Quebrada de Humahuaca

UNESCO Site · Jujuy Province, 🇦🇷 Argentina

Area 5,314 km²

Time zone America/Argentina/Jujuy

Official website whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116

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Featured Lists

Lahi / CC BY-SA 3.0

Quebrada de Humahuaca Essentials

This UNESCO World Heritage valley in northwest Argentina follows the Rio Grande, serving as a major trade route for over 10,000 years. The landscape is defined by dramatic geological formations like the 14-colored Hornocal and the red cliffs of Purmamarca. Key sites include colonial churches with cactus-wood ceilings, pre-Columbian fortifications, and monuments commemorating the Argentine War of Independence. The region preserves indigenous Omaguaca traditions alongside Spanish colonial architecture and high-altitude Andean scenery.

12 places

Gustavo Lajus / CC-BY-SA

Natural Wonders of Jujuy

The Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northwest Argentina, follows the Rio Grande valley through dramatic geological strata. This list highlights the region's diverse minerals, including the Serranía de Hornocal's fourteen-colored slopes and the iconic Cerro de los Siete Colores. Beyond the multi-hued mountains, the area features the deep Garganta del Diablo canyon, high-altitude lagoons, and red sandstone formations like the Quebrada de las Señoritas, reflecting millions of years of tectonic activity and erosion.

10 places

Gustavo Lajus / CC-BY-SA

Cultural Heritage of Humahuaca

The Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Jujuy, preserves over 10,000 years of history as a major cultural trade route. This list features significant pre-Hispanic archaeological sites, such as the extensive agricultural terraces of Coctaca and the fortified ruins of La Huerta. It also includes monumental landmarks in the town of Humahuaca that commemorate the Argentine War of Independence, set against the backdrop of the region's distinctively colored geological formations.

7 places

Historic Churches & Sacred Sites

The Quebrada de Humahuaca features a unique blend of Spanish colonial architecture and indigenous Andean spirituality. This collection includes 17th-century adobe churches like Santa Rosa in Purmamarca, known for its cardón wood ceilings, and San Francisco de Paula in Uquía, which houses rare 'Angeles Arcabuceros' paintings. It also highlights high-altitude pilgrimage sites such as Abra de Punta Corral and traditional shrines where the Pachamama is honored, reflecting the region's syncretic heritage.

10 places