Some 120 km north of San Salvador de Jujuy is the quaint village of Humahuaca, just one of several historic settlements in the magnificent Quebrada de Humahuaca, a stunning gorge dominated by orange, green, yellow and purple-pink rock strata.

Humahuaca, founded in 1591, is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande. Its tiny Plaza Gomez is surrounded by a maze of narrow cobbled streets flanked with adobe houses. On the plaza itself stands the restored 17th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Candalaria which houses a collection of paintings by Cuzqueno artist Marcas Sapaca. Outside the Cabildo, the neo-colonial town hall, people gather each mid-day to watch the mechanical San Francisco Solano emerge from the tower to bless the town. Behind the church a staircase leads to the incredibly large Monumento a los Heroes de la Independencia created by local sculptor Ernesto Soto Avendaño.

Humahuaca also boasts a handful of museums including the Museo del Carnaval Norteno and the Museo Arqueologico Municipal. Besides the Feria de Artesanos on San Martin, there are numerous craft shops in the town and dozens of artesanos selling their wares in the plaza. Every year in February the town celebrates the Virgen de la Candelaria.