About
Pasto is a city in the department of Nariño, in southwestern Colombia, close to the border with Ecuador. It sits high in the Andes, and its setting is one of the first things visitors notice: volcanoes and mountains rise around the city, shaping the views from its streets and the way the surrounding land is used. The city is also known as the Surprise City of Colombia, a name that suits a place many travellers reach almost by accident on the way to or from Ecuador.
What to see
Pasto is known for its colonial architecture, and a walk through the older parts of town is the most direct way to take it in. Churches, plazas and the older houses along the streets give the centre its character, and the city's layout invites slow wandering rather than a fixed route.
The Black and White Carnival
The city's best-known event is the Black and White Carnival, a festival that fills the streets with colour, music and public celebration. Visitors who can plan around it will get the fullest sense of local life, though the city is worth a visit at other times of the year too.
Planning a visit
- Allow time for the colonial centre, which is best explored on foot.
- Look at the volcanic and mountain landscape from the city's edges and surrounding roads.
- Consider timing your trip to coincide with the Carnival if festivals are what you are after.
- Treat Pasto as a stop in its own right, or as a base for exploring Nariño's wider countryside and its border region with Ecuador.
For travellers who enjoy a city with a clear historic core, a dramatic mountain backdrop and a lively annual festival, Pasto offers a visit that is more rewarding than its low profile on the usual tourist route might suggest.
