Nariño Pasto City & Laguna de la Cocha with Local Guide

Summary

Pasto Food Walk & Laguna de la Cocha Day Trip from City

You’ll taste Pasto’s street food with locals, float across Laguna de la Cocha past colorful houses, wander Tulcán’s living gardens, and watch Las Lajas Sanctuary light up at night. With three nights’ accommodation included and a guide who knows every shortcut and story, this is one of those trips you’ll remember long after you’ve left Nariño.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed in Pasto wasn’t the buildings or the traffic — it was the smell of fresh bread wafting out from a tiny panadería near our hotel. Our guide, Camilo, waved us over and insisted we try “pan de yuca” before starting out. I’m not sure if it was the altitude or just nerves, but that first bite felt like a small celebration. We wandered through narrow streets, ducked into old churches (one had this creaky wooden door that groaned every time someone opened it), and Camilo kept slipping in stories about Pasto’s wild carnival history between bites of something new — I lost track of how many snacks we tried. My Spanish is shaky, but everyone was patient, even when I mixed up “ají” and “ajiaco.”

The next day was all about water and color. Laguna de la Cocha is bigger than I expected — cold air off the lake, boats painted every shade you can imagine tied up along the shore. Locals call it the Venice of America, which sounded like a stretch until we floated past those chalet-style houses with their bright balconies and flower boxes. There’s this quietness out on the water that makes you want to whisper. We stopped for trout at a lakeside place; honestly, I still think about that meal whenever I see fish on a menu now. The rain came in quick bursts, so we huddled under an awning with hot chocolate until it passed.

I didn’t expect to be moved by a cemetery, but Tulcán’s gardens are… well, they’re alive in a way that’s hard to explain without seeing them yourself. Sculpted trees everywhere — some shaped like animals, some just wild spirals — and people chatting quietly as they walked between them. Later at Las Lajas Sanctuary, we stayed late enough to see the lights come on against the cliffs. It’s dramatic but not showy; people around us were mostly locals lighting candles or just sitting together on benches. We got back late to our hotel in Pasto (Casona Hotel — comfy beds, by the way), tired but kind of wired from everything we’d seen.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Pasto City Tour and Gastronomy

• City tour of Pasto: museums, temples, and culinary tasting

Day 2 — Laguna de la Cocha and Venice of America

• Tour Laguna de la Cocha lagoon
• Visit Venice of America town

Day 3 — Tulcán Cemetery and Las Lajas Sanctuary

• Visit Tulcán Cemetery
• Tour Las Lajas Sanctuary and trails

Day 4 — Trip End and Sanctuary Lighting

• Evening at Las Lajas Sanctuary for lighting

Top questions

How many nights of accommodation are included?

Three nights at Casona Hotel are included in the tour.

Is there flexibility to change the itinerary?

Yes, you can modify the tour based on your preferences and days available in Nariño.

Are meals included during the tour?

Meals are not specifically listed as included; however, food tastings are part of the city tour experience.

Is transportation provided between locations?

Public transportation options are available nearby for getting between sites.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed during this trip.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and specialized infant seats are available.

What is special about Laguna de la Cocha?

Laguna de la Cocha is Colombia's second largest lagoon and known for its colorful lakeside village called "the Venice of America."

Do we visit Las Lajas Sanctuary at night?

Yes, you stay until nighttime to see the sanctuary illuminated before returning to your hotel.

What’s included

Your three days include guided walks through Pasto’s historic streets with plenty of local food tastings along the way, boat rides across Laguna de la Cocha with stops in its colorful lakeside town, visits to Tulcán Cemetery’s sculpted gardens and Las Lajas Sanctuary after dark — plus three nights’ accommodation at Casona Hotel so you don’t have to worry about where you’ll sleep each night.