Popayán to Ipiales — Southern Pan-American & LasLajas.
Distance
340 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
3,200 m
Popayán to Ipiales — Southern Pan-American & Las Lajas.
Two days down the southern spine of the Colombian Andes on the Pan-American Highway, from the whitewashed colonial city of Popayán to the Ecuadorian border. The road drops into the hot Patía valley, climbs to Pasto beneath the smoking Galeras volcano, crosses the high Nariño plateau, and ends at the astonishing Las Lajas Sanctuary — a neo-Gothic basilica bridging a river gorge.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance340 km
Days2
Total climb3,200 m
DifficultyModerate
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 6 waypoints to discover along the way.
PopayánStart · Start in the "Ciudad Blanca", one of Colombia's best-preserved colonial cities. Fuel up and head south on the Pan-American.
El Bordo (Patía)Scenic Point · The road drops into the hot, dry Patía valley — a sharp climate contrast from the highlands. A warm lunch stop before the long climb toward Nariño.
PastoOvernight · Overnight in Pasto (2,527m), sitting at the foot of the active Galeras volcano. A calm Andean city — good hotels and hearty highland food.
Túquerres PlateauScenic Point · High, cold farmland plateau above 3,000m — patchwork potato fields and the distant cone of Cumbal. Some of the highest paved riding in southern Colombia.
IpialesPhoto Spot · Bustling border market town on the Ecuadorian frontier. Fuel and a bite before the short run down to the sanctuary.
Las Lajas SanctuaryEnd · End at the Santuario de Las Lajas — a neo-Gothic basilica built onto a 50m bridge spanning the Guáitara river gorge. One of the most spectacular churches on Earth and a fitting finale.
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