Escuela de Lenguas UNLP/About Argentina/Tourist Attractions/Jujuy

Cities

La Quiaca

La Quiaca is a city of northwest Argentina, north of the province of Jujuy . It is on the border with Bolivia. It is located 290 km from capital of the province San Salvador de Jujuy in the north end of the Humahuaca Valley. This city is considered the most northern city of Argentina. The average annual temperature is 25 degrees. La Quiaca has traditional and attractive festivals to worship Mother Earth Pachamama and outdoor activities can be done naturally like mountaineering and other adventure sports. There are a lot of restaurants; ethnic cuisine isn´t very expensive and it´s very nice. The hostel La Candelaria is very cheap and fantastic, it is to recommend.

Miscellanea

Quebrada de Humahuaca

Quebrada de Humahuaca is in the province of Jujuy, Argentina. This mountain valley is in the northwest of the Andean region. It is considered a natural access to the high plains, which was used since Pre-Columbian times. Beside the Quebrada de Humahuaca´s road, the Grande River spreads from north to south. From San Salvador de Jujuy to La Quiaca, there are many small towns such as Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca. The Unesco made the whole of Quebrada de Humahuaca a World Heritage Site in 2003. People in the Quebrada de Humahuaca celebrate carnival and pay tribute to Pachamama (Mother Earth).

Salinas Grandes

In the Province of Jujuy and very close to Purmamarca, you can visit “Salinas Grandes”. It is the largest salt desert in the country. It is located at an altitude of 4.000 meters and it covers an area of around 12.000 hectares of a dazzling white colour. It is believed that they are the remains of an ancient sea. Thousands of tourists visit them every year because they are considered to be one of the most unusual natural landscapes in the world. You can cross them by car or by bus. Nearby you can find a little and picturesque town called “Barrancas” with the typical geography of the Puna de Atacama. There is no green vegetation here because the land is very arid. It has a population of only 200 inhabitants who live in houses made of adobe that blend into the landscape. Their typical food is “llama casseroled” with potatoes and aromatic herbs. The locals do craftwork in wood, black ceramic and even salt. There are also archeological remains in the area with a great variety of rock art designs.