Traveling to Pasto in Southern Narino, Colombia.......Any help?

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on May 27, 2005, 17:12:

Yes, Pasto I've been there but not recently. I believe that the town itself is not a problem, but getting there will be. There's the hotbed of guerrilla activity in the Cauca province and crossing it might be a challenge, unless you can fly to Pasto (help me out here, you guys who are more knowledgeable about the domestic airlines in Colombia).
Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Lionheart says on May 27, 2005, 17:19:

do a search here I have posted several travel advisories for Southern Colombia, Cauca, and Pasto.

It is cooling down a bit, but it is current hotspot, even not advisable for Colombians to travel there.

Even flying it not good, as the trip from airport to Pasto leads through unprotected areas.

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quindioman says on May 28, 2005, 05:42:

i dunno these guys are not wrong with their comments but my fiancee and her mum have travelled to Mocooa (Putumayo) which is even further south of Pasto, twice in the last 5 months.They travelled overland so it can be done, how much you want to risk it is another question.
I guess there will always be a risk when travelling overland (particualrly in this part of Colombia) but if you minimize the chances of something happening to you (not looking as if you have money or valuables) and acting with a lot of common sense then you should be fine.

PS hechese la bendicion

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carolain11 says on May 28, 2005, 07:09:

a joke it is said that pasto is the most erotic town in colombia, cause once you get there, all you wanna do is come... (probably sounds funnier in spanish)
I've never been there, but my mother in law is from there and the city is quiet as can be, nothing ever happens there...

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hugodjames says on May 28, 2005, 09:54:

staying in Santa Marta hey has anyone stayed at Costa Azul beach hotel, i know of all the more expensive resorts. but can anyone tell about this one.
also can any tell about weekly apartments on the beach thanks

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Lionheart says on May 28, 2005, 13:45:

more info on traveling overland in the South One thing to think about is who is traveling where. People local to Pasto are definietly safer traveling in their area than people from other areas of Colombia or foreigners. Many of the guerrilleros are local residents, as well, and can distinguish between the locals, which they leave in peace, and strangers, which they observe and report.

In addition to the everyday issues, the current guerrillero movements have brought in non-local guerrilleros, often used to a sole jungle life. They have no qualms killing anybody suspicious like a rat on the garbage. If you look at a map of the Southwest of Colombia you will see 4 departments that are most affected by the movments: Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo, and Huila. The East of the is area is mainly production area, and the main transportation of wares is between there and the Pacific coast, both ways.

Draw a line between Buenaventura, Cali, and Neiva to get a rough Northern border of the activities. Travels North of this border are regarded fairly safe, and the further South you go the more critical it gets. Just a month ago major military activities were close to this border, now they have advanced further South and the progress seems to be consistent currently.

I get most of this information first hand from my novia in Cali, who is criminal defense lawyer there. Many people don't know that lawyers are often mediators between the guerrileros and the legal authorities or the government. In this function she travels often by bus into the risky areas to meet with leaders or to meet imprisoned guerrilleros. Her indegenous heritage helps her travel "unseen" from Cali to other locations. She tells me about the road blocks, check points, etc. Non-local people are more often held longer, either recognized by their appearance and/or their dialects. Foreigners are definitely at risk. In several cases she has refused to travel to certain areas lately, as one group of guerrilleros has no direct control over an other group, creating confusion and more hazards, plus the issues with the local indegeneous there has raised the risks also for her.

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juanalejo says on May 28, 2005, 14:33:

Lionheart My family is from Cali and Popayan on my fathers side, and I do travel to Cali and onwards to Popayan on a constant basis. Some members of my family do have small farms in that area and the stories you are saying are not quite believable. There are many areas in Cauca specially that should be avoided, but that does not include the Panamericana highway to Popayan and on to Pasto, or the close by surrounding areas. The general idea is not to get close to the jungle areas both in the Pacific or the Putumayo basin. The highlands near the main arteries are fine, although I would recommend travelling by day, as it does get lonely at night. Pasto area is fine, and like anywhere in Colombia it is a mountain or a jungle that can divide safe from unsafe and just looking at a map would simply do no good, just saying that drawing a line between Buenaventura and Neiva and considering that as a border of guerrilla activities is wrong, there are plenty of guerrilla activities north of that, and safe areas south of that. No better advice than somebody from Pasto to tell you about that particular region. In Colombia a simple map with red zones not understanding the implications of mountains, jungles etc within the country does no good.

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Lionheart says on May 28, 2005, 19:05:

juanalejo In general you are right, I simplified the map idea, most here on PBH never looked at a map from that area yet.

I was just talking about the current dangers, not the everyday dangers. Normally the Pan-American Highway is safe by day. But with the current activities I was told that there are many crossing of that highway day and night. There might be a risk running into a group attacking somebody, defending itself or trying to relocate goods there. They have no time to figure out if you are good or bad. It is already getting better again. I told in a PM basically to decide to go there once you are in Cali ... who knows what will be in 2 weeks or 2 months.

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carolain11 says on May 29, 2005, 13:46:

sorry... there's no way to make an accurate translation but it refers to the place being boring, in spanish it is: "es la ciudad mas erotica de colombia porque en cuanto uno llega alla solo se quiere venir" literally translated it'd mean that as soon as you get there you just wanna go back home, but it uses the word "venir" which in spanish also means to have an orgasm, so it has a double meaning... get it?
y señorita ni por los oidos porque por ahi me echaron el cuento!!! (just kidding, I AM a señorita)

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Lomax says on May 30, 2005, 14:42:

Been in Pasto during Holy Week GringoDeLouisian,

Have been in Pasto last March, at that time the famous blanco's y negros was taken place and road security was better due to an increased number of soldiers which were visible along the road. At that time, I travelled from Popayan to Pasto (by the way beautiful road, highly recommended by day if the circumstances are okay.

Pasto itself is nice, although I would not stay there for three days or more. Highly recommended to go at least to Ipiales (Las Lajas), very impressive. I did a side trip with my novia to Cumbal. Did not feel myself safe overthere, irrespective of my travel experience (including a lot of trips within Colombia). That fear was on its place, newspapers indicated 8 days later that a whole armement of guerilla was been taken by Colombia special forces. Well, anyway.. the city of Cumbal is not exciting and I would not do it twice.

Although I do not know your travel schedule, please consider in taking an outbound flight from Pasto to Bogota - Avianca flies as well as Satena as I recall correctly. You may also consider driving Pasto - Popayan.

For a hotel in Pasto, I would recommend Don Saul. Please take LionHeart's recommendations in mind. He has a point about safety issues nowadays.

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