Pasto is one of the oldest cities in Colombia, located in the Atriz Valley, at the foot of Galeras Volcano . The region is mountainous and surrounded by several indigenous towns. Pasto is a city where different cultures mix. 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 natives and enjoy the incredible richness of their culture . The Galeras Volcano can be observed from any part of the city. Pasto is a very religious city, with beautiful temples that certainly represent its architectural wealth. Some of them are very ancient and have been mixed with the modern and colonial styles simultaneously.

Around and closeby
Located 20km from Pasto, La Cocha Lake offers the most wonderful landscape of mountains, colours and water. It is 20km long and 5km wide. The island of "La Corota", in the lake, is notable due to its "Santuario de Flora y Fauna", you can catch a boat across the water to visit it.

Nine kilometres from Pasto, between the limits of the central mountain range and the Patía River, the volcano reaches 4,276metres above sea level. You can hike along the volcano or you can also go by car if you're in a hurry to reach the summit. 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 landscape, but it can be dangerous at close proximity.

Sightseeing
The Carnival of Blacks and Whites takes place in Pasto between the 2nd and the 7th of January every year. The most important events are those on 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). The parade of floats and the traditional dances on the streets of Pasto are without a doubt the highlight of the carnival!

Getting there
The Antonio Nariño Airport has flights to and from Bogotá and Cali. There are direct buses from Bogotá, Cali, Popayán, and Ipiales (close to the Ecuadorian border). Connections are easy to make in any of these cities for any further destinations.