Where is quebrada de humahuaca

Quebrada de Humahuaca, located in the Province of Jujuy, is a narrow and arid mountainous valley, flanked by the high plateau of the Puna and the eastern wooded areas.

It is a highly representative example of the south Andean valleys, with an exceptional system of communication routes and economic, social and cultural coordination. This is the most important physical linkage between the high Andean lands and the extensive temperate plains in south-eastern South America.

Its impressive natural environment is kept almost intact, with hundreds of archaeological and architectural sites that bear witness to its long and rich history. Scattered along the valley are extensive remains of successive settlements whose inhabitants created and used these linear routes. Of particular note are the extensive remains of stone-walled agricultural terrace fields at Coctaca, thought to have originated around 1, years ago and still in use today; these are associated with a string of fortified towns known as pucaras.

The field system and the pucaras together make a dramatic impact on the landscape and one that is unrivalled in South America. The valley also displays several churches and chapels and a vibrant vernacular architectural tradition.

The current population, on its part, keeps its traditions in an outstanding cultural landscape. Thus, Quebrada de Humahuaca is an extremely complex heritage system characterised by elements of various kinds inserted in a stunning, impressive and colourful landscape.

The interaction between the geo-ecological system and the successive societies and cultures that have occupied it for the last 10, years shows space-time continuity that is hard to find in other areas. Separated from the ensemble, only a few properties can be considered unique and outstanding. However, the combination of natural and cultural elements has given rise to a site that is beyond comparison in every sense.

Criterion ii : The Quebrada de Humahuaca valley has been used over the past 10, years as a crucial passage for the transport of people and ideas from the high Andean lands to the plains. Criteria iv and v : The Quebrada de Humahuaca valley reflects the way its strategic position has engendered settlement, agriculture and trade.

Its distinctive pre-Hispanic and pre-Incan settlements, as a group with their associated field systems, form a dramatic addition to the landscape and one that can certainly be called outstanding.

The attributes that sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of Quebrada de Humahuaca are included within the boundaries of the inscribed property and the buffer zone, which ensures the complete representation of its significance as an evolving and dynamic landscape. Quebrada de Humahuaca is a combination of different aspects of settlements and transport routes which together make up the cultural route and the cultural landscape. Overall the valley still retains a high degree of integrity but this is made up of a combination of discrete factors, each of which need to be assessed individually.

The archaeological sites are well preserved as well as the conservation of construction techniques and the features of Hispanic churches. Most of the remains of the later abandoned settlements are likewise reasonably intact and have a high integrity. There is one exceptions and that is the Pucara of Tilcara which was partially reconstructed in the s and thus now has low integrity.

Many of the field systems associated with the pucaras are still in use and thus have integrity as part of a continuing agricultural system. The vulnerability of this site arises from the weakness of public policies and laws relating to the territorial planning, which may threaten the integrity of this property. The attributes showing of the property preserve their authenticity, keeping its technology, use and traditions, while incorporating new elements without affecting its harmonious relation to the environment.

At the same time, it continues fulfilling its millenary function as a space for communication, exchange and human settlement. The authenticity of this property, as an evolving cultural landscape, is reflected on the balance between the local uses and traditions and the introduction of modern materials and techniques.

The Spanish Churches still retain their overall form and particular construction techniques, although a few seem to have been over restored.

The cores of the main settlements still hold onto their distinctive low-rise form and traditional spatial planning but around the margins show diminishing authenticity in response to development pressures. On the other hand, there is evidence that the use of introduced modern materials is being countered by an increasing interest in the use of traditional local materials and techniques as a means of asserting identity.

The National Constitution of provides the overarching framework for the protection of both the cultural and natural heritage, through establishing the right to protection in order to enjoy a healthy and balanced environment. Further Provincial Laws protect folklore and craftsmanship as well as heritage of provincial importance. Specifically a provincial Decree of gives high priority to pursuing the inscription of Quebrada as a World Heritage Site and a Resolution shaped the composition of the Technical support Team for the proposed World Heritage Site.

Overall therefore, Quebrada is well protected by both general and specific legislation designed to protect its discrete cultural heritage and there is also a legal framework for the coordinating management structure.

The management plan of Quebrada de Humahuaca is the tool for the protection and preservation of its values, which aims at achieving a comprehensive administration, as well as solving authority, jurisdiction and dominion problems that may arise in a property characterised by a great extent, complexity and dynamism.

Quebrada de Humahuaca is envisioned as a site with a strengthened identity, territorially planned, and protected against natural dangers, with legally supported production diversity, a balanced environment and a better quality of life for its inhabitants. Within this framework, the management tools include the different perspectives relating the social organisation of the population.

One can almost feel the Bolivian atmosphere here in the streets, it's that far north. Humahuaca is home to the lovely ruin of the Torre de Santa Barbara once a fort, now moved , and an enormous Heroes of the Independence Monument that dwarves everything else in town. Like I already wrote, the pre-Hispanic sites are more difficult to find. I found that I had to make an effort and braved a visit to Coctaca on my own.

Coctaca is mentioned as one of the very few specific places in the nomination files. It supposedly has spectacular terraced agricultural lands that show all about how farming locally was and is done.

The only thing I noticed however was an extremely difficult unpaved road to drive, lots of cactuses and a town that seemed uninhabited. There were some stone demarcations visible between the fields, but I didn't really get where to look at.

You should really hire a local guide to visit here. The one at Tilcara is almost completely restored. The Quebrada de Humahuaca as most of the cultural landscapes on the list lacks major sights and I'm glad that Tilcara at least made an effort to make its precolumbian history come alive. The houses and communal buildings were made of dry stone.

The relatively large settlement, on top of a hill, is largely complete. There are explanatory signs in Spanish and English too. Write a review. This was the first site I visited outside of Europe and the Middle East. It was a lucky choice since the area has a very distinct atmposphere from what I had known. The Quebrada is stunning in its natural setting and a very special place.

In the Quebrada we visited Tilcara where we stayed and I would recommend to stay and nearby Purmamarca. Two special assets of the towns are their traditional colourful cemeteries filled with floral ornaments which are surprisingly cheerful, and the local Cuzco style paintings.

If you want an interesting explanation about the Quechua influence on this local Baroque style in Spanish go to the Museum of Colonial Painting in Jujuy Capital.

Local restaurants offer traditional Andean food and in some of them you can also listen to indigenous music. Two nearby attractions I would recommend to visit while here are are the Salinas Grandes de Jujuy second largest salt flats in the world after Uyuni, Bolivia and Calilegua National Park.

Quebrada de Humahuaca. Ciudad de Humahuaca. Plan to revive the railway passing through the valley. Detailed information about Pucara de Tilcara. An avalanche of stones falls on Tilcara The site has 1 locations. The site has 35 connections. Register Login. Login Sign up. The List. All tentative sites. Inscribed Sites Tentative Sites. Our Community. All connections. About Blog.

Quebrada de Humahuaca 3. Map of Quebrada de Humahuaca. Els Visit October 3. Community Reviews Write a review. Assif 3. Community Rating 3. Your Rating. Site History Inscribed. Site Links Unesco Website. Locations The site has 1 locations Quebrada de Humahuaca. Connections The site has 35 connections Architecture. Mudejar style : Most of the colonial churches in the valley are in the mudejar style. Earth Architecture.

Vernacular architecture : The valley also displays several churches and chapels and a vibrant vernacular architectural tradition. Railways : The valley is crossed by an early 20th century railway now defunct.