Globerovers Magazine, July 2019

Argentina: The North
HUMAHUACA
The rustic town at the heart of the
Quebrada de Humahuaca Valley.
Argentina’s northern gateway
is the border-crossing at La
Quiaca in Argentina and Villazon
in Bolivia to the north. This is a
border crossing which often requires a lot
of patience as queue lines can be long.
While Argentinians and Bolivians walk
freely across the bridge, foreigners must
get their passports processed in a building
below the bridge which can be tedious and
slow.
Not waiting in line are the hundreds of
labourers running back and forth across
the border to upload and unload heavy
bags and other goods between trucks
parked on both sides of the dividing line.
The border is not always open to cargo
vehicles so all cargo must be carried across
the border by manpower.
envenidos a La Quiaca - Ushuaia 5,121
kilometres (3,182 mi)”. As you stare at the
big number, you will with no doubt get
dizzy with the realization that it is a very
long way down to Argentina’s most southern
town, Ushuaia. Between the Bolivian
border and Ushuaia, known as the “world’s
southernmost town”, Argentina has more to
offer than we can experience in a lifetime!
About 160 kilometres (99 mi) south
on the road to the town of Salta lies the
red mudbrick
village
of Humahuaca.
While
the town
itself is not
one of the country’s highlights, the surrounding
narrow mountains and valleys,
named Quebrada de Humahuaca, are
a vivid red-orange multi-coloured display
created by mother nature. Indeed, so
incredibly beautiful that it is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
As you arrive in Argentina, a large yellow
road sign will welcome you with “Bidered
by the Andean Plateau to the west
and north and by the sub-Andean hills to
the east. The Grande River (Río Grande)
flows through Quebrada de Humahuaca
and served as a caravan route to the Inca
Empire during the 15th century. The
river is mostly dry during the winter
months, which made it a perfect highway
for ancient explorers.
The Spanish conquerors knew these
Indian people of the Grande de Jujuy
River as
the “omaguacas”.
According
to historians,
the name
is derived
from an Andean Indian legend that makes
reference to a people crying: Humahuacac!
Humahuacac!
Quebrada de Humahuaca, known as Argentina’s
Rainbow Valley, has been populated for thousands of
years. It is packed with history and natural wonders.
Base yourself in sleepy Humahuaca
and head out into the rusty-red valley
by horse, on foot, or any other type of
transportation fit for a moon landscape.
The valley stretches about 155 kilometres
(96 mi) from north to south and is bor-
The town’s Hispanic foundation dates
back to 1591 as it served as a stopover for
expeditions to the High Perú.
Humahuaca has narrow cobbled
streets, illuminated by colonial-style street
lamps and is inhabited by a people clinging
to ancient traditions.
The curious traveller will find a few
interesting attractions in town such as
Humahuaca in northern Argentina.
12 Globerovers · July 2019