Tourism in Risaralda

The department of Risaralda is the center of the Coffee Axis and one of the most dynamically touristy in Colombia. Pereira, its capital, is the most commercially active city in the region and gateway to the best attractions of the UNESCO Coffee Cultural Landscape. The Santa Rosa de Cabal hot springs, considered among the best in the country, and Los Nevados National Park are its natural jewels. The Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary, 45 min from Pereira, offers sightings of the Cauca guan and the blue-winged mountain tanager in cloud forest.

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF RISARALDA

The most visited and unmissable destinations and experiences in Risaralda:

Attraction	Type	Description
Santa Rosa de Cabal Hot Springs	Wellness / Nature	Thermal waters at 58 °C in a jungle canyon. Waterfalls, heated pools and luxury hotel in nature.
Otún Quimbaya Sanctuary	Ecotourism / Birds	Cloud forest with Cauca guan (endangered endemic), blue-winged mountain tanager, tanagers. 45 min from Pereira.
Los Nevados National Park — Risaralda Access	Volcano / Mountain	Entrance via the Otún canyon. Otún Lagoon at 3,950 m, trails among frailejones.
Marsella — Botanical Garden	Town / Nature	Wattle-and-daub town with the oldest botanical garden in western Colombia. Butterflies.
Pueblo Rico and Mistrató	Ecotourism	Municipalities bordering Chocó. Humid forest, Emberá-Chamí communities, rivers.

ECOTOURISM AND NATURE IN RISARALDA

The Andes-Chocó corridor in Risaralda (Pueblo Rico and Mistrató) is one of the most important biodiversity corridors on the planet, connecting the Andes with the biogeographic Chocó. Los Nevados National Park protects the Andean glaciers and páramos that supply water to Pereira and Manizales.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF RISARALDA

Pereira has the most unusual Simón Bolívar statue in Colombia: naked on horseback, work of sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt. Guadua and wattle-and-daub architecture is UNESCO Heritage. The Pereira International Theater Festival is a cultural reference of the Coffee Axis.

TYPICAL GASTRONOMY OF RISARALDA

Bandeja paisa, free-range chicken sancocho, chócolo arepa with quesillo, garlic trout, blackberry wine, single-origin Risaralda specialty coffee. In Marsella, farm trout and honey are star products.

HOW TO GET THERE

Matecaña airport in Pereira, flights from Bogotá (50 min) and Medellín. Bus from Bogotá (8 h) or Medellín (4 h). From Pereira, transport to Santa Rosa (45 min), Otún Sanctuary (45 min) and Los Nevados (2.5 h).

Also check the climate of Risaralda and the list of municipalities of Risaralda to plan your visit.