Argentina Travel Guide: The Best of Northwest Argentina

A trip through the Northwest Argentina province of Jujuy will take you through landscapes of multicolored mountains, giant cactus, salt lakes, and low-built colored houses. Jump on for a trip through the Northwestern part of Argentina, and get inspiration for your own itinerary!

During a week in January, I joined my mum and her husband on their road trip around the Northwest of Argentina to explore some of these often-forgotten corners of Argentina. Here I share some of our experiences after traveling to Jujuy, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Uquía, and Humahuaca. Hopefully, it can help you plan your own trip around the region, or inspire you to visit.

Traveling through the Northwestern part of Argentina made me understand even clearer how different and diverse Argentina is.

People would smile at me when I felt the need to clarify that I was not just a foreigner traveling through but I actually live in La Capital (e.g. Buenos Aires). The responses were usually friendly and humble; El interior es muy mejor. Meaning the interior provinces of Argentina is better.

The regions in Argentina are really worlds apart, and up here in the far corner of Argentina life goes at a completely other speed than the cosmopolitan vibes of Buenos Aires that I’m used to.

A Guide to Explore Northwest Argentina – Jujuy, Purmamarca, Salinas Grandes, Tilcara, Humahuaca, and much more!

San Salvador de Jujuy

We started in Salta. More precisely, Salta Airport. I arrived from Buenos Aires by plane. Beforehand, my mum and stepfather had rented a car from Hertz. Even though it is possible to get around in the region with other kinds of transportation, a car just gives you so much more flexibility.

Directly from the Airport in Salta, we headed towards Jujuy. I don’t know why but Jujuy has always drawn my attention. Maybe because of its strange-sounding name or because I still recall the university teacher of my Argentine history course talking about how Jujuy is so politically and economically different from the rest of Argentina (okay, a nerdy historical explanation is needed here but I will save that for another time).

Nevertheless, the city of Jujuy, or San Salvador de Jujuy as it is correctly named, which is the capital of the Jujuy province, was an uninspiring provincial town with a slow goofy mood. I was not impressed. Maybe even a bit disappointed… My teacher must have meant the Jujuy Province as a whole, I reasoned. The day after we headed further North to Purmamarca.

What to Do in Jujuy?

If you make a stop in Jujuy, the most interesting areas are around the main square and the Cathedral of Jujuy:

Plaza Belgrano and the Government House of Jujuy

The main square in Jujuy is called Plaza Belgrano and is located between the street Grl. Belgrano and Independencia. In the middle of the park, you have the huge mansion which is the Government House of Jujuy. Beautiful to look at, and take some photos.

The Museum of the Cathedral of Jujuy

On the corner of the street General Belgrano and right next to the actual Cathedral of Jujuy, there is a huge gate leading to a Spanish-style patio. That is the Museum of the Cathedral of Jujuy. For a couple of pesos, you can get inside the patio where a statue of General Belgrano stands looking proud with the Argentine flag in his hands. The legend says that after winning the battle against the Spanish in Tucumán, General Belgrano should have taken the first Argentine flag to the Cathedral of Jujuy to receive God’s blessing of the flag. Now you can see the statue of the very same act.

Purmamarca

Purmamarca is located between multicolored mountains approximately 65 km North of the city of Jujuy (or, a little more than an hour’s drive). The scenery up here is completely different from that of Jujuy. The village of Purmamarca consists of low-constructed houses and towering stone mountains, whereas those around Jujuy were lower and dotted with green trees.

Purmamarca is almost exclusively famous for Cerro de los Siete Colores or translated as “Mountain of Seven Colors”. A mountain formation that is said to have seven different tones of colors in it. However, it depends on how the sun lights on the mountain and how many colors you can identify.

Let me be completely honest with you; it took me a while to realize which mountain was the “famous” seven-color one. Most of the mountains around Purmamarca are astonishing and colorful in their way.

What to do in Purmamarca?

Purmamarca is a small village whose primary economic income comes from tourism. One quickly notices that there are many souvenir shops, touristic-looking restaurants, and different types and styles of options for lodging. However, there are also some different activities to do.

Cerro de Siete Colores

This is an obligatory activity when in Purmamarca! Cerro de Siete Colores or “the mountain of seven colors” is properly the most famous part of Purmamarca. This piece of the mountain is said to have up to seven distinct color tones in it. However, it does depend on how the sun lights on the mountain and how many of them you will be able to see.

I want to be frank with you, and say that I was not that impressed with this seven-colored darling – and even less after seeing its big brother of 14 colors in Humahuaca more north (but more about that next time). However, they did do their marketing course with excellence and managed to promote the seven-colored mountain amazingly well.

Viewpoint over Cerro de Siete Colores

Where Paseo de los Colorados ends and just before some small stone stairs lead down to Florida-street and further on to the handcraft market, a little grumpy-looking elderly woman is blocking the way to a gate. The path behind the gate leads to a small mountain hill that has an amazing view over Purmamarca.

The lady was fortunate to have a mountain in her backyard, and made it a viewpoint… At least, it seems so. She will charge you 5 pesos argentinos at (the moment of writing) for “climbing” her backyard mountain – thus, the effort (not hardcore climbing at all) and the money are worth it! From the viewpoint, you can see over the roofs of Purmamarca, and the surrounding mountains; most importantly, of course, the Cerro de Siete Colores.

The local handcraft market

By the main square of Purmamarca, Plaza 9 de Julio, there is every day a market with all kinds of local handcraft. My favorite one was, without a doubt, these llamas!

The Cemetery of Purmamarca

The cemetery is located on the outskirts of Purmamarca and is properly not a place you would normally find on a list of activities to do. However, the cemetery was spectacularly beautiful and well-decorated (see for yourself below).

Thus, if you head there remember to show respect to the people there – both alive and dead! Be silent and respectful.

Did you know that a similar-looking cemetery can be found on your way to Cerro de 14 Colors a bit further north in Jujuy? Check out for yourself here.

Paseo de los Colorados

Behind the cemetery, the street turns into a path called Paseo de los Colorados which is a spectacular walk through the mountains surrounding Purmamarca.

Follow the path until the end, and you will be back in “downtown” Purmamarca.

Purmamarca was a bit too touristic for my taste, but it is an ideal place for visits one of the biggest attractions in the region: the Salinas Grandes salt flats.

Salinas Grandes Salt Flats

Salina Grandes is a massive area of salt flats in style with the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia (though, a lot smaller than the ones in Bolivia). The Salinas Grandes is used for the production of salt, thus a tiny bit of it has been open to the increasing tourism in the area.

You can arrive at the Salinas Grandes by following the Ruta Regional 52 from Purmamarca for around 1 – 1,5 hours through crazy mountain roads with cactus-dotted mountains on each side.

Wildlife to Experience in Northwest Argentina

On your way, you will pass different landmarks such as a milestone for being at 4,170 masl. And llamas… If you are lucky!

I have a huge fascination with llamas. Properly mainly because they are very exotic animals for me, and had this idea that there would be llamas all over in the mountains of the Northwest of Argentina… I was wrong! We saw one larger flock of llamas on our way to Salinas Grandes but they seem to belong to the man working the kiosk by the side of the road.

Tilcara

After two nights in Purmamarca, we headed further North and made a quick stopover in Tilcara.

Tilcara is located around half-an-hours drive north from Purmamarca on Ruta Nacional 9, and has a similar vibe to it of an economy heavily based on tourism – just in a larger scale than Purmamarca (needless to say more, right?).

What to do in Tilcara?

Pucará de Tilcara

The Pucará de Tilcara is an area that is believed to have been of high importance for the indigenous civilizations of the region in ancient times. The Pucará has been reconstructed as it was believed to have been by then. Thus, it must be highlighted that the Pucará is not ruins from the Incas, in style with Machu Picchu in Peru instead it is a reconstruction. Nevertheless, for me the real attraction for the views of the mountains and the cactus! 

Read more about visiting Pucará de Tilcara and the nearby Devil’s Throat.

Llama trekking in Tilcara

One thing that I completely regret not having researched properly before heading to the Argentine North was the possibility of “meeting” llamas (properly based on my misconception that they would be everywhere). In Tilcara, you have the possibility to book a tour to trek with llamas (either half a day, a full day, or several days)! I can’t recommend it as I didn’t try it buuut I would definitely go back to get a chance to try it! Check their website here; Caravana de Llamas.

Uquía

Uquía is a super tiny village located between Tilcara and Humahuaca on the Ruta National 9. The village is far from tourists, even though, the main “attraction” is the small church with Saints wearing weapons. Both Tilcara to the South and Humahuaca to the North is easily reached by car from Uquía.

We spent the next two nights in Uquía visiting Humahuaca and Cerro de Catorce Colores. Depending on your likes, the nights can also be spent in either Tilcara or Humahuaca.

Humahuaca

Humahuaca is located another hour further North of Purmamarca (around 40 minutes from Tilcara) on Ruta Nacional 9. Even though the construction of the village is very similar to that of both above-mentioned, the feel of Humahuaca was a bit more authentic. A feeling of actually being in a town where there were other people living than tourists just stopping by for a couple of days.

There are, of course, small shops selling all kinds of souvenirs, the classic textiles from the region, and sweaters, but I just liked the bustle of people going on with everyday life in Humahuaca.

What to do in Humahuaca?

When in Humahuaca, here are some of the highlights you should check out:

The Fourteen Colors Mountains, Cerro de Catorce Colores

The most popular activity when around Humahuaca is to visit the Fourteen Colors Mountains, known in Spanish as Cerro de Catorce Colores.

The Fourteen Colors Mountains are located around 20 km outside Humahuaca through crazy mountain roads.

Even though the drive is tough (happy I didn’t have to drive it!) the views are amazing and completely worth it.

Read more about the Fourteen Colors Mountains.

The Townhall Square in Humahuaca

By the town hall square is the old town hall, el Cabildo, and the cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. The town hall should apparently have a watch with a real-size statue of the benefactor of Humahuaca, San Francisco Solano, that appears and do some slow movements with his hands to give a blessing to the village – however, missed him in action!

Monument for Heroes of the Argentine Independence War

By the end of the town square, you have the first steps for climbing the monument for the heroes of the independence war. A massive and strange-looking monument in stone and metal… I don’t know what else to say but the views over the city are great!

Salta

After a last night’s sleep in Uquía, we headed back towards Salta. It is also possible to continue further North and enter Bolivia. In Salta, we visited the cable cars (or telefericó as it is called in Spanish) before I was dropped off at the airport to head back to the craziness of Buenos Aires.

The cable cars of Salta were great fun, and with a great view over the city – even though it rained!

You can read more about them and check current prices.

From driving through Salta, it seemed like a mini-version of Buenos Aires with huge avenues and colonial-style houses mixed with 60s buildings. If you want to read more about what to do in Salta here.

Are you planning a trip to the Northwestern parts of Argentina? Or did you maybe get inspired to visit one day? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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