Purmamarca
Purmamarca is a town in Jujuy province in Northwest Argentina.
Understand
Purmamarca is amongst the top travel destinations in Argentina. Located in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO world heritage site, the town sits next to the Cerro de los Siete Colores, the most famous landmark in Northwest Argentina.
Get in
On foot
You can hike between Pucarama and Tilcara, and see the hills at Maimará and the Cerro Paleta del Pintor a little further. It is about 25 km.
Get around
You can easily walk around Purmamarca and even do the Los Colorados trail behind the town to the west.
See
The old pueblo and church, with worn cobblestone paths, and feel as though you had gone back 200 years or more.
Do
- 🌍
Cerro de Siete Colores. An incredibly beautiful multicoloured hill. Best view around 10:00. Unfortunately, the best viewpoints charge AR$10, like on the roof of the bus station and the hill right in front of it. However, the close viewpoints (like the hill in front) do not really appreciate the green mountain behind (being part of the 7 colors). You can take better pictures a few 100 m before the town on the main road.
If you still want to have the view from the top of the hill in front but skip the $10 entrance, take the trail on the sun-side of the hill up to the right. The mountain is not private property, just on the other side's entrance you walk through someone's backyard, which is why they charge $10. Don't mind the "Peligroso" signs, they were probably put up by the very same people. The trail to the right is not very steep—easy to medium difficulty.
Buy
A small market loaded with items of all kinds, including Bolivian hand-woven blankets with nice, authentic designs. Wise, knowledgeable and friendly shop owners, though they may be difficult to find at siesta time.
Eat
There are many good restaurants.
- Comarca Lodge With waiting staff professional trained at the Sala Gastronomical Institute; the meals four stars plus, including perfectly cooked steak, fabulous, intoxicating, fruit puree drizzled desserts. Even after 20:00.
Drink
Sleep
If you go to Purmamarca as part of a tour, the tour operators are good at arranging lodging for you. Otherwise, the town is not the cheapest around and you will be better off heading further to Tilcara or Humahuaca for budget accommodation.
- Comarca Lodge - Gracious, bright, friendly people.
- Bebo Vilte (Just behind the church), ☎ +54 388 4908038. Camping but also simple, nice, and very clean rooms with ensuite bathrooms. Tiled floors, good bathrooms. Simple breakfast consisting of coffee/tea and biscuits with marmalade ARS 200 for a double room with private bathroom (March 2012).
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