What to do in Nariño? 7 plans for a weekend

The department of Nariño in Colombia has a mix of attractive features for both Colombian tourists and those coming from anywhere in the world. With 64 municipalities, Nariño offers rivers, lagoons, nature reserves, canyons, beaches, volcanoes, and páramos, among many other natural wonders.

Nariño is also craftsmanship, gastronomy, and architecture, with temples over five hundred years old. It is suitable for recreation, mountaineering, and athletics, for paragliding, and for creating your own coffee route. Here are seven plans to make your trip more worthwhile:

1. Enjoy Nature

The department of Nariño boasts a variety of ecosystems and natural heritage worth visiting. A must-see site is the Laguna de La Cocha, the second largest body of water in Colombia, a glacial reservoir surrounded by over 30 nature reserves that preserve its waters. In the middle of the lagoon is La Corota Island, which serves as a reservoir for a large number of species such as mosses, birds, fish, and amphibians.

45 minutes from Pasto, the capital of the department, is the municipality of Tangua, which features a Laguna Negra, considered a natural heritage site. In the municipality of Túquerres are the Azufral Volcano and the Laguna Verde, while in the municipality of Barbacoas are the beaches of Telpí and Jamaica.

2. Visit Historical Sites

There are other places that should be on your travel list due to their historical significance, whether for the battles fought there or the culture of its inhabitants. One of them is the Juanambú Canyon, the second longest and deepest canyon in Colombia after the Chicamocha Canyon.

In Juanambú, Simón Bolívar fought an important battle for southern Colombia, as it opened the route to Pasto. And if that’s not enough, it is one of the most beautiful passages in Colombia, thanks to its natural pools and ecological trails.

3. Try Extreme Sports

If mountaineering is your thing, the Galeras Volcano is the ideal place; the route starts at the sanctuary. You can camp, but you should be prepared for the cold, as temperatures can drop to zero degrees in the early mornings.

For extreme sports, the best place is El Tambo, 37 kilometers from Pasto. This municipality offers excellent settings for adventure tourism with its recreational parks and multi-sport arenas.

4. Taste the Best Local Dishes

Once in El Tambo, take the opportunity to try the local dishes, where you'll be offered trout and guinea pig, the two most famous dishes. Other options include organic fruit salads or paila ice cream. If you’re craving something sweet, visit Cabrera, La Laguna, San Fernando, Genoy, El Encano, or Catambuco.

5. Try a Religious Tour

Nariño is full of places to relax, meditate, and pilgrimage. If you are looking for a religious or architectural tour, in many places in Nariño you can admire unique buildings.

For example, there is the Santuary of Our Lady of Las Lajas, the second architectural wonder of Colombia after the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. It is a neo-Gothic church from 1868, widely visited by those looking to renew their faith.

The department offers other options for pilgrimage, such as the Santuary of the Virgin of the Beach in San Pablo, the Our Lady of Las Mercedes Parish Church, or the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in the municipality of Sandoná.

Finally, you can take a spiritual break at the Spirit Falls or in the hot springs of the same name.

6. Complete the Coffee Route

Coffee cultivation is one of the most productive activities in this area: you shouldn’t miss the routes available in the municipalities of Buesaco, Arboleda, San Pedro de Cartago, and the El Sauce district. In each of these locations, there is a community tourism project where you can learn how coffee is grown and processed.

7. Do Your Shopping

The final step of a tourist visit is to take home a souvenir. For this, you can visit the Galeras surrounding area, where locals offer items made from toquilla straw. Other types of souvenirs, such as crafts made by artisans or religious figures, can be found in Pasto.

Remember that the exchange rate between the Dollar and the Colombian Peso is very favorable for Ecuadorian travelers, so your money will go further for souvenirs for family and friends.

Nariño is a destination that combines a wide range of historical, cultural, religious, or adventure tourism with extreme sports, various climates, and a vast array of natural attractions. Don’t miss it!

If weekend getaways are your thing, discover the plans to explore Medellín in two days.