Pasto Overview

By Lorraine Caputo

Altitude: 2527 m, Population: approximately 400,000, City Code: 2

Atop a plateau surrounded by verdant hills to the East and Volcán Galeras to the West, is Pasto, 88 kilometers from the Ecuador border, on the Pan-American Highway. This capital of Nariño Department is a pleasant place to spend a few days. With impressive churches, architecture, museums and near-by villages to explore and natural reserves only several hours away, there is something for everyone's taste. Strolling through the streets, you can soon see why Pasto is nicknamed "La Ciudad de los Balcones"—The City of Balconies. Fine woodworking in many styles decorates these personal vantage points over the narrow colonial calles.

If you can, come in time for the city's renowned Black and White Carnival, celebrated in January—but wear your oldest clothes, like the locals do. It's said to be quite a messy party.

Pasto identifies itself culturally more with northern Ecuador than to Colombia; during colonial times, trade routes connected this city with those population centers further south.