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Pasto
From Wikitravel
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Pasto is a city in the southwest of Colombia.
City of the South Colombian West, with a population superior to the 400000 inhabitants and capital of the department of Nariño. Pasto is one of the oldest cities of Colombia, located in the Atriz Valley, in the middle of the Mountain range of the Andes in the denominated mountainous bulk of the Pasto on the foot of Galeras volcano. The region is mountainous and surrounded by several indigenous towns.
[edit] Understand
Pasto is a city where different cultures are mixed. The dominant one, without a doubt, is the Andean culture. Unequivocal evidence of this is the Carnival of Blacks and Whites, in which pastusos celebrate with colors and joy the incredible richness of their culture. The city is located in the Atriz Valley, at the foot of the Galeras Volcano, which can be observed from any angle of the city.
Pasto is a very religious city, with beautiful temples that certainly represent the architectural wealth of the city. Some of them are very ancient and have been mixed with the modern and colonial styles simultaneously.
Artcrafts are an important tradition in Pasto, from which the so-called Pasto varnish is the most well-known. Leather, ceramics, and wooden products also constitute the historical and cultural legacy of the city.
[edit] Culture
- Carnival of Blacks and Whites, January 2nd-7th
The Carnival of Backs and Whites was declared cultural heritage of the nation, by the congress of the Republic of Colombia in April 2002. It takes place in Pasto between the 2nd and the 7th of January every year. The most important events are those of the 5th and 6th of January, which correspond to the day of Blacks and the day of Whites, respectively. These two are also preceded by the traditional parade of the Castaneda family (January 4th). Other types of celebrations have been recently added to the carnival in order to encourage people's participation in a variety of feasts. At the moment they have become an inescapable reference in the calendar of Colombian celebrations and they attract a considerable number of tourists from several parts of the world. The parade of floats and the traditional dances on the streets of Pasto are without a doubt the highlight of the carnival!
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
Antonio Nariño Airport (Flights to Bogota and Cali)
[edit] By car
Pasto is connected with paved roads, as Panamerican to the rest of the country.
[edit] By bus
Direct buses from Bogota, Cali, Popayan, and Ipiales (close to the Ecuadorian border). Connections are easy to make in any of these cities for any further destinations.
[edit] Get Around
A taxi costs 3200 COP, if going from one end of the city to the other it goes up to 3500COP. You can request a taxi to collect you by calling 7320000 or 7323743
[edit][add listing] See
- La Cocha Lake Located at 20 km from Pasto and 2,800 over the sea level, la Cocha Lake offers the most wonderful landscape of mountains, colors and water. It is 20km long and 5km wide. The ethimology of "La Cocha" originates in Quechua, meaning lagoon. It is also known as Guamués Lake. The lake encounters several obstacles such as the Encano River. In 2000 and by means of Decree 698 of the 18 of April, the lake was registered as a landmark of international importance within the Ramsar agreement, being the first with this qualification in the Andean zone. The tourists can visit by boat one of its islands, from which "La Corota" is the one that stands out the most, due to its "Santuario de Flora y Fauna" (administrated by the University of Nariño).
- Galeras Volcano Located at 9 km from Pasto between the limits of the central mountain range and the Patía River, the volcano reaches 4,276 meters over the sea level. You can hike along the volcano or you can also go by car on a route speeds up your way to the summit considerably. The volcano is active at the moment, so a guide will always be required. The ash that comes out of the volcano creates an incomparable ladscape, but it can be dangerous at close distances.
- Laguna Verde Located at 72 km form Pasto in the city of Tuquerres, this is a beautiful green lake located in the crater of the volcano Azufral. You can hike from the bus terminal (16 km), get a hourly bus to San Roque (1000 pesos then 10 km walk) or a taxi to the park entrance (20 000 pesos or less). Register at the park entrance and then the walk is 6 km. The entrance is around 3700 m high and the volcano reaches 4,070 meters over the sea . To get to Tuquerres, get a bus from the terminal in Pasto (6000 pesos) or a shared taxi (9000 pesos). This is also easily accessible from Ipiales and makes a great stop between the 2 cities.
[edit] Churches
- Cristo Rey, St.20 # 24-64.
- La Catedral
- San Juan Bautista, St 18 # 25.
[edit] Museums
- Museo Alfonso Zambrano, St 20 23-90 floor 5.
- Museo Antropológico del Banco Popular, St 19 # 23-90.
[edit][add listing] Buy
- Artesanías de Colombia S.A, Cr 19 # 26-66.
- Artesanías Jaramillo, Commercial center "Bombona".
- La Casa del Barniz de Pasto, St 13 # 24-92.
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Cuy or Conejillo de Indias. Animal of the Cavia sort and Porcellus species used in the department of Nariño and specially in its capital, Pasto, as nutritional source. With a high protein content 21%, and a low fat content, this animal is the typical and favorite dish of Pastusos. In Pasto the guinea pig is mainly fed with grass, and sometimes with concentrate. The cooking procedures for the traditional cuy is the roasted guinea pig, and it is obtained in different restaurants in the city or places nearby.
Empanadas: These are made of fermented-corn dough. In all Nariño, especially in the Andean zone, they can be filled with meat, rice and green beans. The texture of the dough gives them their characteristic sharp flavor. Also try quimbolitos, juanesca, and frito
- Asadero de Cuyes Pinzon, Crr 40#19B-763, 7313228.
- Casa Vasca, St 12A # 29-10 San Ignacio Neighborhood, Tel 7230242.
- Gualcacuy, Av Panamericana # 19-66 tel, 7222093.
- Juanambú, St 25 # 17-83, tel 7235216.
- La Cabaña, St 16 # 25-20, Tel 723862.
- Sausalito, St 35A # 20-63, Tel 7230908.
[edit][add listing] Drink
- Chicha
- Guarapo
- Hervidos = fruit juice + aguardiente
- Aguardiente, Nariño
- Ron
[edit][add listing] Sleep
There is an abundance of budget hotels near the bus terminal, for instance the hotel 'Paola' from COP$ 12000 (single).
- Agualongo Hotel Crr 25#17-83, 7235216, hagualongo@col2.telecom.com.co A.A 313.
- Don Saul Hotel, Calle 17#23-52, 7230622. A.A 615.
- Chambú Hotel, Crr 20#16-74, 7213129-7213645.
- Cuellar`s Hotel, Crr 23#15-50, +57-2-7232879, hotelcuellar@hotelcuellars.com,
- Hotel Americana Crr 22A # 15-51, 7238413, recepcion@americanahotelpasto.com [7]
- Hotel El Dorado Calle 16A # 23-42, Tel.:7233260, recepcion@hoteleldoradopasto.com [8]
- Hotel Torre del Bosque, Cra 44 No 18-12, [9]. This is a modern hotel with comfortable rooms since US$17.00.
- Pasto Hotel, [10].
- Koala-Inn, Calle 18 No 22-37. Set in a old mansion, offers spacious rooms for COP$15.000 per person (May 2009). Administrator "Luis" is an extremely friendly host and acts as a great source of local information and for other parts of the country.
- La Maison del Ejecutivo Hotel, Calle 19 #37-16, +57-2-7310043 lamaisondelejecutivo@yahoo.com ,[11]
- Metropol Hotel Calle 15#21-41, 7212498.
- Morasurco Hotel Avenida de los Estudiantes, hmorasurco@occinet.net.co.
[edit] Weather
- Average Temperature: 14ºC
- Annual average precipitation: 700 mmts
- Altitude: 2527 meters over the sea level
- Humidity: approximately 88%
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