The landscapes of the mountains of Hornocal and the Salinas Grandes that captivate tourists

The mountains of the Hornocal, majestic landscape of the Humahuaca ravine, and the Salinas Grandes, nestled in the heart of the puna, are the two Jujuean sites finalists of the contest of the 7 Natural Wonders of Argentina — which will have its definition on May 7 — that cause the amazement of tourists who visit them.

The Serranía del Hornocal, which is located 25 kilometers east of the historic city of Humahuaca, is reached by Provincial Route 73 with large vehicles and is the natural boundary with the eastern valleys of Jujuy.
“ It is an imposing hill, which we, as travel agents, say causes the same sensation to see the Hornocal as the Perito Moreno glacier or the Iguazú Falls, because of its natural immensity,” Andrés Cussi, a worker in the tourism sector, told Télam.

This imposing landscape extends for approximately 10 kilometers and reaches 5,000 meters of altitude, being the second highest hill in the department of Humahuaca, after the Colorado hill in the town of Caspalá.

Both visitors and residents call it the hill of 14 colors, as a comparison with the hill of seven colors located in the heart of the village of Purmamarca.
Also, in some records of native explorers this place is defined as the hill of 33 arches on the geological formation that is estimated to be about 130 million years old.

Because of its beauty, it is a favorite of visitors and is chosen for various national and international audiovisual productions.
When reaching 4,350 meters above sea level you will find the main viewpoint, and later, after descending to the lower part, you will find the second space to appreciate the gigantism of the hill and at the foot of it you can see an archaeological site which is part of the Qapac Ñam.
El Hornocal has had a constant growth in tourism: in high season they arrive to visit it “more than 500 vehicles per day,” Cussi said.

The place is currently managed by the local indigenous community, who charge an income voucher and are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the area.
The other Jujeño site that wonders are the Salinas Grandes, a vast white landscape located at 3,600 meters above sea level, between the limits of Salta and Jujuy, which in October 2017 were recognized as one of the “17 wildest and most beautiful places in the world” by the National Geographic portal.
The beauty of the Salinas Grandes lies in its immense plain of salt, which is extracted in a traditional way, whose exploitation in pre-Hispanic times was established firmly, either for self-consumption or for commercial barter.

Located 135 kilometers west of San Salvador de Jujuy, Salinas Grandes have great tourist potential for which there are improvements in services provided by entrepreneurs from native communities.
“ Almost 80% of the people who come to Purmamarca, among them tourists from all over the world, take a walk through the Salinas, so they must ascend the Cuesta de Lipán,” Oscar Tolaba, told Télam. For whom the choice of the Salinas Grandes among the 28 finalists of the 7 Maravillas Argentinas, “is a great satisfaction ".

Source: Télam