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Municipality and city in Pacific Region/Andes Region, Colombia
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pasto is a city in the southwest of Colombia.
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2,800 m above sea level, La Cocha Lake offers a most wonderful landscape of mountains, colors and water. It is 20 km long and 5 km wide. The name "La Cocha" originates in Quechua language, 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).
Between the limits of the central mountain range and the Patía River, within the Santuario de Flora y Fauna Galeras, it reaches 4,276 meters over the sea level. It can easily be seen from Pasto city. Access near the mountaintop is forbidden due to continuing volcanic activity. Of the Santuario only the Telpis sector with the Laguna De Telpis is open.
Town square where people will help themselves to your cell phone.
Wow, the inside of this one, like being in a medieval European gothic cathedral.
Nice cruciform shape. Turquoise and white design.
Interesting architecture if you like the little domes scattered about.
A Byzantine style design.
Mostly about an artist's woodwork.
Museum about artisanal culture.
Displays about history and cultural heritage of southwest Colombia.
Museum about the Carnival.
A museum about ways of life and history of ancient cultures of the area, with exhibits such as pottery and metal works. Some gold pieces as well.
Every Sunday and Monday holiday from 7AM to noon Avenida de los Estudiantes and other streets are closed to cars and hundreds of people turn out to bicycle, skate, jog and walk. You can join up on foot.
Cra 44 No 18-12. This is a modern hotel with comfortable rooms from US$17.
Nice clean place with comfy beds close to the bus terminal. After a bit of negotiation, it is possible to pay COP$30,000 for a double room with TV and private bathroom for one night. There's a free computer with Internet in the lobby, but no WiFi. A good place to break down the journey to/from Ipiales.
Calle 17#23-52, 6027224480. A.A 615.
Crr 22A # 15-51
Calle 16A # 23-42
Calle 19 #37-16,
Crr 25#17-83, 7235216, A.A 313.
Crr 23#15-50,
Avenida de los Estudiantes,.
By car
Pasto is connected with paved roads, such as the Panamerican highway to the rest of the country. You could rent a car an enjoy the beautiful scenery in the area surrounding the city.
By bus
Direct buses run 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.
A short taxi run in the city costs around COP$5000. If going from one end of the city to the other it can cost up to COP$6000. Those prices are fixed! You can request a taxi by calling 7320000 or 7323743.
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Chachagüí · Regional · PSO
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