It is the central area of the province and without doubt the best known within and outside Argentina. It comprises the Departments of Humahuaca, Tilcara and Tumbaya. Its picturesque valleys and gorges "quebradas", its historical cities, and old rooted customs make it a very interesting area for visitors.

The central axis of this area is the Río Grande River, boxed up between multihued mountains. It is the everlasting natural route of communication in the area; with at present the Ruta Nacional Nº 9 National Route running along it. This river basin, from its headwaters until close to San Salvador de Jujuy, makes up what tradition, history, geography and custom has always called the Quebrada de Humahuaca Gorge.

It is a long and narrow valley, with the Río Grande River running from the north towards the south, dry in the southern hemisphere winter and overflowing in the summers. The following rivers join it during its course through the quebrada: Calete, Yacoraite, Jueya and Huichaira. On both sides of the Gorge there are mountains with names like Sierras Altas, El Aguilar, San Bernando, San Javier, Punta Corral, Horconal and the Aparzo.

The Quebrada de Humahuaca Gorge is found in the northeastern part of Argentina, in the Province of Jujuy, about 1500 kilometres from Buenos Aires. La Quebrada de Humahuaca is the perfect combination of spectacular landscapes and archaeological treasures. It is about 155 kilometres long.

Before the discovery and colonisation of this region, the Gorge was part of the Inca Roads, later becoming the passageway for Spanish conquistadors and expeditions who came down from the at the time so called High Peru - Alto Perú (today Bolivia) to Buenos Aires (Capital of the Río de la Plata Viceroyalty) and during the wars for Independence by patriot troops.

It has a very healthy climate. Close to the Río Grande River it is moderate, but further from it, temperatures become more pronounced. Most of the length of the Gorge the climate is moderate, very few times it goes above 30 ºC during the southern hemisphere summer and drops to 0 ºC during the cold and windy days in winter.

As in the Puna highland area, houses seem to grow from the ground, made as they are from adobe clay bricks. Population centres of great importance during colonial times have risen close to gone by important pre Hispanic settlements. Wherever you go today you will find innumerable remnants of this past; Pucaras, old settlements, rock paintings, etc.

Thus, for many reasons many pre Hispanic customs still survive in the area. This can be seen in the community celebrations where the cult of the Earth Mother the Pachamama and other pre-colonial rites survive as the traditional rock piles "Apachetas" by the roadsides and on the top of the hills survive beside colonial churches.

You can access all the settlements in the area in your own or a rented car by a paved road; furthermore there are over 25 daily frequencies by public transportation, which connect the different parts of the area. In most localities there is accommodations to be found. During the southern hemisphere summer, the road may suffer temporary interruptions by heavy rains.

UNESCO declared the Quebrada de Humahuaca Gorge a Cultural and Natural Mankind Heritage Site in 2002.