Pacific Colombia

Region

One of the wettest and most biodiverse places on Earth, from the jungle coast of Chocó to the Andean south. Cali is the salsa capital, Popayán is a white colonial city, Nuquí and Bahía Solano have humpback whales from July to October, and Pasto and the Las Lajas Sanctuary sit near the Ecuadorian border.

Pacific Colombia Los Katíos National ParkNevado del HuilaMalpelo IslandAzufralCumbal VolcanoGorgona Island (Colombia)Chiles (volcano)Sotará (volcano)Colombian MassifPuracé National Natural ParkCalima LakeMunchique National Natural ParkCali ZooUramba Bahía Málaga National Natural ParkDoña Juana-Cascabel Volcanic ComplexLas Hermosas National Natural ParkUtría National Natural ParkSerranía de los ChurumbelosSanquianga National Natural ParkGorgona Island National ParkMalpelo Fauna and Flora SanctuaryNational Archeological Park of TierradentroPastoCaliBuenaventuraQuibdóCapurganáLas Lajas SanctuaryFarallones de Cali National Natural ParkGalerasEl Bordo, CaucaPopayánPalmiraBuenaventuraTuluáCartagoBuga

Pacific Colombia essentials

Country: Colombia
Driest months: Feb-Apr
Pay in: Peso ($)
Language: Spanish
Emergency: 112

Where to Go in Pacific Colombia

City Cali CaliColombian city famous for salsa music City Capurganá CapurganáRemote Caribbean port town near Panama, roadless access City Pasto PastoCity in Nariño famous for its festivals City Palmira PalmiraCity in Valle del Cauca, known for sugarcane Island Malpelo Island Malpelo IslandRemote Colombian islet noted for scuba and sharks Island Gorgona Island (Colombia) Gorgona Island (Colombia)Remote Pacific island with prison history and biodiversity History National Archeological Park of Tierradentro National Archeological Park of TierradentroPre-Columbian cemetery with underground tombs and mural paintings Nature Galeras GalerasActive stratovolcano in southwest Colombia near Pasto Nature Los Katíos National Park Los Katíos National ParkUNESCO rainforest park protecting Chocó biodiversity corridor Nature Nevado del Huila Nevado del HuilaColombian stratovolcano and northern Andean volcanic massif Nature Azufral AzufralStratovolcano with turquoise crater lake in Nariño Nature Cumbal Volcano Cumbal VolcanoActive stratovolcano and regional landmark in Nariño
Regions & Cities
Explore Pasto Pasto sits beneath Galeras volcano and near Laguna de la Cocha; travelers come for Andean treks, thermal baths and the carnival of Blacks and Whites. Explore Cali Late-night brass and percussion spill from salsa clubs; Cali’s draw is its music, dance schools and the San Antonio neighborhood’s colonial hilltop cafés. Explore Buenaventura Buenaventura sits on Colombia’s Pacific coast; travelers come for Afro-Colombian music scenes, seafood at harbor stalls and boat trips to offshore islets and mangrove channels. Explore Quibdó Sitting on the Atrato River, Quibdó attracts ethnographers and adventurous travelers for Afro‑Colombian music, marimba performances, river transport into Chocó’s rainforests, and palm‑oil - rich coastal cooking built around fresh fish and coconut rice. Capurganá Explore Capurganá Accessible only by boat or small plane from Turbo, Capurganá attracts divers, trekkers and border travelers. Las Lajas Sanctuary Explore Las Lajas Sanctuary Neo‑Gothic basilica spanning a canyon near Ipiales, built over a painted rock image and connected by a long arched bridge. Farallones de Cali National Natural Park Explore Farallones de Cali National Natural Park Near Cali, the Farallones reserve protects montane and cloud-forest terrain with waterfalls and endemic birdlife; hikers and birders come for steep trails, river gorges and panoramic valley views. Galeras Explore Galeras Galeras overlooks Pasto in southwestern Colombia and remains an active volcano; visitors include volcanologists and experienced hikers drawn to crater viewpoints and mountain trails when access allows.

Pacific Colombia at a Glance

Local Time
7:02 PM
GMT-5
Population
8,196,445

Best Things to Do in Pacific Colombia