Pasto travel guide

Ins and outs

The airport is at Cano, 40 km north of Pasto; by colectivo (beautiful drive), 45 minutes. US$2.40 or US$13.50 by taxi. There are no currency-exchange facilities, but the shop will change US$ bills at a poor rate. All interurban buses leave from the new terminal (Cra 6, C 16, 4 km from the centre) . To get there by taxi, US$2 or take city bus No 4 from the centre.

The tourist office (Just off the main plaza, C 18, No 25-25, T234962, friendly and helpful, open 0800-1200 and 1400-1800 Mon-Fri, closed Sat-Sun) will advise on money changing.

Air

To Bogotá, 3 flights daily, 1 hr 55 mins, with Avianca and Satena. To Cali, 2 flights daily, 50 mins, Avianca.

Airline offices

Avianca, CC Galerías, local 214, T7232320 or at the airport. Satena, Cosmocentro 2000, C 19, No 27-05, local 208, T7290442.

Bus

To Bogotá, 18 hrs, US$43 (Bolivariano Pullman), 10 a day. To Ipiales, Cooperativo Supertaxis del Sur US$3, 2 hrs, frequent; by bus, US$2.70, sit on left hand side for the views. To Popayán, ordinary buses take 10-12 hrs, US$8; expresses take 5-8 hrs, cost US$13. To Cali, US$16, expresses, 8½-10 hrs. To Bucaramanga, 27 hrs, US$65, To Medellín, 18 hrs, US$42. To Mocoa, 8 hrs, US$7.25.

Banks

For changing TCs, BanColombia, C 19, No 24-52. Banco de Bogotá, C 19, No 24-68 will change TCs 0930-1130. If going to Tumaco, this is the last place where TCs can be cashed. Davivienda, CC el Liceo, C 17, No 25-12, gives largest advances on Visa. Casas de cambio, at Cra 25, No 18-97, and C 19, No 24-86, by the main plaza, changes US dollars into local currency. Western Union, CC El Liceo, Cra 26, No 17-12, Local 128.

Immigration

DAS: C 17, No 29-70, will give exit stamps if you are going on to Ecuador.

Internet

Pc-Rent, Pasaje Corazón de Jesús, C 18, No 25-36.

Medical services

Cruz Roja (Red Cross), Cra 25, no 13-26.

Post office

Correos de Colombia, C 15 betw. Cra 23 and Cra 24.

Telecom

Long-distance calls, C 17 y Cra 23.