La Quiaca
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Located in the most northern part of Argentina, La Quiaca is a small town situated on the plateau of the Jujuy Puna and directly on the Argentine-Bolivian border. For those going to Bolivia, La Quiaca makes for the perfect rest-stop or overnight stay and even offers up a few good sights to entertain you while you are there.
The province of San Salvador de Jujuy extends all the way up to the Bolivian border and has a unique mix of different forms of landscapes, terrains, temperatures, plant and wildlife. La Quiaca is located in the midst of the Puna or Altiplano, a vast area of valley’s and tumbling hills, where the land is dry, and the region sees numerous amounts of different temperatures depending on the terrain and level of altitude.
The small city of La Quiaca, home to 13,000 inhabitants, lies on the La Quiaca River which divides La Quiaca with the Bolivian border town of Villazon and is the main travel route for trips between Argentina and Bolivia. This area was once home to the Incas, before the colonization of the Spanish, and today portrays a mix adobe styled buildings, long narrow streets, and quaint homes, and the people know as the Coyas, are still seen wearing their traditional colourful clothing and displaying colourful decorations, handicrafts and textiles specific to the region. There are a few good restaurants in the town serving traditional cuisine, including Locro (meat stew) and Milanesa (breaded meat).
There are also a few good sights around La Quiaca for those planning to stay the night or even a of couple days before venturing into Bolivia.
Yavi
This tiny village located 15km east of La Quiaca, on a high plateau in the Puna valleys, is most famous for its beautiful and ancient church, Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Rosario u San Francisco. In Yavi you can also go hiking into the Cerros Colorados, where you will find ancient rock paintings in Las Cuevas, or the spectacular hot springs, Agua de Castilla, and more. All tours can be booked once you arrive in Yavi.
Natural Laguna de Los Pozuelos
This incredible lake, stretching for more than 16,000 hectares at approximately 4000m above sea level, is home to a three species of flamingos, plus geese, ducks, and a wide variety of other birds, and is a very important habitat for all water birds in the area. The park is situated in the Abra Pampa, located halfway between La Quiaca and Humahuaca, in a very isolated area and can be reached by local bus, offered a few times a week, or by car (but be sure to bring extra gasoline in this case as there are no gas stations nearby).
Any tours that you decide to take in this area can be booked in the town of La Quiaca or the neighbouring villages.
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