Humahuaca. The name of this valley is famous throughout Argentina. "La Quebrada de Humahuaca" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village is at the extreme north of this spectacular chain of multicoloured geological formations.
This large town, bigger than the neighbouring villages of Purmamarca and Tilcara, is the final stage of a trip round the province of Jujuy. I loved the roof terraces on the low traditional houses in its historic quarter.
Like in Salta, in the evening you should try the peñas, the bars where the locals play guitar and sing "folk" music. It's an authentic treat that I never get tired of.
Humahuaca has managed to preserve its traditional character. It's a very pleasant place to stroll around. It's little streets are cobbled; the houses are brightly coloured; it's the type of place that makes you feel good. It's also a quiet and peaceful town. Though it doesn't actually take very long to look round Humahuaca, everything you see here has a certain charm.
When we visited, we sampled the traditional, lively atmosphere at one of the little local restaurants. Be sure to try the dish of the day: you'll be in for a nice surprise! We spent a few hours in the town in total, enough time to rest and relax before heading off on the road again. Though it's definitely true to say this was only a quick stop-off during our trip to Argentina, it was nevertheless a very pleasant place to visit!
Though Humahuaca is quiet most of the year round, it does get very busy when its famous carnival takes place at the beginning of Lent. The town simply explodes with colour at that time of year. The festivities are held in celebration of Pachamama, a goddess of Mother Earth, and it's an interesting spectacle to watch because it brings together traditions from Bolivia and even Peru. As for the scenery around Humahuacha, it's absolutely breathtaking: deserts, hills of seven colours … it simply has to be seen.
The city of Humahuaca lies at an altitude of around 3,000 metres in northwestern Argentina. As you walk along the city's cobbled streets, past the little colonial houses, you'll find numerous local craftspeople selling clothing and various other kinds of items. There is also a monument commemorating the country's independence in the city. This part of Humahuaca certainly attracts a lot of visitors, but what really blew us away was the scenery around the city!
The area is very famous as the site of Quebrada de Humahuaca (a "quebrada" is a mountain gorge), which you'll undoubtedly be impressed with when you see it. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003, and it's easy to see why. Quebrada de Humahuaca consists of an arid and colourful mountain gorge that extends along part of the route of the famous Camino Inca (the ancient Inca road system). This is one destination you simply must include on your itinerary when visiting Argentina!
The little town of Humahuaca is really cute, and the mineral landscapes surrounding it are unreal. I strongly urge you to take a little trip to this area during your trip to Argentina !
It should still be said that the village is quite touristy, but luckily its people are very welcoming. A place you won't want to miss is Mt. Hornocal or Artist's Palette, which is located half an hour by car from the town centre. A breath-taking geological wonder and even more visibly stunning at sunset. I went there in the morning and I still have fond memories of it: it may be the one thing you have to see in Jujuy!
FYI, I preferred staying in the village of Tilcara for the very cool atmosphere there.