Jujuy · Noroeste argentino · Argentina
Experiences and local guides in Quebrada de Humahuaca
A UNESCO-listed Andean valley of seven- and fourteen-colour hills, adobe villages and the Pucará de Tilcara, with treks climbing to the Puna or dropping to the cloud forest.
Nature
The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a valley of about 150 km that follows the Río Grande from the high Andean plateau down to its confluence with the Río León, near San Salvador de Jujuy. Its hills show bands of colour formed by sediments and minerals, best seen at the Hill of Seven Colours in Purmamarca and the Serranía de Hornocal near Humahuaca. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, it preserves 10,000 years of human presence: farming terraces, stretches of the Inca road and adobe villages with colonial churches. Tilcara, the central base, sits at 2,465 m.
Activities
- Paseo de los Colorados in Purmamarca, an easy loop of about 3 km (around one hour) behind the Hill of Seven Colours
- Pucará de Tilcara, a partly rebuilt pre-Hispanic fortress, and the walk to the Garganta del Diablo waterfall, about 5 km from the town centre
- Serranía de Hornocal, the hill of 14 colours, about 25 km from Humahuaca on a gravel road, with a viewpoint at around 4,350 m
- Salinas Grandes salt flat, 66 km from Purmamarca over the Cuesta de Lipán, which climbs to 4,170 m before dropping to the salar at about 3,450 m
- Guided 4 to 5 day trek from Tilcara to Calilegua, from the dry Quebrada down to the Yungas cloud forest, usually March to October
- Llama trekking, horse rides and visits to rural communities such as Hornaditas or Ocumazo, near Humahuaca
When to go
The dry season, April to November, is best for hiking and for reaching Hornocal and the Salinas Grandes; from June to August days are sunny but nights are very cold. December to March brings rain and some gravel roads can be cut, though it is also Carnival season (February or March). August is the month of offerings to the Pachamama. Spend one or two nights acclimatising before going above 4,000 m.
How to get there
The nearest airport is San Salvador de Jujuy (JUJ), about 33 km from the city; Salta (SLA) is another option, around 2 hours away by road. Daily buses leave Jujuy bus terminal along Ruta Nacional 9: Tilcara (85 km) in about 1 h 30 and Humahuaca (126 km) in 2 h 40; buses also serve Purmamarca. The Tren Solar de la Quebrada links Volcán, Purmamarca, Maimará and Tilcara. Hornocal and the Salinas Grandes are reached by tour or car.
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Activities in this destination
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Local operators identified in Quebrada de Humahuaca (3)
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