Quebrada de Humahuaca, an Andean corridor of colour and culture

Quebrada de Humahuaca in the province of Jujuy in northwest Argentina is a long Andean valley where colourful rock faces, historic villages and ancient routes occupy the same narrow corridor.

An Andean valley carved by the Río Grande

Quebrada de Humahuaca is a mountain valley running through Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina, forming a striking north–south corridor between the high plateau of the Puna and the eastern uplands.mountain valley in Jujuy The valley follows the course of the Río Grande de Jujuy, which has cut a channel through successive bands of sedimentary rock and exposed layers of differing colours and textures.

The gorge extends for well over 150 km (93 mi), with the Río Grande flowing along its floor from higher Andean lands to its confluence with the Río León to the south.over 150 km corridor High slopes rise from the valley floor, and many stretches sit at elevations above 2,000 m (6,562 ft), giving the landscape a highland character even though the river is never far away.elevation above 2,000 m

Cultural landscape on an ancient route

Quebrada de Humahuaca has been used as a route between the Andean highlands and the plains for many millennia, with archaeological evidence indicating human movement and settlement along the valley over a span of around 10,000 years.over 10,000 years of use The valley aligns with the Camino Inca, the Inca road that once linked different parts of the Andean world, and traces of pre-Hispanic sites, colonial churches and traditional villages stand within the same landscape.Camino Inca corridor

In 2003 Quebrada de Humahuaca was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape under criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), recognising the valley’s long-standing role as a trade and communication route and the continuity of its settlements and practices.UNESCO inscription in 2003 The protected area covers around 172,116 ha (425,309 acres), with a buffer zone extending over neighbouring terrain, so the designation encompasses not only the river corridor but also the slopes and plateau edges that frame it.protected landscape area

Humahuaca and the villages of the valley

Humahuaca is one of several towns and villages strung along Quebrada de Humahuaca, and it serves as an important stop on journeys through the valley.Humahuaca as valley town Other settlements that fall within the World Heritage site include Purmamarca, Maimará, Tilcara, Huacalera, Uquía and several smaller communities that lie alongside the river and the road.

Many of these places retain streets laid out around central squares and churches dating from the Spanish colonial period, standing alongside older archaeological remains on nearby ridges and terraces.villages along the river The pattern of settlement forms part of the recognised cultural landscape, linking historic routes, present-day communities and the surrounding terrain.

Visiting Quebrada de Humahuaca: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Quebrada de Humahuaca lies in Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina, and Humahuaca is one of several towns in the valley reached by road from regional centres.
• The valley floor and many viewpoints are at high altitude, so approaches involve uphill stretches and walks on uneven ground near riverbanks and slopes.
• The landscape includes arid slopes, exposed rock and open stretches with little shade, and longer walks between villages can involve sustained time in this terrain.
• The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Quebrada de Humahuaca

Where is Quebrada de Humahuaca?

Quebrada de Humahuaca is a long valley in Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina, extending along the Río Grande de Jujuy and including the town of Humahuaca.

What should visitors expect on a visit?

Visitors encounter a highland valley with colourful rock faces, a river corridor, villages with historic churches and plazas, and access routes that follow the same line.

What makes Quebrada de Humahuaca distinctive?

The combination of layered geology, long-standing settlements and an ancient route through a single Andean corridor gives Quebrada de Humahuaca its recognised character as a cultural landscape.