HUMAHUACA

At 2940 m.a.s.l. on the banks of the Río Grande River, and 127 km from San Salvador de Jujuy, down Nº 9 National Routs, lays the place which is considered the historical capital of the Gorge, and the nerve centre of the Puna highland town circuits called Humahuaca.

It is a city of 6,146 people, where daily life is wrapped in a legendary past, and its physical location is set in an striking landscape frame.

Of a mild climate and with a surface area of 4,447 square km, the Department of Humahuaca is the most visited area within the borders of the Province of Jujuy. In the area there used to be an Inca "tambo" or a place for rest and the refilling of supplies, where the priest Don Gaspar de Carvajal spent some time in 1549 during his travels in the region.

The first Encomienda holder of Humahuaca was Juan Ochoa de Zárate, who founded the town in 1594. In 1603, Father Melchor Martín became its first parochial priest, and the first parish priest in the Region.

Humahuaca probably was a prolongation of the pre-Hispanic settlement on the banks of the same river and the irregular layout of the town following the native ways survived for a long time.

Probably it was not until the XIX century that the rectification and the delimitation through the new rectangular layout that was the norm for Spanish cities in America took place, but always with different sized blocks based on the churches of Santa Bárbara and San Antonio. The latter and the Plaza in front of it were to become the town centre.

Until the end of the XIX century it was one of the most important colonial commercial centres of all what was then called Alto Perú, present day Bolivia. Mining and cattle raising are its principal activities.

Today it is a place visited by travellers that come from San Salvador de Jujuy or Salta to stay just the day, although many decide to stay longer once they have seen the opportunities for longer interesting excursions and experiences that the place offers.

Humahuaca has kept untouched its Hispanic style buildings and streets. Low adobe houses, narrow streets paved in stone and old colonial streetlights give the traveller the sensation that time has been stopped in this place.

There are museums, monuments and handicraft markets to fascinate the eye of the traveller. A must is the Archaeological Museum as well as the Regional Folklore Museum where one will find different traditional customs such as the making of the local Maize beer or Chicha, plant remedies, amulets, witchcraft, the carnival rites of burial and disinterment, masks, typical costumes and handicrafts.

During the carnival season, in February or March each year, Humahuaca becomes the carnival capital and centre of the festivity for the whole Gorge area. This celebration starts off a few days earlier with the traditional coming together of musicians from all over the country to make the preparations, the so-called Tantanakuy.

The Carnival in Humahuaca, with the enthusiastic participation of locals and visitors alike is one of the most famous in the country and attracts both domestic and foreign visitors. It lasts for eight days and the participants dress up in masks, colourful costumes and a vast musical repertoire which they perform together with many local rites during this period.

In Humahuaca you will find satisfaction for your travelling needs: a hospital, treated drinking water, civil registrar, fuel and a post office. The police have a Regional headquarters, a local police station and there exists a comoplete infrastructure of lodgings, eating places and excursion opportunities.