Pasto Services

Money & Costs

By Lorraine Caputo

Tourism Office

The extremely helpful tourism office has information on things to do and see in the city and surrounding region, as well as several excellent booklets on the artesans, painters and culinary traditions (including recipes) of Nariño (daily, 7 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m. Calle 18 25-25, Tel: 2-723-4962). It also has a kiosk at the bus terminal. For any maps you might need, go to the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (Monday-Friday, 8-11:15 a.m ., 1:30-4 p.m. Carrera 21B 18-40).

Money

Bancolombia (Calle 19, facing Parque de Nariño) changes Amex travelers cheques only on weekdays (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); its branch at Calle 19 25-57 changes them on Saturday mornings. Both branches have ATMs. Santander, also on Calle 19 on the Parque, changes dollar or Euro Amex travellers cheques, but only in the morning (Monday-Thursday, 8-11:30 a.m., 2-4 p.m., Friday, 8-11:30 a.m., 2-4:30 p.m.) Pasto has both a Western Union agent, Giros and Finanzas (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pasaje del Liceo, corner of Calle 17 and Carrera 26, Local 128) and a MoneyGram agent, Cambiamos (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Pasaje del Liceo, Local 228).

Keeping in Touch

Internet is common throughout Pasto, and runs anywhere from $0.80-1.30 per hour. Internel (daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Centro Comercial Colombia, Calle 17 21A-54, Local 103, Tel: 2-721-6812) is one of the few places that has Skype. Make international calls from Telecom; prices begin from $0.50 per minute (Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m ., Sunday, 8 a.m.-noon. Calle 17 and Carrera 23). Local and national calls can be made from any shop with a sign announcing minutos or llamadas; the cost is $0.10 per minute. Mail letters and postcards from Correos de Colombia/Apostal (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Calle 15 23-60).

Medical

Pasto has two Level-III public hospitals: Hospital Departamental (Calle 22 7-93, Parque Bolívar, Tel: 2-721-4625) and Hospital San Pedro (Calle 16 42-00, Tel: 2-723-4349). Pharmacies, both national chain and locally owned stores, are quite common; many can be found on Calle 18, if you are in need of emergency medications.

Laundry

It is hard to find a wet-wash laundry in Pasto; but there are plenty of dry cleaners. One that offers to do regular wash is Lavandería Perlmatic, but only by piece; an expensive option at $1-2 per garment (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-7 p.m. Carrera 25 15-40, Tel: 2-723-3025). Lava Mejor has one-day service, and charges by kilogram: $80 for wash and dry, $2.50 with ironing (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Sunday, closed. Carrera 27 15-08, Tel: 2-722-8088).

Camera Repair

Many of your photographic needs can be met right in the heart of Pasto, on Parque Nariño. Foto Japón, on the corner of Calle 18 and Carrera 24, has 100 ASA Kodak and Fuji film. Foto Almacén Tricolor, a half-block from the Parque, carries digital cameras and photo cards, and 100, 200 and 400 ASA Kodak film (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Carrera 24 17-82, Tel: 2-722-3214). Foto Canon Digital offers the same items, but has an extra service: here you can download and print your digital photos or burn them to CD your self (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Calle 19 23-61, Tel: 2-723-3818).