In Tumbaya Department, short walks sit alongside long routes to an important pilgrimage destination, with colorful mountain landscapes and religious cultural heritage adding to the appeal. When planning, it is worth keeping the different time scales in mind: a walk around Mirador Cerro Horno Huaico takes about half an hour, while the best-known route to Punta Corral takes approximately nine hours.

Landscapes and viewpoints in the Quebrada

The Quebrada de Humahuaca runs through Tumbaya Department. It is a narrow, dry mountain valley about 155 kilometers long, crossed by the Río Grande. One striking landform within it is Cerro de los Siete Colores in Purmamarca. Its bands show ocher, yellow, orange, green, brown, lilac and violet; their colors are associated with the sedimentary origin of the rocks.

There are parking spaces at the viewpoint for Cerro de los Siete Colores. Morning is considered the best time to see the mountain. As facilities can change, it is advisable to check the current parking arrangements before your visit. The viewpoint and the colorful rock layers offer different perspectives on the same landscape: one as a place to stop and take in the view, the other as a geological detail visible in the bands.

Cultural Heritage and Religious Traditions

In Purmamarca, Cerro de los Siete Colores and Paseo de los Colorados are designated as a “Natural Historic Monument.” The designation is based on Decreto acuerdo N° 8606-G. The boundaries were established in accordance with the provisions of the Provincial Ministry of Culture and Tourism and a survey plan prepared by the Dirección Provincial de Inmuebles for the expropriation. Paseo de los Colorados is also recommended as an activity for visitors to Purmamarca.

Chapels also form part of the department’s cultural history. The Chapel of Tumbaya is designated a National Historic Monument and welcomes thousands of pilgrims every year who come to visit the Virgen de Punta Corral. The Kolla community of Tumbaya makes the pilgrimage to the Santuario de Punta Corral, accompanied by Sikuri bands. The tradition is rooted in local Andean religiosity.

The Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores preserves valuable 18th-century paintings, including one from Cusco and three oil paintings from Jujuy attributed to Diego de Aliaga. The Quebrada de Humahuaca was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 in the Cultural Landscape category. Its valleys in Tumbaya Department preserve archaeological sites, architectural heritage and Indigenous traditions passed down through generations.

Walks and the route to Punta Corral

Mirador Cerro Horno Huaico offers an easy walk that takes about 30 minutes. From there, you can see Tumbaya, a broad stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca and the Quebrada de Horno Huaico to the west. Another short walking option follows the left bank of the Río Purmamarca. The round trip takes about 45 minutes; along the way, there are views of the town, the colorful mountains and Paseo de los Colorados.

The best-known route to Punta Corral is different and begins in Tumbaya. The hike takes approximately nine hours and climbs from 2,000 to 3,600 meters above sea level. If you plan to take this route, check local conditions and access. The time estimates help distinguish the walks at the viewpoint and along the Río Purmamarca from this longer undertaking, without presenting them as part of a single loop.

Local Experiences and Cuisine

The wine tourism experience offered by Tren del Vino, announced in 2026, includes a stop in Tumbaya with tastings of wines from Antropo Wines and Bodega El Molle in the Valles Templados. In Purmamarca, the itinerary includes lunch and a tour of Bodega Amanecer Andino. Operating details and availability may change; confirm the latest information before making firm plans to visit these stops.

Purmamarca’s tourist offering includes coca tea, cayote empanadillas, llama meat and high-altitude wine. The Feria Campesina was located at the former railway station in Volcán. There, artisans from various locations in the Puna de Jujuy sell their products; check locally for current information before visiting.

Members of the San Miguel de Colorados community, together with the neighboring communities of Pozo Colorado and Santuario de Tres Pozos, manage two intercommunity tourist stations on Ruta Nacional 52. The project has been in place since 2015. The stations offer local food and handicrafts, as well as guided visits to the salt flats and the large water pools of the Salinas Grandes. The best way to find out which offerings are available on site is to check for the latest information.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Volcán, Palpalá, Palpalá, Santa Catalina Department, El Carmen Department, Ledesma Department, Yavi, Santa Bárbara Department.

For the main travel overview: Jujuy.