Argentine Northwest

The Argentine Northwest is a region composed by the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucumán.

The Argentine Northwest is visited by Argentineans as well as by people from all over the world. The most common tourist places are Quebrada de Humahuaca the Cerro de los Siete Colores, Cafayate and the Valles Calchaquíes, Tafí del Valle and the capital cities of the provinces: San Miguel de Tucumán, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Salta and San Salvador de Jujuy.
The national parks of the territory are: Baritú, Calilegua, El Rey, Los Cardones and Campo de Alisos.

Apart from the geography of the area, its culture is of great interest. It is deeply influenced by Quechua and Aymara cultures, and the region is widely different from the more European Buenos Aires.
This influence is seen in the music, clothing and the ways of the people.

La Quiaca

La Quiaca is a small city in the north of Jujuy on the southern edge of La Quiaca River, opposite the town of Villazón, Bolivia. It is placed at the end of National Route 9, about 289 km from San Salvador de Jujuy, the provincial capital.

It is the main town of the Yaví Department, which includes also the towns of Barrios, Cangrejillos, El Cóndor, Pumahuasi, and Yaví. It has a local airport.

In Argentina, this city is the classic reference to the northernmost town of the country. In 1985, after a three-year national tour, the celebrated composer León Gieco released a folklore album called De Ushuaia a la Quiaca ("From Ushuaia to La Quiaca").

Purmamarca

Purmamarca is a small village, of prehispanic origin, situated in Jujuy province. Purmamarca –which means "Town of the Virgin Land" in Aimara language- is located at the foot of the " Cerro de los Siete Colores" ( Seven Colors Hill ) wich pleases the senses of the many visitors it receives.

The village is composed of adobe constructions of cardon roofs.
In the Square there is a crafts fair where you can buy regional products, for example pottery, carpets, ponchos, musical instruments and typical clothing from the Quebrada.

In the outskirts of the city you can take pleasure from the landscapes where you can hike, go horse riding or go on excursions along the coast of the Purmamarca river.

There are many community celebrations such as the "misa-chico", which is the dead worship , the Pachamama worship or the autochthonous music played with quenas ( Indian flutes), cajas, erques and sikus.

The nice lodging and typical gastronomy completes the Purmamarca touristic offer.

Tilcara

Tilcara is situated 84 km from the provincial capital, San Salvador de Jujuy. The area offers amazing mountainous landscapes and rich aboriginal traditions, which make it a major tourist attraction.

This town is composed of low adobe buildings with streets that presents all the splendor of the quebrada view.

A few kilometers away from the center of the region, you can go to Pucará – which means “fortress”- that was built by the original people of Humahuaca Quebrada.

Some of the activities that you can enjoy are excursions to Morado Hill, hiking, horse riding and even sand boarding in the dunes.

There is also a Paintings Museum, a Sculptures Museum and a Carnival Museum.
There are celebrations that charms the tourists, for example in Easter, when Hermitages are built. Also, the Popular Festival of the Tilcara man, the Chicha Festival and the Pachamama, which make this town a magnificent place to be visited throughout the year.

Humahuaca

Humahuaca is widely known for its site at the Quebrada de Humahuaca, an extended valley east of the central Andean Altiplano. It is situated in national route 9. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was one of the most important commercial centers of Alto Peru. This historical site is composed by low houses sun-dried brick houses, narrow paved streets and the main square where local artists gather to sell their pieces of craftsmanship. The Carnaval de Humahuaca (Humahuaca carnival) is one of the Argentina’s most famous and attracts many visitors. It lasts eight days and the costumes and masks are worth seeing.

The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a wide colored landscape that manifests the cultural pre Hispanic richness. It holds the city of Purmamarca, a town of legends and singers. This town was built at the foot of the world-famous Cerro de Siete Colores ( Hill of Seven Colours).