Nariño
Nariño is located in the southwest of the country, bordered to the south by the Republic of Ecuador and to the west by the Pacific Ocean, has a diverse geography and a varied climate depending on the areas you are visiting; heat in the Pacific area and cold in the mountainous part, there inhabits most of the population. Touristically it is recognized by the Sanctuary of Las Lajas that receives thousands of pilgrims. The Laguna de la Cocha, the island of La Corota, the snow-capped mountain and the Cumbal lagoon, the island of Tumaco and its beautiful beaches of Morro, Mulatos, among others. In addition to its natural attractions this region is known for the celebration of the Carnivals of Blacks and Whites, held in the first week of January and the Carnivals of Fire in Tumaco held in the second week of February.
Sanctuary of Las Lajas: A place you can not miss in Nariño, this sanctuary is visited by pilgrims from around the world for its importance in the Catholic religion, but is also visited for being considered an architectural treasure in the country, was declared the second wonder of Colombia and one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
La Cocha Lagoon: La Cocha Lagoon, also called Guamués Lake, is a large natural reservoir of glacial origin, located in the Colombian location of El Encano, in the municipality of Pasto, in the department of Nariño. It is the second largest natural body of water in the nation, after the Tota Lake.
the island of La Corota: is located in the middle of La Cocha lagoon, from a distance it gives the impression that you are looking at the shell of a large turtle. It is the smallest protected area in Colombia's national park system.
The snow-capped mountain and the Cumbal lagoon: This volcano, besides being the highest point in the department of Nariño and having fumarolic activity at the top, is known because the farmers of the area bring down the snow from there to offer to the artisan ice cream vendors who use the snow to prepare paila and chupones ice creams, which are traditional preparations.
Volcán Galeras: From the capital of Nariño, the city of Pasto, we can observe this volcano, do not hesitate to include it during your visit, you can observe about 100 species of birds, 16 varieties of hummingbirds. Nearby you will find streams, several rivers and four lagoons that supply water to 500,000 people.
Gastronomy: Its gastronomy has influences from indigenous cultures, many African and Spanish. The dishes you should try during your visit are: The empanadas de añejo, made from fermented corn; El hervido, a cocktail of sour fruits cooked and mixed with Aguardiente (typical Colombian liquor); El hornado, pork marinated with natural spices that is baked in the oven for 12 hours to achieve the best flavor. The encocado de piangua or concha. And finally the most popular dish of the region "El Cuy" rodent very popular for its unique flavor. Additionally we tell you that it is an area that produces a very good coffee, do not miss the opportunity to drink a cup.
Nature: In this department you will find ecosystems and natural heritage worth visiting. Among them we highlight: La Cocha lagoon, a reservoir of glacial origin that surrounds itself, in the municipality of Tangua, is the Laguna Negra, considered natural heritage. In the municipality of Túquerres you will find the Azufral volcano and the Laguna Verde.
Purchases: Always as part of the trip we want to take a souvenir of the place we visit, in Nariño it is worth supporting the local vendor, one of the options is to go to the circumvalar sector of Galeras, where the locals offer pieces made of toquilla straw. Other types of pieces, such as souvenirs made by artisans or religious figures, can be found in Pasto.
Religion and Architecture: For those interested in Christian religious architecture; Nariño is rich in styles from different periods, here are some examples that you can include in your trip; to the south the Sanctuary of the Virgen de las Lajas in Ipiales and the church that houses the Virgen del Rosario de Íles; to the north is the Hermitage of Santa Maria Magdalena in San Lorenzo; to the east is the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Playa in San Pablo and to the west, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Visitation of Ancuya and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Sandoná; famous for an impressive Christ carved in wood by the master Alfonso Zambrano, a workshop in the city of Pasto in which works are still made for the Vatican in Rome and other places around the world.
Black and White Carnival: This is one of the most incredible Carnival experiences in Colombia, it combines art, culture and tradition that are still intact in this region, we tell you the day by day, so in case you have the opportunity to live it be prepared for what you can find in this colorful Carnival;
On the first day the Water Carnival is celebrated, streets and houses are sprayed. On December 31, you will witness the parade of the "Años Viejos" (Old Years), groups with satirical monkeys representing current personalities, the day ends with the burning of these "Años Viejos". The last two days represent the name of the carnival, making up their faces in black one day and white talcum powder the next day, this symbolizes equality and ethnic and cultural union for the celebration.
This is a Carnival of intense coexistence, homes become craft workshops for the creation of beautiful floats that parade expressing their different ways of seeing life.
- Nariño like many regions of Colombia has a diverse geography and varied climate depending on the altitudes: warm weather in the Pacific plain and cold weather in the mountainous part, where most of the population lives. So if you visit this region it is best to bring clothing suitable for different climates.
- For transportation within the city you can use the cab service requested by an App or requesting it from the reception of the hotel or restaurant where you are. Another recommendation is to use the transportation provided by your travel agency in case your trips are to a nearby place or to and from the city of Bogota.
- This department has several hotel categories adapting to different types of budgets, small hotels with modern architecture, others preserving its colonial architecture. The hotels are local, you will not find big luxury hotels, nor international chains.
- To arrive in this department can be done by land, air and sea. Nariño has four airports; the main one is the Antonio Nariño Airport, located in the municipality of Chachagüí, it is the closest to the capital Pasto, the San Luis airport in the municipality of Ipiales, La Florida airport in Tumaco and the small airport in the municipality of Mosquera on the Pacific coast. It has several land routes, one of the most important is the Panamerican Highway that runs from south to north and communicates with Ecuador. Finally, by sea through the port dock in Tumaco.