The Pucará de Tilcara, the Strength of the Quebrada de Humahuaca

You leave beautiful Tilcara by a dirt road and cross a large iron bridge where you discover a huge landscape covered in yellow poplar. You walk a little more, and climb a small hill. At the top you'll discover the Pucara, or fortress, that was built by the 'tilcaras' (native to the region) more than 900 years ago. It's a magical place with fabulous views over the valley of the Rio Grande and Quebrada de Humahuaca. Half rebuilt, the Pucara is amazing and especially suggestive. If you're fortunate to visit with only a few people, you'll be flooded with a strange energy.

Discovered about 100 years ago, the Pucara de Tilcara is a 900 years old fortress, which was built by the Tilcara in a strategic location of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, on a small hill about 100 m (the site is 2,450 m above sea level), which dominates the Rio Grande. The place is ideal for defence, because on one hand it is protected by the sheer drop to the Rio Grande and on the other by the slopes of the mountain. It is quite large, which gives an idea of ​​its historical significance, and they have excavated and identified neighborhoods with houses, animal pens, a cemetery and sacred ceremonial

The Indian fort Pucara de Tilcara was built on a hill just outside of Tilcara, Jujuy. From this point you can see across the valley of Humahuaca and explore the endless ochre of the surrounding hills. Huge "cactus" (giant thistles) dominate the desert landscape of this charming place in Northern Argentina.