Cali - Pereira by bus

quindioman says on Dec 13, 2005, 09:49:

josergar there are people like your friend that will tell you that it's safe....hang about for a while on this site and you'll get one or two people that will tell you to never take a bus in Colombia (better take a plane).
I'm not a foreigner so I can't really comment from a foreigner's point of view......for what it's worth that stretch of road is one of the safest in Colombia. I'm from Armenia.....last time I was in Colombia (August 2004) i took 6-8 trips from Cali-Armenia in the space of 1 month......the worst thing that happened was some dog getting run over as we approached Buga.
The journey from Cali to Armenia takes on average 3 hours and from Armenia to Pereira it's 45 minutes so in all it would be just under 4 hours.....Bolivariano is probably the best company....I'm a loyal type of person and I took S26 (yellow buses) never had a problem and I stuck with them throughout....I actually remember on 1 particular day I must have taken 4 trips (Armenia-Pereira and back and Armenia-Cali and back) I ended up taking a night bus from Cali to Armenia and everything was fine....however if you are going to take the bus take it during the day.
The road between Cali and Armenia is fine...not like la Linea (Armenia-Bogota) where it can get dangerous due to the fact that you will be high up in the mountains and wreckless driving can send the bus off a precipice.
Don't wear no jewellery that might attract unnecessary attention and don't accept ANYTHING from strangers.
That's my bit...as for the police I never heard of that one but keep an eye and an ear to the street...as long as you exercise some street smarts you should be fine.

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tomtom33 says on Dec 13, 2005, 16:08:

I took that route in Jan. And I have "Gringo" tattooed on my forehead.

If you can survive in Cali, the bus trip should be a breeze.

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Gator says on Dec 13, 2005, 19:22:

Stick... with Quindioman's suggestion including the S26 yellow buses. Nice ride througn some beautiful countryside.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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josergar says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:10:

thanks... ... all of you for your comments.
Thanks also, quindioman, for your advices.

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caslug says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:27:

i´ve takeng the bus fr pereria to cali in august. Boring trip but safe, i recommend buying the expensive bus you´ll have better class of folks and the rides are more comfortable AND they have less stops along the way.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:37:

Hey caslug, what’s wrong with sitting for 15 hours next to a toothless modefoque holding a goat on his lap.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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elmodefoque says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:38:

are goats not allowed in these expensive buses?

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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caslug says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:40:

Sorry Elmo, i dont think.. goats or burras are allowed.. so i guess no taking a romantic side trip with your burras.. ;-)

But who knows, maybe if you slip the driver a 20k bill then he´ll allow it. But the cheaper bus allows everything on. Never took one of those myself.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 14, 2005, 07:43:

since i saw modefoques carry, goats, chickens and pigs on buses from riohacha to barranquilla, i decided to bring my burra and have her sit on my lap, but the bus driver pulled out a machete, that's all i needed to see, i got off the bus and rode my burrita all the way to barranquilla.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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bickerss says on Dec 14, 2005, 08:43:

I took the bus this year between these two place. From Pereira to Armenia 1 hr on local bus (about 300 pesos), then I switched to a fast car bus which took another four hrs to Cali (16599 pesos). Was a good trip.

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josergar says on Dec 15, 2005, 03:03:

thanks again Thanks again for your comments and advices.
Regards.

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