THE POSTA DE HORNILLOS

On the 72 km mark of the Nº 9 National Route, at 2350 m.a.s.l. between the towns of Purmamarca and Tilcara, you will find a colonial house that was built by Gregorio Álvarez Prado in the year 1772. It was a manatory stopover for outriders, by order of the Spanish Visitador Overseer Alonso Carrió de la Vandera, on the road that connected Alto Perú with the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata.

From 1810 onwards, it became a military outpost and the general headquarters of the Independence Army Vanguard. It was the scene of many battles.

Before the post system was set up, each traveller or postal rider had to take with him a troop of horses according to his needs. These mails became known as "Propios" or Privates, since a trader or authority sent them off and the person using them during each trip carried their total cost.

Apart from the rules regarding these posts, certain minimum comforts were demanded in place, The services provided were generally of an uncertain nature. According to the writings of many travellers of those days, in many of them the goer-by had to find his own firewood; thus many of them preferred to sleep under the shelter of the wagons to keep the insects out.

Other posts became real inns, or had a small general store, or in other cases the post was simply the house of the outpost master. No traveller was allowed to bring his own horses with him, obliged to pick new ones at every outpost on the road, paying the duties according to a fixed price.

ATTRACTIONS

The Museo Posta de Hornillos Outpost Museum It was set up as a History Museum on December 3rd, 1979 to hold interesting artefacts from colonial times, such as the millstone. There are 12 exhibit halls showing parts and pieces of a post that was also a family home before turning into the headquarters of the Northern Army.

La Posta de Hornillos has a total of 19 rooms set around 3 successive courtyards, as well as other small spaces. It walls are made of whitewashed plaster adobe; the roof is of mud and reeds with wooden roof spars. It has recently been restored, respecting its best features and the traditional techniques of building.

In the first area there is a general view exhibit of the origin of the post system and its set up, trying to recreate with imagination the aspect they may have had during their heyday. In the second area there is an exhibit of the weaponry used during the wars in Jujuy; with a special orientation towards the area of the Quebrada de Humahuaca Gorge. The third area shows samples of the different kinds or modes of transport by road at the time. They all try to illustrate the evolution that has taken place from pre-Hispanic times to the present.
It is located two km south of Maimará.
Visiting hours are from Wednesdays through Mondays from 8:30 AM till 6:00 PM.
It may be visited during the whole year.
Camping facilities are available in place.

The Hornillos Archaeological Site
It is a place of complicated access showing some defensive walls adjacent to the access path. The ruins cover the whole small plain, but some of the remains overflow into the small side ravines. An ample use of slate has been made in its building. It is positioned a league south of Maimará, on top of a hill. It is difficult to get there unless you are in shape to trek or horse back ride there.