UQUIA

This small town of only 312 people is placed in the heart of the Humahuaca Gorge, about 10 km from San Salvador de Jujuy in the midst of coloured mountains.

Uquía is not only famous for the Cuzco School paintings of Harquebusier Angels that adorn its church, but also for the rocky sediments of its hills that hold an invaluable paleontological treasure.

These sedimentary strata are between 1 and 3 million years old and register the passing of the first mammals that migrated from North America when the two Americas were first joined.

Until that time South America was like an immense island completely surrounded by seas and its fauna had evolved completly isolated for millions of years, mainly in the form of herbivores such as giant sloths, Mylodonts, Glossopteris and other similar beasts that left their remnants in the sedimentary rock strata of Uquía.

In Uquía, you can also practise horseback riding and bike tours to gasp a view of nature wonders in its surrounding countryside. Just to mention a few: the Pucará of Calete (2 hours away), the Cerro de la Señorita (3 hours); as well as full day horseback tour to Molla, Capla Trancas and Angosto de Ocumazo.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

The Iglesia de San Francisco de Padua Church
It dates back to 1691, when it was built in a typical Hispanic style, holding a series of artworks, such as the main altar carved in wood dating back to the XVIII century, the baroque style wood carvings and the restored Cuzco School paintings, such as the Harquebusier Angels, represented in colonial Spanish style armour. Inside is the grave holding the earthly remnants of the Jesuit historian Pedro Lozano. It has been declared a National History Museum. Its Patron Saint's Day is on May 3rd.
It is located between the streets of Padre Lozano and Capitán Uyunis.
It is open to visitors every day of the year.

The Uquía Archaeological Site
There are remnants of a pre-ceramic hunter and gatherer settlement in an alluvial terrace of 50 m of length, behind the town of Uquía. It is found on the right bank of the Río Grande, about 11 km south of Humahuaca.
Access is through a dirt track.
It can be visited all year round, although during the southern hemisphere summer rains can make the road dangerous.