Pasto, Colombia

San Juan de Pasto
Camsá: Bastok
Municipality and city
San Juan de Pasto
View of Pasto with the Galeras volcano
Nariño square
Saint Andrew's Temple
Pasto City Hall
Imperial Theatre
Nicknames: 
Ciudad Sorpresa (Surprise City)
Ciudad Teológica (Theological City)
Tierra del Galeras (Galeras's Land)
Motto: 
"Muy Noble Y Muy Leal Ciudad de San Juan de Pasto" ("Very Noble and Very Loyal City of San Juan de Pasto)
Location of the municipality and city of Pasto in the Department of Nariño
San Juan de Pasto
Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 01°12′28″N 77°16′38″W / 1.20778°N 77.27722°W / 1.20778; -77.27722
Country Colombia
RegionPacific Region/Andes Region
DepartmentNariño
Founding1537
EstablishedJune 24, 1539 (Atriz Valley)
Founded byCapt. Lorenzo de Aldana
Named afterSaint John the Baptist
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorNicolás Toro
Area
 • Municipality and city
1,099 km2 (424 sq mi)
 • Urban
25.07 km2 (9.68 sq mi)
Elevation
2,527 m (8,291 ft)
Population
 (2018 census)
 • Municipality and city
392,930
 • Density357.5/km2 (926.0/sq mi)
 • Urban
308,095
 • Urban density12,290/km2 (31,830/sq mi)
DemonymPastuso
Time zoneUTC-05 (Eastern Time Zone)
Postal code
520001-520099
Area code57 + 2
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

Pasto, officially San Juan de Pasto (Spanish pronunciation: [saŋ ˈxwan de ˈpasto]; "Saint John of Pasto"), is the capital of the department of Nariño, in southern Colombia. Pasto was founded in 1537 and named after indigenous people of the area. In the 2018 census, the municipality had a population of 392,930. Pasto is located in the Atriz Valley on the Andes cordillera, at the foot of the Galeras volcano.