[1] The urban centre of Barbacoas is located at an altitude of 36 metres (118 ft) and the municipality borders Magüí Payán in the north, Magüí Payán, Cumbitara, Los Andes, La Llanada, Samaniego and Ricaurte in the east, Ricaurte and Ecuador in the south and Tumaco and Roberto Payán in the west.

[2] Modern Barbacoas was founded on April 6, 1600, by Francisco de Praga y Zuniga.

[2] Barbacoas is an important mining town in Nariño, producing gold, silver, platinum and coal.

Other fruits cultivated are ciruelo, guayaba, papaya, pineapples, guanábana, borojó, guayabilla, lulo, anón, guaba, maracuyá, guayaba brasilera, zapallo, coconut, cacao and other agricultural products as arracacha, camote, ñame, achiote, chillangua, tomatoes, peppers, palmito, chillarán, and oregano.

[7][8][9][10] Barbacoas has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with very heavy rainfall year-round.