Visiting Nariño was one of the most pleasant surprises of our trips to Colombia We went there for the famous Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, and we took advantage of the opportunity to discover different sites, more or less touristy, and enjoy some of the great experiences on offer in the department.
Of course, we visited the must-sees in Pasto: Laguna de la Cocha, Sanctuary of Las Lajas in Ipiales but we also made some great discoveries off the beaten track, such as the Rio Ñambi nature reserve and a cultural experience in the indigenous community of Guachucal.
We were fed up with paying fees abroad
So for several years now, we’ve been using a free bank debit card specially designed for travelers, and we don’t pay any more fees abroad – no more!
General information
Visit Nariño
Nariño region
- Capital: Pasto
- Natural region: Andes
- Population: 16 million
- Max altitude 4764m (Cumbal volcano)
Weather
- Varied climates: hot, temperate, cold
- Average minimum temperature: 0 °C (Volcan Cumbal)
- Average max temperature: 35 °C (Tumaco)
What to visit in Nariño
Must-see destinations
The department of Nariño is unique in Colombia in that it divides its territory into three major natural influences: the Pacific Ocean, the Andes mountain range and the Amazon rainforest.
Snow-capped volcanoes, high-altitude lakes, paramos, tropical forests, Inca archeological remains, Pastos, Awa or Quillancingas indigenous cultures, Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, Gastronomy, and the warmth of its inhabitants, Nariño offers every possibility and is well worth a visit.
Not to be missed in Nariño
- Pasto
- Carnaval de Negros y Blancos
- Laguna de la Cocha
- Galeras volcano
- Las Lajas Sanctuary
- Cumbal volcano
- Indigenous experiences in Guachucal
- Inca trails
- Azufral Volcano
- Rio Ñambi Nature Reserve
- Tumaco Beaches
- Sibundoy Valley
Our posts on Nariño
Visit Nariño
During our 15 days in the department of Nariño, we enjoyed the madness of the Negros y Blancos Carnival, met new people, discovered sublime landscapes, hiked mountain trails and primary forests, observed numerous species of birds, tasted amazing dishes in gourmet restaurants, discovered strong and resilient indigenous cultures in short, we had some of the best experiences of our travels in Colombia.
Contact visit Nariño
Local agency in Pasto
Responsible tourism
Our friend Pablo’s agency promotes beautiful responsible and community-based tourism. All the experiences offered have been designed both to immerse travelers in the heart of the territory and to support small community tourism initiatives. This way you can be sure that each excursion brings you as close as possible to the local populations and that your visit has a positive impact on the local communities.