ABRA PAMPA

At the foot of the Huancar mountain, of white rolling sands of quartz, and filled with miths and magic, the town of Abra Pampa is to be found, 81 km from Humahuaca, down National Route - Ruta Nacional Nº 9, a gravel road, but in good condition.

Considered the Capital of the Puna highlands, Abra Pampa is a village of simple and low built houses within the ardent Puna landscape. Its warm and cordial people will make the visitor feel like if he were in his own house.

Although Abra Pampa was founded in 1883 as the capital of the Department of Cochinoca, it was only in 1907, when the railroad arrived, that it really took off. The new town was called the Argentinean Siberia, which shows how cold and desolate the place was.

Naturally, this unwanted name did not survive for a long time and soon the town regained its former name.

Situated at 3484 m.a.s.l. and with a population of 5,421, Abra Pampa serves as a centre for the ihabitants of the Puna.

Here one can find the experimental agricultural and livestock station called "Abra Pampa Miraflores", where one can find in its natural habitat the fauna of the gorge and the Puna. Siberian elm trees introduced to mitigate the harsh climate.

From Abra Pampa you can get to Casabindo, Laguna de los Pozuelos and Rinconada using a daily transport service. There is also a regular service to Miraflores, in which experimental station vicunas are raised in captivity, which gives good photo opportunities.

During the Easter festivities people come down from all over the Puna area, bringing their products to the market. There is accommodation to be had in the town and you can buy excellent goat or sheep cheese.

One of the local attractions in this town are the carnival festivities, during which a ceremony takes place in the Huancar mountain, 7 km south of Abra Pampa. In it takes place the disinterment of the Pujllay carnival devil from the tomb which has been his abode since he was buried there the year before during the carnival.

One can also visit the "Leopoldo Aban Archaeological Museum" on Sarmiento Nr. 450, from Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 AM to Noon and from 3:00 PM till 08:00 PM.