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elsadran Says: Oficina de Tourismo is directed by a wonderful lady, Carmen Leonor Acosta. She has founded the Tourist Office herself and is doing her best to promote her treasured city. Not only does she work without being paid but she also helps poor and invalid people ! Funds are scarce...
La Ciudad Blanca or White City
richiecdisc Says: Popayán is renowned as La Ciudad Blanca or White City for good reason with a plethora of well-preserved colonial gems, most of which with chalk-white facades. Only Cartagena supercedes it in size and scope as colonial settlement in Colombia. Founded in 1537 by Sebastián...
richiecdisc Says: For impressive views of the city, head west to the edge of the city center and climb El Morro de Tulcán. Also at the top is a graffiti-ridden statue of Popayán's founder, Sebastián Belalcázar, atop a horse. The true entrance is at the rear where there are steps leading to...
richiecdisc Says: Today, the 240m-long Puento del Humilladero is how the fine citizens of Popayán cross the Río Molino. It's an impressive bridge featuring eleven arches but some 160 years prior, a footbridge was how local priests crossed this same river to service the poor area to the north....
Los Quingos de Belén: a great place to try regional specialities
richiecdisc Says: Los Quingos de Belén was a perfect way to begin what would be a great culinary experience in Popayán. This upscale but still very authentic restaurant just on the edge of town specializes in regional dishes and while not cheap, they serve huge portions in a very charming...
La Fresca: THE place for empanadas de pipián
richiecdisc Says: Hosteltrail turned out to be a great hostel, but not just because it was a nice place to stay but because the young couple that own it are foodies. They turned us onto a few good places but mostly what I would like to thank them for is telling me about La Fresca. I asked...
Tripods & Tapas Cafe: not a bad town for night photography
richiecdisc Says: Popayn may not be the most lit up town in the world but it was one of the better ones in Colombia. The main square could use some more but they did a nice job with the churches up high. Both Iglesia La Ermita and Capilla de Belén were well lit and quite colorfully at...
El Sotareño: like stepping into a Quentin Tarantino film
richiecdisc Says: We had a good experience in a local pool hall dive bar in Salento so on reading about El Sotareño in Popayán we decided to give it another go despite its foreboding exterior. The bar in Salento had been big and open, with two wide doors welcoming you in and offering a quick...
it's no problem getting to Popayán
richiecdisc Says: Getting to Popayán from Cali was no problem at all. That was part of our reason to stop in Cali in the first place with frequent buses between the two and a relatively short three hour travel time. Since we had reserved a room at Horsetrail Hostel in Popayán we had a...
mircaskirca Says: There is a regular bus service from Popayán to Cali and numerous bus companies are available, such as Expreso Palmira, Expreso Bolivariano and Velotax. Minibuses also serve the route. Though the bus terminal is only 10 minutes walk from HostelTrail, I took a taxi as I left...
richiecdisc Says: Though Popayán did not disappoint overall with regard to local dishes and we were very happy to enjoy their delectable empanada de papián in particular, one thing it let us down on is the lulada. This scrumptious drink make with the lulo fruit, only found in this area, was...
Chontaduro - Palm Fruit Native to Tropical Forest
mircaskirca Says: Chontaduro is a species of palm fruit well known by the native population where it is grown, the tropical forest of South and Central America. It has a high contents of vitamin A and C and has been used as a food source for centuries. Several locals in Popayán offer this...
mircaskirca Says: Popayán has a centuries long gastronomic tradition which has been passed from generation to generation. Traditional culinary practices are protected and encouraged and there is a strong respect for traditional cuisine in Popayán especially during Holy Week and Christmas when...
Bindlestiff99 Says: Popayan is a lovely city, but. . . . Unless you intend to join the disco itself, stay away from a bed anywhere near Parque Caldas, the central square, on Thusday through Saturday nights (and Sundays if Monday is a holiday -- of which there are many.) To coin an advertising...
try some Caucano if you eat too much
richiecdisc Says: The food in Popayán was so good that on a few occasions, I at least ate a bit too much. This is typical in a place like Germany, where foods can be fatty and rich, so it's not unusual to have a schnaps like a kräuter liquor to ease the pressure on the old tummy. Ironically...
bring your appetite & camera accesories
richiecdisc Says: Since the bus terminal is close to town, a backpack will be easiest to lug if you want to avoid taking a taxi. Also, if staying in Hosteltrail, you'll have some stairs to climb and that's easiest with a backpack too. Dressing layers is best in Popayán where the weather can...
richiecdisc Says: The most popular day trip from Popayán is Silvia. This small picturesque mountain town 50 kilometers from “the big city”would not likely draw any visitors if it were not for the weekly descending of the Guambiano people. The Guambianos are the most traditional of all...
richiecdisc Says: Though Popayán is known as La Ciudad Blanca or the White City, our favorite building was Teato Guillermo Valenica. There was something about the style and color, and especially its magical statues that captured our imaginations. It was best late afternoon when the sun hit...
richiecdisc Says: The empanada in question was an empanada de pipián, which smallish ones served with a chili-infused peanut sauce noted for the area. Not only did they lead me to some but in a place so very local it positively breathed it, further emphasized by the preponderance of locals...
on listening to the non-local locals
richiecdisc Says: So, we went methodologically to Cali to break up our journey from the Zona Cafetera and now to Popayán to do the same en route to Las Lajas. Cali brought us the lulada and more of the same was reportedly on our horizon in Popayán but we had traveled enough to know such...
Plan a Popayán vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Popayán locals
That evening I did not think of having dinner. I was actually quite full after sampling the delicious local street food for the whole day. I was looking for the...
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On Finding the Pipián in Popayán
In a country filled with colonial gems, Popayán stands out even in Colombia. While it may lack the cobblestone streets of Villa de Leyva, hilly perspective of Barichara, and mixed tropical flair of......
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Nicknamed La Ciudad Blanca (The White City) due to its whitewashed houses, Popayán is the architectural treasure and one of the most beautiful colonial cities of Colombia. It is situated in the lower...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Popayán. I'd love to share with you the 21 tips I've written, the 36 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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I've got some interesting experiences in Popayán. I'd love to share with you the 15 tips I've written, the 93 photos uploaded, and 7 travelogues I've created.
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