When we arrived in San Augustin we learned that to go south toward Ecuador we’d have to go north to Popayan – which is another bumpy dusty journey – and then go to Pasto from there. A solid 12 hours travelling, it wasn’t appealing. However, the girl in the tourist office had said this was the safe way.
Later we found out about another way to get to Pasto. You take a taxi to Pitalito, a bus to Mocoa and then a pick up to Pasto. Total travel time; nine hours. Much better.
The journey and the connections all worked very well. But when the tourist office girl had mentioned safety, we had assumed she meant high way robbery and the like. Once on the road to Pasto from Mocoa, we realised she had in fact mean the safety aspect of travelling on such a road. This road was bumpy and rocky but climbed up mountains and down through valleys all the way. We were faced with sheer drops most of the time. And to avoid a five hour journey becoming ten, the driver really attacked the road like it was a rally circuit.
Sitting in the back of the pick up, we got covered in dust. But it wasn’t all bad. The scenery through the Andean mountains was spectacular. We concentrated on this, rather than the almost certain death at the next bend! I think the blurred picture above says it all.
I’m trying to think what to write about Pasto. I’m struggling. It is a nice enough place and has a variety of religious architecture to see. It’s certainly not a bad place to be, just not particularly memorable.
We stayed at a hostel called Koala Inn (it used to be run by Aussies) and that was perfectly nice but really very quiet. Again, where are all the travellers? Luckily the French couple from Tierradentro turned up and so did a girl called Manu, who we’ve been bumping into since Panama!
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