Humahuaca

Humahuaca is also located north of Salta, and also includes a trip to Pumarmarca. I didn’t mind visiting it twice though. Over and above this we visit a view other places of interest. One of these is Pucara de Tilcara, which is next to the town of Tilcara. These are rebuilt Incan ruins, though not correct historically. They are rebuilt to give visitors an idea of the buildings of the time.  The site is an archaeological site and excavation took place over many years in the early to later 1900s. The monument is there for the archaeologists who worked on the site- something that was somewhat strange to me. 

We have a very brief stop in Uquía. There is a church here that has a rather unique set of paintings. When the Spanish arrived they asked the Incans to paint angels for the church, however the Incans had never heard of angels and thus asked what they looked like. The Spanish replied that: “They look like us”. Thus, the paintings of the angels are those of Spanish military personnel, with rifles and wings! No photos are allowed inside though.

In the afternoon we stop by Maimará –which is a stop to view “La Paleta del Pintor” (Palette of the Painter). The coloured mountains look better in the late afternoon sun. On the way here we also glimpse the Mountain of 14 Colours, which looks fabulous and was featured on National Geographic’s cover recently.