Department of Nariño - Colombia

Capital: Pasto
Altitude: 2.559 meters over the sea level (Pasto)

The district is composed by three regions: the prairie of the Pacific, the Andean rage of mountains and the landing of Ipiales.  The weather can be hot or cold depending on the zone.  The economy of the district is based on agriculture and cattle breeding.
The region of the Relieve de Nariño presents different weathers: warm, hot, cold and those specific of the moor.
Nariño is a calm location that offers to tourists the opportunity of resting in the middle of the nature.

Principal cities

Pasto

This is the capital city that is located in The Valley of Atriz.  It is enclosed by the Andean rage of mountains.  It is an important tourist center.

The main attraction is The Cocha Lake, a sacred place for indigenous cultures like The Quillasingas.  It is an amazing place plenty of exotic landscapes and ideal for fishing, specially, trouts.

El Carnaval de Negros y Blancos is a popular festivity for national and international tourists.  The event reflects the culture and the traditions of the city.  The carnival commemorates the black culture with a great parade where people use disguises and paint their fases with black or white tone.

Ipiales

It is located over the plateau of Tuperrés.  The sunsets are wonderful, the clouds present a green aspect.  The city is also called the city of the three volcanos because it contains three snow-covered volcanos: Cumbal, Chiles and Azufral.
The city is very close to Ecuador and its frontier.

Its main attraction is The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Lajas, a location plenty of parishioners.  This is one of the most important peregrination centers of America.

Tumaco

Tumaco is a city with exotic landscapes, it is also known as the Pearl of the Pacific.  The weather is one of the rainiest of the world.
It is a very famous zone in terms of the archaelogical discoveries belonged to very ancient cultures such as Tumaco and Tolita.
It is possible to visit The Beaches of Morro, Bocagrande and the landscapes of The Morro Bridge.

Tourist places

Banco de la República, The Museum Alfonso Zambrano,  The Sanctuary of La Merced, The Church of Cristo Rey, The Cathedral, San Juan Bautista.

Tourist attractions

El Santuário de las Lajas

It is located in the canion of The Guaitara River.  It has a gothic church where The Virgen of the Rosario is commemorated.  The image of the virgin is very famous because it is beautifully painted over a stone.

Laguna de Cocha (Lake)

This is a beautiful place surrounded by mountains.  This is the second biggest lake of the country.  It is located 20 Km. from Pasto.  It is a natural stream that comes from a glaciaer.
This lake is also called Guamúez.  The population of the Quillasingas live there.  They are dedicated to agriculture and fishing.

Volcán Cumbal

It is situated 15 Km. from the city of Ipiales.  This volcano is very famous because sulfur was removed from it.  It is covered by snow.