Getting to and away from Puracé

Transportation

By Lorraine Caputo

Parque Nacional Natural Puracé and its villages are most easily accessible from Popayán, though you can reach them from Tierradentro (by way of La Plata) or San Agustín.

The North Road (Puracé and Pilimbalá)

From Popayán: Several companies run frequent buses to La Plata (Huila). The fare is $2.65 to pueblo Puracé (1 hour); it is another $0.50 (30-45 minutes) to Cruce de Mina (beware overcharging) and $1.05 (1.5 hours) to Termales San Juan. From the Cruce, walk one kilometer uphill to the turn-off for Pilimbalá (signed), then another 800 meters to the ranger station. The last bus passing by Cruce de Mina for Puracé village is at 5 p.m.

From Puracé to Pilimbalá, you can also take the mining company bus at 7 a.m., leaving you about one kilometer from the ranger station.If you are coming from Tierradentro, take the direct Popayán bus or go to Cruce de San Andres de Pisimbalá and await a bus to that city; alight at Cruce de Mina (for Pilimbalá) or at Puracé village. To travel between Puracé and Coconuco, catch a bus or jeep at the fork of the two roads (Puracé-crossroads $1.05, crossroads-Coconuco $0.80).

The South Road (Coconuco and Paletará)

From Popayán: Sotrancauca--hourly to Coconuco 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., $1.60, 1.5 hours. For Paletará, take a San Agustín or Pitalito bus and get off at the village. If coming from San Agustín, catch a Popayán-bound bus, which passes through Paletará and Coconuco.