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Pasto, Colombia — South America Overland Guide
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posted by Chris Vasquez
Drive from Popayán: approximately 5–5.5 hrs. Stay on the Pan-American corridor through deep Andean folds toward Nariño, where the road becomes a constant rhythm of climbs, fog and valley views. This stage is designed around the expedition rule that we never ask the driver—or our 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series—to grind through more than six hours of actual driving in a day. The reward at Pasto is Laguna de la Cocha, the Andean highlands and Pasto’s historic center. The route itself is part of the story: we are watching South America change through the windshield rather than flying over the difficult pieces.
Adventure & stay: Take a lakeside hike or boat outing at La Cocha and use the cooler climate for a genuine rest afternoon. Our preferred stay is Hotel Cuellars. A comfortable city base with secure parking is the priority before the border region. The idea is never luxury for luxury’s sake; it is recovery that lets us get back outside the next morning. A real bed, a hot shower, a spa or a good meal can be just as important to a long overland expedition as another night under canvas.
Land Cruiser check & daily equipment: Verify coolant concentration, battery condition and brake fluid; colder mornings and higher elevation begin to matter here. For this leg we want insulated jacket, warm hat, thermos, tire chains only if seasonally warranted, and a compact OBD/diagnostic kit even on an older truck. The 100 Series is being used exactly as Toyota intended—quiet and comfortable on pavement, full-time four-wheel drive ready when the road turns to gravel, and mechanically conservative enough that preventative checks remain more important than dramatic modifications. We leave Pasto only when both the crew and the truck are ready.
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