How to Visit Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains, Serranía de Hornocal

Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains is a spectacular mountain range located in Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

The Fourteen Colors Mountains, also known as Serranía de Hornocal or Cerro de Catorce Colores in Spanish, is a lesser-known destination in Argentina. Most travelers stop at the more well-known Hill of Seven Colors, Cerro de Siete Colores, located in the nearby town of Purmamarca.

However, Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain is so much more impressive than its little brother. So, if you are planning a trip to Northwest Argentina, I cannot recommend enough that you make time to visit this unique place!

Serranía de Hornocal features beautiful multicolored mountain slopes with zig-zag patterns of ochre, yellow, green, and off-white limestone

I visited the Mountain of 14 colors during a trip to Northwest Argentina with my mum and her husband while I was living in Buenos Aires.

In this post, I’m sharing my best tips for visiting Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains!

A Guide to Visiting Argentina’s Rainbow Mountains, Serranía de Hornocal

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Basics for Visiting Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains

The Fourteen Colors Mountains are located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Quebrada de Humahuaca mountain range in Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

The Cerro 14 Colores are also sometimes called Argentina’s Rainbow Mountains, making reference to the popular Rainbow Mountains in Peru.

However, the Mountain of 14 Colors in Argentina is way less visited and a bit of an off-the-beaten-path experience in Argentina.

Let’s explore the basics you need to know before visiting Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains.

What are Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains?

Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain, also known as Serranía de Hornocal or Cerro de Catorce Colores, is a part of the Quebrada de Humahuaca valley in Argentina.

The mountain slopes get their beautiful natural rainbow colors from the different minerals in the mountains’ limestone. Over time, the minerals in the limestone eroded into the colorful patterns we can experience today.

Quebrada de Humahuaca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its importance as a trade route during the Inca Empire.

Where are Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains Located?

Argentina’s Mountains of 14 Colors are located in the northern part of Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

The Fourteen Colors Mountains are located around 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) outside the town of Humahuaca.

Humahuaca is the only town close by, and the only access to the viewpoint of the Fourteen Colors Mountains.

Map of Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains

Where to Get the Best Views of the Mountain of 14 Colors?

You get the absolute best views of the Fourteen Colors Mountain at the viewpoint Mirador del Hornocal, also known as Mirador Cerro 14 Colores.

The viewpoint is located at the end of a bumpy mountain road at 14,271 feet (4,350 meters) above sea level, right in front of the Fourteen Colors Mountain.

The viewpoint is basically a parking lot!

From the viewpoint/parking lot, you can take a small trail downhill to the second viewpoint overlooking the Fourteen Colors Mountains.

The view over the Serrania de Hornocal and its multicolored mountain slopes with fluffy clouds passing by is truly breathtaking – and the altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level definitely also helps to take away your breath!

When is the Best Time to Visit Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountains?

The best time to visit the mountain of 14 colors is during Argentina’s spring (September through November), summer (December through March), or fall (March through May).

The temperatures in the mountains can drop quite a lot due to the high altitude, so it isn’t recommended to visit during the Argentine winter season (June through August).

We visited in January, which is the peak summer season in Argentina, and we were surprised by how windy and chilly it was at the viewpoint.

The temperatures in the mountains had dropped to around 50 – 59 degrees Fahrenheit (10 – 15 degrees Celsius). I was happy that I had a light jacket with me in the car – and less happy with my choice of wearing shorts!

A neighbor at the rental house we stayed in Uquía told us afterwards that the best time to visit Serranias del Hornocal is during the mornings, as the afternoons normally bring rain and clouds. However, other travelers also mention that the afternoon light should be quite amazing.

Are Argentina’s Mountains of 14 Colors Worth Visiting?

Visiting Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain is definitely worth it!

While the unpaved roads and the remote location of the Serranía de Hornocal make the trip a bit of a challenge, the stunning views over the colorful mountain slopes make the effort completely worth it!

Book a tour to Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain

Altitude Sickness When Visiting the 14 Colors Mountains

The viewpoint over the 14 Colors Mountains is located at 14,271 feet (4,350 meters) above sea level, which means that you are likely to experience some altitude sickness when visiting.

Humahuaca sits at 9,882 feet (3,012 meters) above sea level, and the drive from Humahuaca only takes around one hour. Meaning that you will climb around 4,265 feet (1,300 meters) in less than one hour. This rapid ascent is likely to increase the likelihood of you experiencing altitude sickness.

The symptoms of altitude sickness are, for example, dizziness, headache, and that you easily lose your breath.

Locals in the Northern parts of Argentina (as in Bolivia and Peru) use coca leaves to help fight altitude sickness.

Coca leaves can help alleviate symptoms by improving oxygen uptake, although they might not be suitable for everyone.

If you’re not comfortable using coca leaves, there are other measures you can take to help manage altitude sickness, including staying hydrated.

Alternatively, you can visit your doctor or a healthcare professional before visiting the 14 Colors Mountains to get some altitude sickness medication.

What to Pack for a Visit to the 14 Colors Mountains?

Here are some of the best things you should pack before visiting the 14 Colors Mountains:

• A light jacket or, at least, a long-sleeved jumper
• A water bottle and a snack
• Coca leaves or altitude sickness medication.
• Your camera or phone, including extra memory cards and a charger.
• Cash to pay the entrance fee to the viewpoint.

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How to Get to the Fourteen Colors Mountains?

You can hire a guided tour to the Fourteen Colors Mountains or rent a car to drive to the viewpoint yourself.

Visiting the Fourteen Colors Mountains by Car

You can rent a car in San Salvador de Jujuy or rent a car in Salta, and drive to Humahuaca and further on to the viewpoint of Cerro de Catorce Colors.

There is normally no option to rent a car in Humahuaca, and renting a car in any of the other cities will also allow you the flexibility of exploring other places along the way.

The drive from Humahuaca to the viewpoint over the Mountain of 14 Colors, Mirador Cerro 14 Colors, takes around 40-45 minutes.

Throughout Northwest Argentina, there were mostly paved roads; however, the road to the viewpoint over the Fourteen Colors Mountains is a bumpy and unpaved dirt road.

As your car ascends, the panoramic views of the Hornocal mountain range grow increasingly breathtaking, while the winding roads will also demand more effort from the car’s engine.

So, while you don’t need a 4×4 van to drive the distance from Humahuaca to the viewpoint, do consider not renting the smallest and cheapest car on the market.

How to Get to The Mirador Cerro 14 Colores by Car

Starting from Humahuaca, you will need to pass through the town until you meet a bridge crossing over the river, Río Grande.

The bridge is located two blocks from the bus station in Humahuaca, and it is the only bridge that crosses the river.

After crossing the bridge, turn right on Ruta Provincial 73 (RP 73) in the direction of Santa Ana.

Keep straight on the Provincial Road, RP 73, and don’t make any turns toward the nearby villages.

Follow the road up the mountains until you get to the small checkpoint for entering the viewpoint, Mirador Cerro 14 Colores.

Towards the end of the road to the viewpoint, there is a small checkpoint, where you are charged a small fee for entering the viewpoint. Make sure to bring cash for paying the fee, as it isn’t possible to pay by card.

Check out this map on WikiLoc for the route to the viewpoint over the 14 Colors Mountains.

Visiting the Fourteen Colors Mountains with a Guided Tour

There are guided tours to the 14 Colors Mountain from Salta, Jujuy, and Humahuaca.

• From Salta, you can take the bus from Salta to Humahuaca (around 20 USD) and join a tour leaving from the bus station in Humahuaca, or sign up for guided day trips to the 14 Colors Mountains cost around 50-65 USD. A 3-day trip through Quebrada de Humahuaca from Salta starts at 960 USD.
• From Jujuy, you can take the bus from Jujuy to Humahuaca (around 10 USD) and get a tour leaving from the bus station in Humahuaca to the Fourteen Colors Mountain, or you can join a guided day trip to Serrania de Hornocal for around 65 USD.
• From Tilcara, you can either take the bus from Tilcara to Humahuaca (around 3 USD) and join one of the tours leaving from Humahuaca, or ask at the tourist information in Tilcara for tours directly to Cerro de Catorce Colores.
• From Humahuaca, at the local bus station in Humahuaca, there are tour operators offering tours to the viewpoint of the Fourteen Colors Mountains. The tours tend to leave at 10 am, 12:30 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm, but they might leave at other times if there are enough people to fill a car. Look out for people shouting out “Hornocal” or “Serranía de Hornocal”.

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What’s Next? Things to Do Near Argentina’s Rainbow Mountains

The trip to Argentina’s Rainbow Mountains, Serranía de Hornocal, isn’t more than a half-day trip if you’re visiting from Humahuaca.

So, to make the most of your time, here are some ideas for things to do close to Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain.

Make a Stop at the Mountain Cemetery

On the road towards the viewpoint of the Fourteen Colors Mountains, you will find a unique small mountain cemetery!

The cemetery is beautifully placed in the middle of the mountains with the most spectacular views over the surrounding mountains.

While Argentina has a thing for creating astonishing cemeteries, such as the famous Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, this small cemetery is low-key and stunning at the same time.

With a striking backdrop of the Hornocal mountain range, the cemetery features colorful plastic flowers alongside modest graves in a completely remote setting.

As always, remember to show respect to both the living and the deceased when visiting a cemetery.

Stroll Through Humahuaca

The beautiful small town of Humahuaca is a natural stop either before or after a visit to the Cerro de Catorce Colores.

Humahuaca is nestled within the stunning Quebrada de Humahuaca, offering some truly breathtaking mountain landscapes and a unique indigenous culture.

The town itself is characterized by its colonial architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, and bustling markets that offer local crafts and traditional foods.

Humahuaca was one of my highlights of visiting Northwestern Argentina.

Quebrada de las Señoritas

Quebrada de las Señoritas is a geological formation located near the small village of Uquía between Humahuaca and Tilcara in Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

Quebrada de las Señoritas is known for its red and orange rock formations of striking cliffs, narrow gorges, and intriguing natural sculptures. The unique landscape has been shaped by centuries of erosion.

The area is also significant for its cultural and historical importance, with nearby archaeological finds providing insights into the indigenous cultures that inhabited the region.

Visit Salinas Grandes

Salinas Grandes is one of the largest salt flats in the world, located close to Purmahuaca in Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

Salinas Grandes is formed by layers of salt left behind from an ancient lake that evaporated over thousands of years.

The salt flats cover an area of approximately 3,200 square miles (8,290 square kilometers), and while Salinas Grandes isn’t as large as the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, it is still an impressive place to visit.

Salinas Grandes is a popular destination for its unique photo opportunities and learning about the salt extraction processes practiced by indigenous communities.

Pucará de Tilcara

Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Incan fortress and archaeological site located just outside the small town of Tilcara in Argentina’s Jujuy Province.

Pucará de Tilcara is strategically located on a hilltop overlooking the Río Grande River.

The original Pucará de Tilcara dates back to around the 12th century, and featured stone structures of houses, burial sites, and defensive walls, reflecting a complex organization of the local Omaguaca community.

Today, the Pucará de Tilcara you can visit is a reconstruction of the original historical site, aiming to offer insights into pre-Columbian life in the Andes Mountains. The site offers stunning views over the surrounding Quebrada de Humahuaca mountain range.

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Summary: The Best Tips for Visiting Argentina’s Fourteen Colors Mountain

The visit to the Fourteen Colors Mountains stands as one of the highlights of my visit to the Northwest of Argentina.

Here’s a summary of the best travel tips for visiting Argentina’s Rainbow Mountains:

• Timing – The best time to visit is around midday when the sun is at its peak. This lighting casts a brilliant glow on the mountain and its vibrant colors. The late afternoon is also a popular choice as the sunset can introduce dramatic shadows, enhancing the hues.

• Photography – Bring an extra battery pack and memory card for your camera or phone.

• Weather – The high altitude can lead to unpredictable weather. I recommend dressing in layers and bringing an extra jacket as the temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day. Also, don’t forget sun protection, as the sun can be particularly intense at higher elevations.

• Safety and Health – The relatively high altitude can be challenging if you suffer from heart conditions or respiratory issues. It is recommended that you consult a doctor before the trip and keep snacks and water handy to stay energized and hydrated. And always have your travel insurance up to date.