Humahuaca
Travel to a city from the 16th century
Can you picture yourself living in colonial times? Live the experience. Walk around the city that was a commercial center of the Alto Perú over four hundred years ago. Explore the capital that harbors a ravine which was once the road of muleteers, a post-office, and a road for the cultural development of the region and of neighboring countries. Learn about the history of this place whose name was inspired by the native people who still live there: the omaguacas.
Feel part of a 16th century postcard: narrow cobblestone streets; adobe houses with iron lanterns hanging on each door; villagers that share their traditions with you. Go to the Regional Folklore Museum [Museo Folklórico Regional]. Visit a church built in 1641. Watch the Monument to the Heroes of the Independence. Taste the local food and feel the joy of the Humahuaca Carnival, declared Cultural Heritage. And from Humahuaca, discover Serranía del Hornocal. Enjoy your adventure.
Geographic location: 126 kilometers from San Salvador de Jujuy, Center-North of the Province of Jujuy.
How to get there: by land, from the provincial capital of San Salvador de Jujuy via Ruta Nacional 9. There are also a number of bus lines that get to the Humahuaca terminal from various places in the country.
Area: 3,792 sq km Altitude: 3.012 meters above sea level.
Climate: dry and cold.
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days.
Recommended clothing and gear: in winter (July through September), take warm clothes. In summer (December through March), a light jacket to wear at night is enough. Take also comfortable – preferably light-colored- clothes, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, and comfortable footwear, appropriate for the activity you will be doing.
What to do: Visit the Regional Folklore Museum, which showcases many customs of the region, and the Monument to the Heroes of the Independence. There, enjoy a beautiful view of the village and watch the Santa Barbara Tower, an adobe construction that used to be an oratory in colonial times. North of Humahuaca, visit the Coctaca archeological site, where you will see Pre-Columbian ruins and the Inca Cueva Archeological Site, recognized for the high value of its cave paintings.
Tips: in summer (December through March) there are strong storms that may cause