Tilcara brings together archaeological history, museums and living traditions amid a striking river landscape. If you are looking for a destination with a cultural focus, you can explore it from several perspectives: the Pucará as a pre-Hispanic settlement, museums offering biographical and regional historical perspectives, and the activities of Comparsa Los Caprichosos. The landscape also has several points of interest: the Pucará lies at the confluence of the Guasamayo and Grande rivers; the Garganta del Diablo is in the surrounding area, southeast of Tilcara.

Archaeology and Nature at the Pucará

The Pucará de Tilcara was the largest pre-Hispanic settlement in the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This distinction highlights its importance within the region; the confluence of the Guasamayo and Grande rivers also describes the location of the archaeological site. If you are interested in the pre-Hispanic past, the Pucará combines a historical perspective with a tangible connection to the landscape.

On the grounds of the Pucará, the Jardín Botánico de Altura supports the conservation, research and interpretation of regional biodiversity. This adds a natural history perspective to the archaeological one: the history of the settlement and regional biodiversity are two distinct subjects explored within the same site.

Two Distinct Museum Perspectives

The Museo Nacional Terry is located in the former home of the painter José Antonio Terry and his partner, Amalia Amoedo. The Museo Arqueológico y Antropológico “Dr. Eduardo Casanova,” by contrast, offers an integrated insight into the region’s pre-Hispanic past through its material culture. The two museums have different focuses: the Terry is connected to a former home and specific individuals, while the Casanova focuses on the region’s past. If you are mapping out your cultural interests, these offer two complementary approaches: biographical and regional historical.

Traditions and Festive Periods

Comparsa Los Caprichosos de Tilcara is open to anyone who wishes to take part, including people who were not born in the area. Its activities are concentrated around Lent, Holy Week, Carnaval Grande and Carnaval Chico. For planning purposes, participation and timing are two separate considerations: the Comparsa is open to all, while its activities are concentrated around these festive periods. If you want to plan a trip around a specific celebration, check the dates for your planned travel period.

The Good Friday celebration in 2026 was planned to include the procession of the images to the atrium, the removal of the Señor de la Cruz for burial in the Holy Sepulchre, and a subsequent Stations of the Cross procession through the Ermitas of Tilcara.

Landscape and Getting There

The natural gorge Garganta del Diablo is in the surrounding area of Tilcara. It formed southeast of the town, upstream of the Río Huasamayo. The Indigenous community Ayllu Mama Qolla is responsible for preserving the natural attraction and managing visits there. This nearby landscape offers another point of interest alongside Tilcara’s archaeological and museum attractions.

Tilcara can be reached from San Salvador de Jujuy via National Route 9. Bus services stop at Tilcara’s bus station. Before setting off, check current bus services before planning your arrival at the bus station.

Discover more destinations: Ciudad Perico, Huacalera, Yala, San Javier, Humahuaca, La Quiaca, San Salvador de Jujuy, Calilegua

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