than 2km away. There are plenty of taxis, and buses go by across the road on Carrera One. Just give 1,600COP to the driver as you board. Destinations are on signs in the buses front window. Look for one that has Carrera 5 on it and keep an eye on your gps to get off somewhere close. Personally I think it’s easier to just walk it.

Here’s a video slideshow of all the pictures taken in Ibague.

Got anything to add to this list of awesome things to do in Ibague? Let us know them (or anything else you want to say) in the comments

Getting to La Martinica Parque, Ibague, Colombia

This post is about getting to La Martinica Parque because that is all I did. I got there, and I don’t think I even did that really.

La Martinica is a ecological park where you can hike up high and get a spectacular view, apparently. Truth is I wouldn’t know because I never actually made it.

No big loss though, it was an interesting walk through the barrios of Ibague.

Getting to La Martinica Parque

I walked all the way to La Martinica Parque from town. It’s not actually that far away as the crow flies but I had to weave through barrios to get there so it took a bit longer than I expected.

Near the edge south edge of the city centre there is a fresh market. I took some wrong turns around this area. Got questioned by police and stumbled across a pair of guys smoking crack (or something out of a crack pipe).

I got a pretty good view overlooking the barrio though, and besides the crackheads it was quite a pleasant walk.

I’m pretty sure this is the mountain you climb once in La Martinicia Parque.

I had to walk along the hot main road for about 30minutes, and when I finally got to the spot I had marked on my GPS I couldn’t figure out how to get into the place. I have a feeling I just needed to go up the road another 1/2km or so, but by then I didn’t feel like climbing a mountain anyway so I caught a bus back to town.

I do not recommend trying to walk there. I think I passed through some dodgy areas.

The bus I caught back was the #23. I got off it along Carrera 1 so you can definitely catch it from there, and I think from Carrera 2, which funnels traffic out of town (Carrera 1 goes into town).

Do you know about Getting to La Martinica Parque in Ibague? Share your thoughts in the comments