Pereira or Armenia? Where to retire to!

I woud choose Armenia.

Thank you! What attracts you to Armenia over Pereira?

Pereira is not really a touristy city in fact its an industrial city but its a base to pueblos nearby also they have excellent medical facilities, and much bigger Malls than Armenia if you like to be closer to Nature than Armenia is better alot more rain though!!!

Thanks! I am indeed looking for a location closer to nature. I'm also liking the close proximity to the small towns of Filandia, Salento and Valle de Cocora. Being close to medical facilities is also important to us, in the event first aid/emergency services are required.

I hope to stay somewhere on Avenida Centenario in Armenia in 2024 and have lunch at Bianco.

Of course, I have heard Pereira has the famous big box PriceSmart chain store along with franchises not found in Armenia. They are also a big enough city to have small storage units for rent in case you want to leave a few things behind before your tourist stamp expires.

XXX:www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNXPNO4tlaQ&t=626s

Armenia is the one.

Armenia has many medical clinics and facilities

and plentiful and sufficient malls unless you

are a devotee of the Imelda Marcos School of Shoes

and Women's Accessories.

With Armenia's more modest population, navigating

the city is a breeze compared to the confusing maze

of Pereira with its daunting traffic challenges

and insufficient road signage.

cccmedia

Thanks! I am indeed looking for a location closer to nature.

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Armenia has a wonderful park just off the main drag.

The main entrance to Parque de la Vida is right behind

the Armenia Hotel.

The park is a jungle within the city with various water features

and small animals abounding. There are also many open areas

suitable for hiking and strolling.

From the Armenia Hotel, the many buildings of the

medical district are a short walk away.

cccmedia

I have heard that Pereira has the famous big box PriceSmart chain store along with franchises not found in Armenia.
-@Mr. Barley

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This is a valid point if shopping is a priority.

A visit to PriceSmart/PriceMart may be in order

before you make your ultimate choice of city.

cccmedia

Thank you all for the info pertaining to Armenia. We are looking for a modest home away from the inner city and perhaps where the climate is cooler.

@J L Barrera10

Traffic, Nature, topography, And Pereira is around 40 minutes driving anyway.

Armenia is big bore for me and my wife anyway nothing to do there only  thing they have to visit is the park de la vida been living in the area 6 years and travelled all over the coffee region if you dont live here don't assume . Calarcá smaller village 20 minutes from Arnenia has more things to do than Boredom Arnenia the malls are laughfable compared to Pereira, visiting is not the same as living here. I prefer Manizales with tons of eco parks compared to Armenia. But that is my preference.

Both Armenia and Pereira have a Bodytech gym franchise which Peligro recommends.

Calarcá?!!

What has that town got besides the

botanical garden with its butterfly house?

Armenia at least has several multi-story

shopping malls plus casinos and some of

streamer Loren Lowe's favorite restaurants.

Figure Calarcá for a day trip.

cccmedia

#LoweRhymesWithCow

Who is Loren Lowe? Never heard of him. I don't take advise from youtube personalities!

I experience life first hand, although I take advise from my family who are born in this area and have lived here for over 50 years.

I heard there is a cohort of Colombians about to retire who are buying up properties in the northern sector of Armenia. They come from Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. That Colombians from big cities choose Armenia to retire to seems a pretty good recommendation for Armenia.

@futuroexpat

That is correct not just Armenia, but Pereira as well and they are also driving the cost of Real Estate sky high not just from Bogotá but colombians who are coming back from the US to retire. The place I wanted to buy doubled in the last 3 years not just because of inflation but because of the demand and what you eluded to.

@HutchX2020 I agree that prices are rising and both cities are getting more congested. Why not spend time in each city before deciding?

@paddyroyal We intend to do exactly as you've suggested. I personally would rather plant my retirement roots in Costa Rica or Panama. My bride had spent almost her entire life in Cali and misses her siblings very much but i'm not wanting to retire in a large and congested city and would prefer to reside where the climate is cool. The area in the eje de cafetero appeals to me. Much more pleasant climate and smaller communities. Yet large enough to find adequate healthcare.

@J L Barrera10 Sounds good. I'm in Salento. Give me a holler if you would like to meet up. My two cents worth are that Panama and Costa RIca are overgringo-ized at this point and have been for quite a while.

Micro-climates.

Quindío department has more than a dozen

cities and towns, with various micro-climates.

Suggest you investigate with boots on the ground.

Higher elevations may mean cooler and breezier.

Lower elevations may indicate outdoor swimming

possibilities.

cccmedia

@paddyroyal I'm getting the same vibe regarding retiring in central America. Sounds like it's getting a bit crowded with expats. Yes Maam, i'll definitely look you up. I'm planning to take my bride to Cali for a visit before the end of this year and we will make it a point to spend 2 or 3 nights in Salento. We enjoy our stay at the Mirador. Beautiful view of the mountains and river. Very much appreciate your imput.

@cccmedia And then there's the changing climate. Salento has been hot as heck (for us, anyway), with no rain for two weeks now.

@paddyroyal It's extremely warm here in southeast Texas as well. Fortunately, our a/c systems are keeping us comfortable indoors but we are quickly approaching drought conditions. I believe that we will be using alot of pedestal and tower fans in Colombia wherever we end up settling.

Thank you all for sharing… I too am considering living in Colombia, at least temporarily during the year.  And enjoy hearing about your individual experiences.   I prefer warmer weather, to take advantage of swimming and river or beach environments.   So, I'm inclined towards Santa Marta, and smaller cities.  I have spent a few weeks in Rio Negro, Medellin, and in Bogota, and have also visited Periera briefly.   Thanks for sharing.

Hola Amigo Tex,

I recommend my favorite Colombian city,

Bucaramanga, Santander (Santander being

the state or department).

Buca has mild weather with high temps

in the high 70s to low 80s F. year-round.

The shopping malls are excellent.  There is

a highly rated hospital plus lots of doctors.

The city's nickname is City of Parks (parques).

The Sotomayor district and nearby neighborhoods

are the Beverly Hills of Colombia.

There are plentiful flights out of .. and connecting

with .. Bogotá.

Good for casinos, nightclubs and restaurants.

The Santander areas near San Gil (sahn-HEEL)

are highly rated for active outdoors enthusiasts.

cccmedia

Yes, I've heard of Bucaramanga.  Will have to go check it out… Is Airbnb a good lodging option for a couple of weeks?

Gracias !

I like Hotel Dann Carlton Buca for its swimming pool

and room service.  I have not used AirBnB

in Buca.

cccmedia

@cccmedia I'm reading the conversations, I've been to both cities. Me I prefer Pereira, shopping is important. If you want to live in an area that the rents are better, than Armenia is fir you. There are many more places to see around Pereira, close by is a little town called Santa Rosa, it's a nice town, plenty of places to eat. Close by to that there is a place called Termales, it's known for its hot springs.  As far as Price Smart, I can't tell you how good it is. There is also

a supermarket called Carulla, it's has a lot to offer. There are two, one in Pinares another heading to the Pereira Zoo. I think you do better in Pereira. Yes the traffic bad. But all those place that were mentioned aren't far off. Good luck

@J L Barrera10

pardner, you sound a lot like me. My Colombian wife and I live North of Houston about a hour and we are looking in the Coffee Region as well. Hope to make our jump by end of year or first of next year. Good luck on your dream.

@J L Barrera10 I wanted to live in the coffee belt I tried last year 3 times to get an M Visa but they messed me around so bad each time the application timed out and apparently from what I hear this practice is getting worse and now apparently seniors can no longer apply for their local EPS healthcare system so you need independent health care and I can't afford these global insurance companies so my dream of moving there has pretty much died 

@dyob1Appreciate the good wishes, Friend! By all means, let me know where you and your wife end up moving to! Best of luck!

@paddyroyal yes after trying to make Panama work for 3 years im headed to Colombia on 11/16/2023.

i hope to explore Armenia,  Filandia,  Salento, and Pereira in only 2 weeks! Hopefully I can find a place to rent to come back in January for good!

@maitrimeyer, Just sent you a message.

This is an old thread But DEFINITELY ARMENIA. Pereira is a real DIVE.

Just take the bus in from Manizales through Dos Quebradas-you will be convinced

Garbage everywhere, homeless sleeping everywhere

Only place in Colombia I have seen a sicaio killing up close

That part may be irrelevant and ancedotal , but I seee Pereira getting worse all the time, every year.

Just like Medellin

@brettfairweather You can get a policy from Assist card for 1 year for &950 to $1150 US, which is supposdly good enough for the Cancilleria for visas.

As far as Canadians on the measily OAS and CPP, doesnt go very far in Colombia now a days , with Canadian Dollar doing even worse than the Us$, and inflation in Colombia hitting 11%

People paid in $Cad have lost about 25% purchasing power in a year,

Try Bolivia or Central America

@J L Barrera10

GO TO CERRITOS and thank me

later - in genie world this would count as a wish

@J L Barrera10

         Ain't much on telling people what to do but from past experience after living here for almost sixteen years  i live in a small pueblo basically in the middle of Colombia i did not come here for hustle and bustle if that is what you like Periera will more than satisfy your need concerning that i know my wife and i who is Colombian tried that for a few years renting a nice condominiom just ouside the city . Price Smart along with MACRO are both in Periera and if you like buying in bulk which is what i always did in the States that is a nice option and it's true Periera has a ton of shopping malls many being fairly new also being within an hour plus of Salento along with Valle de Cocora which is next door is nice if you go during the week . Having a car would be something to consider it gives you a ton more of options to choose from on where to go and what to do car insurance here is very reasonable compared to the States along with health insurance . But like i said when you actually are in the city everything moves at a pretty quick pace the people and especially the traffic . One nice option regarding Periera is also the International airport which is there . Regarding Armenia the first thing that pops into my head is it's more like "lay back" the people have a;ways seemed friendlier there whenever we visit which is a few times a year and we always enjoy strolling along Carrera 14 which is a long stretch of shops along with places to eat or simply sit and have coffee and relax , true there aren't the number of shopping malls that Perira has . Like i said i enjoy on occasion visiting these places but my personal enjoyment is living at the base of the or i guess one could  say the foothills of these wonderful beautiful mountains .