The North of Argentina

Northern provinces feature traces of pre-Columbian cultures, mingled with ruins of natives' villages, as well as forts and constructions dating back to the time of the Conquest and Colonization.

Time seems to stand still in the high plateau of the Puna, a land full of mountain ranges, steep mountain paths, and gorges. Villages have been built in the small valleys. Multi-coloured and monochromatic hills covered with huge cactuses on the slopes surround the village.

This region offers landscapes full of contrast for tourists to enjoy, from the high peaks to the plains, the salt pans, and the subtropical rain forests, where Latin American culture took root.

Quebrada de Humahuaca

Departing from San Salvador de Jujuy, we reach this natural road leading to the altiplano (high plateau). Vividly coloured landscapes frame a group of villages with adobe houses, historical chapels and Pre-Hispanic ruins, where time seems to stand still.

One of the most beautiful villages is Purmamarca, an indigenous village lying against the Cerro de los Siete Colores (Seven-colour Mount) which strata illustrates various geological ages. Further on, there is an area of mountains with bright-coloured stripes, known as La Paleta del Pintor (The Artist's Pallet), in Maimará. One of the most outstanding attractions in this ravine is the Pucará de Tilcara, a fortified town built by the Omaguaca natives in pre-Columbian times. A monolith marks the Tropic of Capricorn, where each June 21st at midday the sun casts an exactly perpendicular shadow, and the celebration of the aborigines' new year begins (Inti Raymi - Sun Festival). Humahuaca was founded by the Spanish by the end of the XVI century. Its church and Carnival Museum exhibit some of the region's customs. Approximately 12 Km away, the mysterious ruins of what used to be terraces for growing Coctaca can be seen.

Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared World Cultural Landscape by the UNESCO in July 2nd 2003.

Valles Calchaquíes

This immense extension of land including the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta offers a marvelous landscape, winding roads, and coloured hillsides. In each of the small villages lying in the valleys, our ancestors seem to have left their traces engraved on the rocks.

Santa María, "Capital of the Calchaquíes Valleys", was one of the main settlements of the millenary Yocavile Indian tribe, and many remains of this culture can be found today in this picturesque town.

Tucumán's strikingly beautiful jungle is part of the valleys' amazing landscape. Rivers, waterfalls, and rapids run through Tafi del Valle, located at 1,976 meters above sea level. This region was inhabited thousands of years ago, and its valleys are rich in archaeological remains. El Mollar, a summertime villa, is lined with lush, green valleys. Amaicha del Valle, surrounded by bright reddish hills, is typically known for its religious ceremonies.

In Cafayate, San Carlos, Angastaco, Molinos y Cachi, Spanish traditions and customs are still kept, specially in relation to art, architecture, as well as religious imagery.

Leaving Cafayate, surrounded by vineyards where the famous Torrontés white wine is produced, the highway leads to Quebrada de las Conchas. Not only the Valles Calchaquíes, but also Los Cardones National Park may be visited. The term "cardón" means giant cactus, and natives skilfully used this plant to build their houses.

Salta and the "Tren a las Nubes" (Railway to the Clouds)

Running down Cuesta del Obispo we reach Valley of Lerma dominated by Salta "la linda" (the pretty one), which is probably the town with the largest number of colonial remains in the whole country. Here is where the Train to the Clouds starts its journey up the mountains, which will end in San Antonio de los Cobres, 4,200 metres above sea level and 163 Km away from Salta.

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