Pasto: Tourism, Things to Do & Top Sights in the Capital of Nariño
The city of San Juan de Pasto is the capital of the department of Nariño. Pasto lies in the Atriz valley at the foot of the Galeras volcano.
Pasto is in southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador and set among the Andes mountains — a place that invites you to travel.
Pasto's landscapes make it a great destination for a holiday. The city keeps its traditions well, chief among them the Blacks and Whites Carnival, declared Cultural Heritage of Colombia. Pasto sits at 2,527 m above sea level and has a cool climate all year.
Around it are various cultural and scenic attractions well worth visiting.
How to get to Pasto
Pasto is connected to the rest of Colombia by the Pan-American Highway. Several transport companies run the route between Pasto and the main Colombian cities.
Some bus companies are: Transipiales, Expreso Bolivariano, Rutas del Sur and Cootranar, among others.
The distances from Pasto are: Bogotá 800 km, Cali 358 km, Popayán 280 km, Ipiales 85 km, Tumaco 285 km and Mocoa 145 km.
Pasto's Antonio Nariño Airport is 35 km from the city center and handles domestic flights.
Tourism in Pasto
Pasto has well-preserved colonial and republican-era buildings, and its streets still have the atmosphere of a quiet city with a rural influence.
Part of its history and culture is preserved in museums such as the Taminango Museum.
The city center spreads out around the Plaza de Nariño, facing the San Juan Church, the Nariño Governor's Office and the Banco de la República. Nearby you can also visit the Pasto Cathedral, the Imperial Theater and the Sebastián de Belalcázar shopping center.
The "Leopoldo López Álvarez" cultural center is an important venue for artistic shows, exhibitions and cultural activities.
Eating in San Juan de Pasto
Food holds a special place in everyday life in Pasto. Its typical dishes come from the cultural mix and historical heritage of the Andean people. Among the most traditional are "cuy asado" (roast guinea pig), helado de paila (pan ice cream), mote, tamales, añejo empanadas and drinks such as "canelazo" and "champús".
Churches and temples in Pasto
Pasto's religious tradition shows in its many temples and churches, such as San Sebastián, San Juan Bautista, Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, San Agustín, San Felipe, Cristo Rey and the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Museums in Pasto
- Casona Taminango Museum: traditions and customs of Nariño. Address: Calle 13 No. 27–67. Tel: (57 092) 7235539
- Carnival Museum: objects and stories of the Blacks and Whites Carnival. Address: Calle 19 Cra 42 - Pandiaco Cultural Center. Tel: (57 092) 7314598
- Banco de la República Gold Museum: a display of gold and other metal objects from ancient Colombian cultures. Address: Calle 19 Cra 21 - 27, Leopoldo López Álvarez Cultural Center. Tel: (57 092) 7219108
- Alfonso Zambrano Museum: art and wood carvings. Address: Calle 20 No. 29 - 79, Las Cuadras neighborhood. Tel: (57 092) 7312837
- Juan Lorenzo Lucero Museum: a record of the life of the priest. Address: Calle 18 No. 28 – 27. Tel: (57 092) 7314414
- Luis Bernardo Esparza Photography Museum: Address: Carrera 31C No. 19 – 72. Tel: (57 092) 7310102
- Madre Caridad Brader Museum: religious collection. Address: Calle 18 No. 32A – 01. Tel: (57 092) 7312092
Top sights around Pasto
La Cocha Lagoon
Twenty-seven kilometers from Pasto lies La Cocha Lagoon, also known as Guamuez, the most traditional outing for locals and tourists alike. This body of water is a natural setting of great beauty, with an ecological reserve and good visitor services. On La Cocha you can take boat rides and discover the lagoon in all its splendor.
La Cocha Lagoon is considered a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar organization. + Click to see more: How to get to La Cocha Lagoon
La Corota Island
La Corota Island sits in La Cocha Lagoon and is an area protected by Colombia's National Parks System. It has a lovely natural charm and an ecological trail to explore its flora and fauna. In the area known as El Encano there is a dock where lagoon tours depart, along with several restaurants serving typical Pasto cuisine.
Azufral Volcano and Laguna Verde
The Pasto area is surrounded by volcanoes; one of the most beautiful is the Azufral, beside which lies the spectacularly beautiful Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon).
Chimayoy Nature Reserve
Located 5 km from Pasto and managed by CORPONARIÑO, this reserve works to protect the environment and the area's wildlife. Visitors can explore it along several ecological trails and discover the local wildlife.
Las Lajas Sanctuary
The famous Las Lajas Sanctuary is 85 km from Pasto. It is one of the most important pilgrimage and faith sites in Colombia, drawing thousands of visitors each year who come to fulfill vows and pray. The Gothic-style church is set in a spectacular landscape over the Guáitara River canyon. A few meters from the sanctuary there are restaurants and souvenir shops. + Click to see more: How to get to Las Lajas Sanctuary
El Tábano Páramo
The El Tábano Páramo is a place of great beauty where mountains and rivers combine in a unique landscape. To visit it you climb to 3,600 m above sea level, where you can see the source of the Pasto River.
Blacks and Whites Carnival
The Blacks and Whites Carnival is Pasto's most important celebration and one of the most famous in Colombia. It takes place during the first week of January and draws thousands of people from across the country and abroad. The carnival has its roots in the ancient cultures of the area, which blended with others over the centuries. During the carnival there are people in costume, giant puppets and big-heads. On the first day attendees paint their faces entirely black, and on the second day white.
Frequently asked questions about Pasto
San Juan de Pasto is the capital of Nariño, in southern Colombia, in the Atriz valley at the foot of the Galeras volcano, at 2,527 m above sea level and near the border with Ecuador.
Along the Pan-American Highway by bus from the main cities, or through Antonio Nariño Airport (35 km away, domestic flights). Distances: Cali 358 km, Popayán 280 km, Ipiales 85 km.
It is Pasto's great festival, in January, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, famous for its floats and the play with black and white cosmetics.
Explore the center (Plaza de Nariño, churches and the Taminango Museum), visit La Cocha Lagoon and La Corota Island, and the Galeras volcano and the Azufral.
Because of its altitude, the climate is cool year-round, with cold nights; bring a coat.
The most special time is early January, during the Blacks and Whites Carnival; the rest of the year is quieter and more relaxed.