Hornocal & Quebrada de Humahuaca tour from Salta: 14-color hill

The road to Hornocal switches to 4x4 once you leave the main ravine.

An 11- to 12-hour tour from Salta through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Argentina's northwest, visiting seven villages and ending at Hornocal's distinctive 14-color mountain. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle for the lower ravine, a switch to 4x4 for the high-altitude approach to Hornocal, a live guide in English or Spanish, and all entry fees. Lunch is not included, so bring your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quebrada de Humahuaca and Hornocal

• Depart from Salta to San Salvador de Jujuy
• Technical stop for bathroom and snacks
• Visit Hill of 7 Colors in Purmamarca
• Visit Tilcara and Pucará
• Visit village church and ceramic factory
• Transfer to 4x4 in Uquía and drive to Hornocal
• Stop in Humahuaca for 20 minutes
• Photographic visit to Painter's Palettes
• Photo tour of Tropic of Capricorn
• Technical stop for bathroom and provisions
• Return to Salta with stops for bathroom and snacks

The experience

Leaving Salta early, you travel north through technical stops toward the Quebrada de Humahuaca, entering Jujuy province. The route passes through Volcano, then Purmamarca, where Cerro de los 7 Colores rises above the village: one of the ravine's most photographed landmarks. From there the tour continues through Tilcara, home to the Pucará fortress, and into Humahuaca itself, the largest town in the gorge, where you get 20 minutes to walk around before heading back down the valley.

The real climb begins once you reach Uquía, a small village holding ancient paintings of the Arcabucero Angels. Here you switch into a 4x4 vehicle for the steep, winding road up to Hornocal. The 14-color hill, Serranías del Hornocal, reveals itself in layers of mineral-stained rock: reds, yellows, greens and purples shifting across the mountainside depending on the light and angle. The panoramic views from the top stretch across high-altitude desert. On the return, you stop briefly at La Palette del Pintor in Maimará for photographs, then pass through Huacalera, where you can stand on the imaginary line marking the Tropic of Capricorn.

The journey back to Salta follows the ravine's landscapes with technical stops along the way if you need to use a bathroom or pick up water and snacks. Plan to bring lunch or something light to eat. There is no restaurant stop in Humahuaca, and the schedule does not allow time for a sit-down meal. The guide speaks English or Spanish depending on the group.

What’s included

• Visit to Cerro de los 7 Colores in Purmamarca, the Pucará fortress in Tilcara, the Arcabucero Angels paintings in Uquía, and the 14-color mountain at Hornocal.
• air-conditioned transport through the ravine and 4x4 vehicle to Hornocal.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• photo stops at La Palette del Pintor in Maimará and the Tropic of Capricorn in Huacalera.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 23

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La Quebrada Turismo

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that matches your group. If your Spanish is limited, request the English-speaking departure to follow the commentary comfortably throughout the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

What is the 14-color hill at Hornocal, and why does it look that way?

Hornocal, also called Serranías del Hornocal, is a high-altitude mountain whose exposed rock face displays bands of different mineral colors (reds, yellows, greens, purples and blues) created by iron oxide, copper and other minerals in the stone. The colors shift and intensify depending on the time of day and the angle of sunlight.

Do I need to bring my own lunch on this tour?

Yes, you should bring lunch or something light to eat. The schedule does not include a restaurant stop, and there is no time to eat in Humahuaca during the 20-minute village visit. Bring food and water for the full day.

Why do we switch to a 4x4 vehicle partway through the tour?

The road to Hornocal becomes steep and rough at high altitude, so a 4x4 is necessary for safe passage. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle through the lower ravine and villages, then transfer to the 4x4 once you reach Uquía to climb to the mountain.

What is the Tropic of Capricorn stop in Huacalera?

Huacalera marks the imaginary line of the Tropic of Capricorn, one of the five major circles of latitude on Earth. The tour includes a photo stop here so you can stand on the line itself: a popular spot for travelers to mark the moment.

How long does the full tour take, and what time do we return to Salta?

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours total. You leave Salta early in the morning and return in the late afternoon or early evening, with technical stops for bathrooms and provisions along the way.