This three-day plan follows the Quebrada de Humahuaca from south to north, which is also the logical order for acclimatising to altitude. Day 1 settles you into Purmamarca and Tilcara, the heart of the gorge. Day 2 climbs north to Humahuaca and the spectacular 14-coloured Hornocal. Day 3 heads west over a 4,170m pass to the Salinas Grandes salt flats. Start each morning early for the best light on the coloured mountains, and base yourself in Tilcara or Purmamarca. Save any stop to drop it straight into your own itinerary.
3 Days in Jujuy: A Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Purmamarca & Tilcara: into the gorge
Must visit
08:30Viewpoint4.8
Cerro de los Siete Colores
Begin in Purmamarca beneath the Cerro de los Siete Colores, where 75 million years of mineral deposits streak the hillside in rose, cream, green, and ochre. Morning light makes the colours glow.
Purmamarca
Tip: The classic wide view is from RN 52 heading toward the Salinas Grandes, just outside the village.
09:30Outdoor
Paseo de los Colorados Hike
Walk the 3km Paseo de los Colorados loop around the back of the hill, threading through red rock and cardon cactus for close-ups of the coloured strata you cannot see from the plaza.
Purmamarca1.5-2 hours (3km loop)
Tip: Go counterclockwise for the best light, and bring water and sun protection; the trail is exposed.
12:00Restaurant4.3
Los Morteros
Lunch on the terrace at Los Morteros, facing the Siete Colores. Try the llama carpaccio or empanadas jujeñas with quinoa, the best mountain-view table in the village.
Purmamarca
Tip: The courtyard fills up at peak times; arrive a little before noon for the prime tables.
Must visit
14:30Memorial4.5
Pucara de Tilcara
Drive 25 minutes north to Tilcara and climb to the Pucara, a reconstructed pre-Columbian fortress of the Omaguaca people on a strategic hilltop with panoramic gorge views.
Tilcara
Tip: The entry ticket also covers the on-site museum and botanical garden; allow 1.5-2 hours.
Must visit
19:30Restaurant4.6
El Nuevo Progreso 1917
End the day at El Nuevo Progreso 1917, Tilcara's most celebrated table, in a restored general store serving contemporary Andean cooking and high-altitude wines.
Tilcara
Tip: It is popular and closed Tuesdays; reserve ahead, especially in high season.
Day 2
Humahuaca & the 14-coloured Hornocal
08:00Nature
Paleta del Pintor - Maimara
Stop at Maimara on the way north for the Paleta del Pintor, a mountainside of eroded sediment bands rising behind a hillside cemetery of white crosses. Less crowded than Purmamarca, just as photogenic.
Maimara, Quebrada de Humahuaca
Tip: There is a designated viewpoint with parking right off RN 9.
10:00Memorial4.3
Humahuaca
Reach Humahuaca, the highest and most traditional gorge town. Wander its narrow colonial streets and time the main plaza for noon, when a mechanical figure of San Francisco Solano emerges from the Cabildo clock tower to bless the town.
Humahuaca
Tip: Climb the monumental stairway to the independence monument for sweeping views over the town.
12:30Viewpoint4.2
Monumento a los Heroes de la Independencia
Just above the plaza, the towering bronze and stone Monumento a los Heroes de la Independencia crowns a hilltop with the best panorama of Humahuaca and the surrounding gorge.
Humahuaca
Tip: Go before the midday heat; the stairway is steep and exposed.
Must visit
15:00Viewpoint4.9
Serranias del Hornocal
Drive 25km on a rough dirt road east of Humahuaca to the Hornocal viewpoint at 4,350m, where a jagged serrated ridge displays 14 mineral colours against a deep cobalt sky, even more dramatic than Purmamarca.
Humahuaca
Tip: A high-clearance vehicle or shared excursion is best; go before clouds build, and bring warm layers.
Day 3
Cuesta de Lipan & the Salinas Grandes
09:00Viewpoint
Cuesta de Lipan
Leave Purmamarca west on RN 52 and climb the Cuesta de Lipan, a paved pass with dozens of switchbacks rising to 4,170m at the Abra de Potrerillos. Stop at the miradores and watch for wild vicunas on the high plateau.
RN 52 between Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes
Tip: The road is paved and in good condition, but take it slow and stop often for the views.
11:30Nature
Salinas Grandes
Descend onto the Salinas Grandes, a 212 sq km salt flat at 3,450m. Walk the geometric hexagonal salt crust, see the turquoise artisanal brine pools, and buy salt crafts from the Atacameno cooperative on site.
Altiplano, 3,450m altitude
Tip: UV is extreme at altitude; bring strong sunscreen and polarized sunglasses. Midday gives the most vivid white-on-blue contrast.
16:00Market4.1
Feria Artesanal de Purmamarca
Back in Purmamarca, browse the daily artisan market on the plaza for hand-woven textiles, ponchos, cactus-wood crafts, and Andean spices, ideal for last-minute souvenirs.
Purmamarca
Tip: Look for hand-woven pieces from local cooperatives; quality varies stall to stall.
FAQ
- Is 3 days enough for Jujuy?
- Yes. Three days covers the highlights of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, plus one major day trip to the Salinas Grandes and one to the Hornocal. If you want to slow down, add the yungas cloud forest, the Termas de Reyes hot springs, or a llama trek to stretch it to four or five days.
- Should I do this itinerary north or south first?
- Travel south to north up the gorge, starting at Purmamarca (2,192m) and working toward Humahuaca (2,939m) and the Hornocal (4,350m). This gives your body time to acclimatise gradually before the highest, most strenuous side trips.
- Do I need a car for this itinerary?
- A car or shared excursions make the Hornocal and Salinas Grandes much easier, as buses do not serve them directly. The gorge towns themselves (Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca) are well connected by frequent public buses on RN 9 if you prefer not to drive.
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