While traveling through Argentina, I took a fantastic day trip from Salta to la Quebrada de Humahuaca up in the northwest. La Quebrada (meaning a deep crack or ravine) should really be called the Canyon of a Million Colors — mountains 2000+ meters above sea level striated in vivid hues of purples, pinks, greens and oranges... an absolutely gorgeous yet harsh landscape. The valley winds its way up to the border of Bolivia so don't expect anything 'typically Argentinian', think more indigenous towns lining the historic Inca trail. I made stops at Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of 7 Colors) in Pumamarca, the town square and historic white adobe cathedral in Humahuaca, the Inca site of Pucará in Tilcara, the colorful town of Uquia, and Painter's Palette mountains in Maimara. I made sure to begin early in the morning when the colors are at their brightest and just before the sun set made the ever-cool crossing of the Tropic of Capricorn, the most southerly latitude on earth.
