Humahuaca

Humahuaca is a town and municipality in the Humahuaca Department of Jujuy Province, Argentina. It lies in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a long, narrow valley in the Andean northwest. The town sits at high altitude and serves as a historical and cultural center for the region. The Quebrada is noted for its dramatic scenery and multicolored rock formations.

In 2003, UNESCO designated the Quebrada de Humahuaca as a World Heritage cultural landscape, recognizing the valley's long history of Indigenous settlement and its continuing cultural significance.

Ethnic groups such as the Omaguaca have inhabited the region for centuries. During the colonial era, Humahuaca developed as a waypoint on trans-Andean routes linking the plateau with other regions. The town retains colonial-era architecture around a central plaza and a church, illustrating its historical role as a regional hub.

Today the local economy relies on tourism, agriculture, and crafts. Markets offer textiles and other handicrafts, and visitors use Humahuaca as a base to explore nearby towns, valleys, and archaeological sites along the Quebrada.

The area has a high-altitude, arid climate with strong sun by day and cool nights. The landscape comprises canyon walls, terraces, and hills that show varied colors.

Humahuaca is connected by road to San Salvador de Jujuy and the Bolivian border town of La Quiaca, forming part of the main tourist circuit through the Quebrada de Humahuaca.