Pasto is the capital of the Nariño department in the far south of Colombia, sitting at 2,500 metres in the Andes not far from the Ecuadorian border. The city sits in a high plateau under the bulk of the active Galeras volcano. For centuries it has been an important religious and cultural centre, and the city retains a strong colonial character. Among its richly decorated churches, the most notable are the Iglesia de Cristo Rey and the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista.
The city has a small but worthwhile Museo del Oro Nariño with gold objects and ceramics from the pre-Columbian cultures of the region.
The highlight of the calendar is the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos, held in the first days of January. It is one of Colombia's most celebrated festivals — the city goes fully wild, and visitors should expect to get covered in paint and powder. Don't wear anything you care about.