Quebrada de Humahuaca full-day tour from Salta: Seven villages

Eleven hours through seven villages on Route 9, climbing to 2,940 meters

A full-day guided tour from Salta into the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage site in Jujuy province, visiting Purmamarca, Tilcara, Maimará, Uquía, and Humahuaca. The route follows Route 9 as it ascends through the Rio Grande valley, with stops at each village's landmarks and two hours free in Humahuaca for lunch and exploring the town. Live guides speak English and Spanish. Pickup is included from Salta.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour of Quebrada de Humahuaca

• Depart from Salta to San Salvador de Jujuy
• Technical stop for bathroom and snacks
• Visit Hill of Seven Colors in Purmamarca
• Visit Tilcara and its Pucará fortress
• Visit village church and ceramic factory
• Free time in La Quebrada for lunch and touring
• 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

The tour leaves Salta and crosses into Jujuy province, climbing Route 9 through towns built along the Rio Grande. Technical stops let you step out for restrooms and provisions before reaching Purmamarca, where the Seven Colors Hill rises above the village: the most recognizable landmark in the Quebrada. From there the route continues to Tilcara, home to the Pucará, a high fortress whose partially destroyed ruins sit above the town, and a village church paired with a ceramic factory.

Maimará appears next with its Painter's Palette, a series of colorful slopes that shift in the light, followed by a photo stop at the Tropic of Capricorn marker. Uquía's 17th-century chapel, carved in laminated gold, marks another pause before Humahuaca itself: the largest town in the Quebrada and the highest point on the route at 2,940 meters. You get two hours free here to walk the cobbled streets, see the Monument to Independence, the Cathedral Church and Municipal Building, and eat lunch on your own. The return to Salta follows the same road with additional technical stops along the way.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats groups together. The guide narrates in English or Spanish throughout the day. All fees and taxes are included in the price. The full route takes 11 to 12 hours from departure to return.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup from Salta.
• entry to all seven villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
• technical stops for restrooms and provisions.
• two hours free time in Humahuaca for lunch and exploring.
• all fees and taxes.

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 18 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La Quebrada Turismo

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed itinerary and schedule, so you travel with other passengers and follow the guide's pace through each stop. Choose it if you want the villages and landmarks explained by someone who knows the region and prefer not to arrange your own transport or navigate Route 9 yourself.

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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 Seven Colors Hill in Purmamarca?

The Seven Colors Hill is the most characteristic landmark of Purmamarca village, famous for the distinct colored bands that stripe its face: the signature image of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

How much time do I have to explore Humahuaca town itself?

Humahuaca gives you two hours free to walk around, eat lunch, and visit the cobbled streets, Monument to Independence, Cathedral Church and Municipal Building at your own pace.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included. You buy your own meal during the two-hour stop in Humahuaca or at any of the technical stops along the route.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes, pickup from Salta is included in the tour price.

How high does the route climb?

Humahuaca, the highest point on the route, sits at 2,940 meters above sea level. The ascent begins from Salta and passes through Volcano at 2,070 meters.