Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

Quebrada de Humahuaca

May 7, 2024  —  Argentina

The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a 155-kilometre-long valley in the Andes mountain range. It is famous for its magnificent, colourful mountain scenery, its remarkable rock formations, the Salinas Grandes on a high plateau to the west, and its history, which archaeologists believe dates back 10,000 years.

This magnificent valley was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. It includes the villages of Pumamarca, Tilcara, Maimará, the Salinas Grandes, the magnificent Serrania del Hornocal and the village of Humahuaca.

Road from Purmamarca to Tilcara - Argentina
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Posta de Hornillos

Posta de Hornillos - Argentina

This supply point was created in 1772 as part of a series of posts linking Buenos Aires in Argentina to Lima in Peru. It was used until 1908, when the railway was inaugurated.

The Posta de Hornillos saw many battles during the War of Independence, and from 1810 it was also used as a military barracks.

Today, the site has been restored and contains an interesting museum with, among other things, remains from the military era.

Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
Posta de Hornillos - Argentina
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Maimará

Maimará - Argentina
Maimará - Argentina
Maimará - Argentina
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Huacalera

Huacalera - Argentina
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San Roque

San Roque - Argentina
San Roque - Argentina
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Quebrada de las Señoritas

Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina

The magnificent Quebrada de las Señoritas can be visited from the small village of Uquía, around ten kilometres from the village of Humahuaca. Its name comes from an Inca legend. Señoritas means ladies.

During the Inca Empire, three ladies fled Peru carrying a large quantity of gold. Pursued by the Spanish conquistadors, they made their way through the quebrada, but were blocked by the rugged terrain. With the gold hidden in an unknown place, the ladies offered their lives to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). In return, the Pachamama thanked them by creating a rock formation in their honour.

Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
In the centre of the photo, the white rock represents the three ladies. In days gone by, before erosion had done its work, the resemblance to three people was apparently much more obvious.
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina
Quebrada de las Señoritas - Uquía - Argentina