Experience – Ipiales, Nariño, Colombia: Las Lajas Sanctuary

• Location: Santuario De Las Lajas, Potosí, Las Lajas, Ipiales, Nariño, Colombia (Google Maps)
• Hours:
  • Monday – Saturday
    • 6:AM – 7:AM – 9:AM – 11:AM – 3:PM- 5:PM
  • Sunday
    • 6:AM – 7:AM- 8:AM- 9:AM – 10:AM – 11:AM – 12:00M -3:00PM – 5:00PM
  • Updated Schedule Here
• Price: Free
• Recommended Time: 2 hours
• How to Arrive: By car
• Distance from Ipiales: 9.3 km / 5.7 miles
• Distance from Bogota: 918 km / 570 miles
• Ideal Month(s): February – April

Las Lajas Sanctuary is a basilica church located 9.3 km from Ipiales and less than 15 km from the Colombia-Ecuador border. The present church was built in a Gothic style between 1916 and 1949, and sits within the canyon of the Guáitara River. The church rises 100 meters (330 ft) high from the bottom of the canyon and is connected to the opposite side of the canyon by a 50 meter (160 ft) tall bridge.

How to Get to Las Lajas

Whether you’re arriving from Colombia or Ecuador, you’ll first need to make your way to Ipiales, Colombia, which is the closest city to Las Lajas. In Ipiales, there are multiple transportation, restaurant, and accommodation options. Depending on where you’re coming from, it’s possible to take a day trip to Las Lajas, however if you’re traveling from further cities such as Bogota or Quito it’s recommended to spend one night in Ipiales or in the city of Pasto.

Getting to Ipiales

If you’re traveling from Colombia, the fastest way to get to Ipiales is by plane (through Satena Airlines). If you’re looking for a budget option and have extra time, you can also take a day or overnight bus from Cali to Ipiales. The bus takes approximately 12 hours. There are also frequent buses departing from the city of Pasto, located ~80 km (50 miles) away.