Pereira Colombia Review for Traveling Bachelors


What’s up guys. In this video, I’m going to be reviewing Pereira, Colombia—probably pronounced that wrong. It’s a somewhat smaller city compared to Bogotá, Medellín, or Cali. And if you’re watching this channel, chances are you’re a single guy looking to travel, maybe meet some girls, and enjoy an active dating life. So I’m going to give some general advice about the city and then touch on women and dating stuff.

I would not suggest Pereira, Colombia for your first trip to the country. I’d definitely recommend Medellín—a big city with close to four million people, amazing beautiful women, tons of things to do, and all the modern amenities you’d need.

But if you’ve already been to Colombia, like the culture, and you’ve spent time in Medellín or Bogotá, and now want to explore some smaller cities, Pereira could be a good option. Just keep in mind: fewer English speakers, fewer American-style businesses, and a different, more laid-back lifestyle.

If you come here, basic Spanish is a must. In Medellín, especially in Poblado, you could get by with mostly English and a few Spanish phrases. Here in Pereira? Not really. Without Spanish, you’ll be glued to Google Translate. Very few people speak English—this is a much smaller city. I don’t know the exact population, but I’d guess maybe half a million or a bit more.

Looking at a map, the “Centro” is the central area for business and commerce, but it’s not the best area to be in—especially at night. I’m in an area called Circunvalar, near Pinares. There are two nice malls here, and this is the upscale, nicer part of the city. It has restaurants, cafés, and a few solid options—but definitely fewer than a city like Medellín. If you’re craving something specific, like German food? Forget it. There used to be a German restaurant, but it shut down. Now there are none to my knowledge. So you’ll mostly be eating Colombian food, pizza, fast food, burgers, and maybe the occasional Mexican joint.

The top malls are Arboleda and Victoria. Both are very nice. There’s also Pereira Plaza, which I found recently—it’s solid. I’ll add all these to a map in the video. These upscale malls have great stores, great people-watching, and, of course, lots of beautiful women walking around—but you’ll need Spanish to talk to them.

Circunvalar itself is a main street, and walking from Victoria Mall to Arboleda Mall is a really solid day game route. It’s not high volume like New York City or anything, but the percentage of attractive women here is high. If you have decent Spanish, your odds are solid. Plus, you’re more exotic here—there are barely any foreigners. In Medellín, the gringo flood is real. In Pereira, it’s rare to even see one.

As for cafés: inside Arboleda Mall, there’s Café India, which I like. There’s also an independent café called Cat Café with good Wi-Fi. Juan Valdez is here on Circunvalar too, and there’s a new little chain called Tostao—not sure if I said that right. They’re small but cozy. There’s one near me and probably a few others across the city.

In terms of safety: I’d say Pereira feels about as safe as Medellín, at least in the Circunvalar/Pinares area. In Medellín, I usually stay in Laureles or Poblado, and this feels similar—safe during the day, no issues. At night, I feel fine, but as always, stay alert. Centro during the day? Maybe just watch for pickpockets. At night? I wouldn’t go alone.

So why am I in Pereira and not Medellín? It’s a smaller, more laid-back city. People are friendlier and a bit more helpful. And honestly, the day trips from here are better. Medellín has places like Jardín, Santa Fe de Antioquia, and Guatapé. Pereira is the heart of the coffee region (Eje Cafetero), and there’s a ton of nature, pueblos, and stunning views just a short ride away.

I recently visited Santa Rosa de Cabal, a charming little pueblo. In the past, I’ve been to Salento and Filandia. Salento, in particular, is incredibly beautiful—home to Valle de Cocora, which has those massive, iconic palm trees. One of the most beautiful natural scenes I’ve ever experienced. And it’s all right near Pereira.

If you’re like me—just want a chill place to live, hit the gym, do some work, go to cafés, maybe talk to a few girls—Pereira has everything you need. The vibe is slower, more peaceful. Very little tourism. Very few gringos. So if your Spanish is solid, I think it’s a great option.

Weather-wise, it’s similar to Medellín—spring-like all year round. The sun here is strong though, so bring sunblock or at least use a moisturizer with SPF. Trust me, if you’re a pale gringo, you’ll need it.

Now let’s talk dating. Like I’ve been saying: Spanish is a must. Tinder? Way less volume than Medellín, but it works. I’ve gotten dates from it. It’s usable. But where Pereira really shines is in-person day game. Walk around