Nariño
“Southern Andes, lakes and Pacific coast”
Local identity
Nariño spans Andean mountains and the Pacific coast. Pasto, Lake La Cocha, Ipiales and Tumaco reflect its geographic and cultural diversity.
Pasto is the capital. Lake La Cocha lies near El Encano; Las Lajas Sanctuary is in Ipiales, above the Guáitara River canyon. On the Pacific coast, Tumaco has strong maritime and Afro-Colombian traditions. Plan mountain outings according to environmental restrictions and volcanic-activity bulletins.
Culture & traditions
The Blacks and Whites Carnival and traditional mopa-mopa varnish knowledge from Pasto are recognised by UNESCO. Traditional foods include roast guinea pig and empanadas de añejo.
Check the forecast and destination conditions before leaving. Weather varies with altitude and area; confirm opening hours, capacity and protected-area closures.
- Very warm clothing
- •Roast guinea pig
- •Traditional fermented-corn empanadas
Products inspired by Nariño
Take this region’s landscapes, wildlife and plants with you through products for travel and everyday life.
Photo credits
- Santuario de Las Lajas — Felipeortegag · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons