Northwest Argentina trip - Purmamarca

Day 4. Purmamarca is perhaps the prettiest town in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, at least to us is that we more liked. It is a small town but with great natural beauty as it lies at the foot of Hill of Seven Colors.

We got up not too early and went to take a bus to Purmamarca. Approximately 30 minutes drive through the Quebrada (Route 9) until we can see at right the famous hill. We left RN 9 and and continue 3 km to the village.

Low adobe houses and colorful, the main attraction is the square with a craft fair. Facing the square is the church of great historical and cultural value. Also there is the town hall. All with the stunning backdrop of the Hill of Seven Colors.

Vuelta de los Colorados

The Vuelta de los Colorados is a must for visiting Purmamarca, is a walking tour of about 40 minutes going around the Hill of Seven Colors and gives us an incredible variety of colors ranging from green to red.

The tour begins and ends in the village but that advice is good because depending on time of day is done (morning or afternoon) is appropriate to begin the journey from one side or another, that is walking with the sun at our backs and we are not dazzling, and the colors are better appreciated.

Salinas Grandes

After the Vuelta de los Colorados a pizza lunch a block from the square and later took a remis to Salinas Grandes. The trip is engaged there in the moment together four passengers in and out. They charged $ 40 per person and lasts approximately 3.5 hours between leg, walking a while in the saline and return.

It's worth it, being in the salt is incredible. When you get there, go into the saline and left about 400 or 500 meters from the path around to find the pools of salt extraction.

The pools are rectangular excavations that are about 80 cm deep, in doing so the water flows from below and the pools are filled. About 9 months and gradually the place of water is being occupied by salt springs from below to fill all the pools. Then the salt is removed and is ready to use because it is free of impurities.

Also remove the salt directly but in this case have to be processed to extract dirt and other impurities.

On one side of the road you can visit the restaurant of salt (actually are obsolete), a building constructed entirely of salt bricks. There are also tables and chairs and of course salt artisans who sculpt various figures in salt. They say that Buenos Aires to bring them to disintegrate in the humidity but I brought a cube of salt to about 5 x 5 cm which is still intact.

Purmamarca back to take the bus to Tilcara again for dinner and rest.

If the trip is looking for peace and quiet I think we should stay in Purmamarca is much nicer and quieter than Tilcara. But "the night" are in Tilcara.

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