Quebrada de Humahuaca, a living Andean corridor of colour

Quebrada de Humahuaca in Jujuy’s Humahuaca region combines a vivid Andean valley landscape with 10,000 years of visible human history.

Quebrada de Humahuaca in north-west Argentina is an Andean valley where a band of multi-coloured rock frames a corridor of villages, terraces and historic routes. Stretching for more than 150 km between the high plateau of the Puna and the lower temperate valleys, it forms a long north–south passage carved by the Río Grande in the province of Jujuy and centred on the town of Humahuaca.narrow mountainous valley In 2003 UNESCO recognised the Quebrada as a World Heritage cultural landscape, highlighting its role as a route linking the Andes with the plains over at least 10,000 years.date of inscription in 2003

An Andean valley drawn in layers of stone

The Quebrada de Humahuaca forms a long, narrow valley where slopes of sedimentary rock rise above the Río Grande and the villages along its floor. The corridor runs roughly north–south, bordered to the west and north by the high Puna plateau and to the east by lower Sub-Andean ranges that fall away towards warmer valleys.bordered by Puna and Sierras Subandinas Within this setting, cliffs and hills show distinct bands of ochre, red, green and grey rock, the result of long sequences of deposition and uplift exposed along the valley sides.multicoloured cliff faces

The Río Grande de Jujuy follows the length of the Quebrada, cutting through the valley floor and, in places, pressing close to the road and the disused railway line that share its course.river and transport corridor Villages such as Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca and others stand on terraces and fans above the river, where cultivated plots, adobe houses and churches sit against the backdrop of steep Andean slopes.string of valley villages

A cultural route with 10,000 years of occupation

Archaeological and historical evidence in Quebrada de Humahuaca traces human use of the valley as a route and settlement area over at least 10,000 years. Finds associated with early hunter-gatherer groups mark some of the oldest phases of occupation, followed by traces of early agriculture and larger pre-Columbian settlements.10,000 years of use In the late pre-Hispanic period, the valley formed part of the network of Andean routes, including the Camino Inca, that linked high lands and lowland plains.Camino Inca cultural route

Indigenous communities such as the Omaguaca lived in the valley and built fortified sites, including the Pucará de Tilcara, which occupies a prominent spur above the Río Grande.Omaguaca and Pucará de Tilcara During the fifteenth century the Quebrada lay within the sphere of the Inca Empire, and later, under Spanish rule, it became an overland link between the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.colonial transport route The valley also formed part of the theatre of the South American wars of independence, leaving battle sites and memorials among its settlements.

Quebrada de Humahuaca as a World Heritage cultural landscape

UNESCO inscribed Quebrada de Humahuaca on the World Heritage List in July 2003 as a cultural landscape, reflecting both the natural landform and the human imprint along the valley.World Heritage cultural landscape The listing under cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (v) recognises the valley as a long-used passage for people and ideas, as an area of settlement and agriculture shaped by its strategic position, and as an example of interaction between communities and a demanding Andean environment.criteria ii, iv and v

The World Heritage property encompasses the length of the valley corridor, including the Río Grande, the surrounding slopes, the villages and their cultivated lands. It is described in the nomination as following the line of the Camino Inca from high Andean desert near the source of the river to its confluence with the Río León, over a distance of around 150 km.route from High Andean lands This framing reinforces Quebrada de Humahuaca as a landscape where geology, altitude and long human use are entwined and remain legible in its terraces, paths, shrines and village layouts.

Visiting Quebrada de Humahuaca: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Quebrada de Humahuaca lies in the province of Jujuy in north-west Argentina, with the valley running towards and beyond the town of Humahuaca; it is reached by road that follows the Río Grande corridor.
• The terrain combines high-altitude Andean conditions with steep valley sides; approaches to viewpoints and historic sites often involve walking on uneven ground and climbing stone steps.
• The valley includes a chain of settlements such as Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca, so travel tends to involve moving between villages along the main road rather than focusing on a single compact site.
• The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.

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Frequently asked questions about Quebrada de Humahuaca

Where is Quebrada de Humahuaca?

Quebrada de Humahuaca is a narrow Andean valley in Jujuy province in north-west Argentina, running along the Río Grande and including the town of Humahuaca.location in Jujuy

What can visitors expect on a trip through the valley?

Visitors encounter a sequence of Andean villages, cultivated terraces, historic sites and vividly layered rock formations along a long valley floor crossed by road and river.

What makes Quebrada de Humahuaca distinctive among Andean landscapes?

The valley combines striking multi-coloured geology with visible traces of continuous human use as a cultural route for at least 10,000 years, recognised in its UNESCO World Heritage status.inscription details