From Salta we took an interesting route through cloud forest to Tilcarà which is in a mountainous area close to the Chilean and Bolivian borders.
On the way we came across a road block of striking workers but a helpful local showed us a way around the blockage. This is the second time we have been affected by strikes, the first was when the bus drivers went on strike during our day trip to Cordoba.
On the way we came across a road block of striking workers but a helpful local showed us a way around the blockage. This is the second time we have been affected by strikes, the first was when the bus drivers went on strike during our day trip to Cordoba.
buying stuff from six year olds in Humahuaca
We are in an area known as the Quebrada de Humahuaca and is a World Heritage Site (so there's another ticked off that list). The scenery here is breathtaking with wonderfully coloured rocks and strange formations weathered by the wind which gets pretty fierce by midday.
early morning & cloud in the valley
Tilcara is a bustling dusty town, it attracts tourists to the area and the little market is a spectacle of colour from the blankets, hats bags etc which are on sale here.there are bars and restaurants and most exciting of all a laundrette, we took our mudstained jeans (our muddy saga we will save for another day) and towels in there, it will cost about £3.
strikers blocked the road
About 70 kms from here are large salt flats and we attempted to visit these today but our van does not like going above 3000 metres and the road climbs by increasingly tight turns (see photo) above from 2,400m to 4000m. Warning lights came on and the engine began to make horrid noises as it lost power at altitude so we felt it best to turn back. Only slightly disappointed as we enjoyed the most breathtaking scenery, and as we had gone out early visibility was good so the camera got a good thrashing.
snaking road up into the mountains
We ended our trip by trying llama empanadas for lunch in another dusty adobe town called Purmamarca. They were delicious.
street in Pumamarca
street traders at Pumamarca
Wrapped up on a frosty morning in the Andes
Finally a word about the weather up here - really really cold. No heater in van and this morning not only outside of windscreen frozen but also the inside. Fortunately the duvet that came with the van is very thick.
RSS Feed
