San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, is simply known as Jujuy (pronounced hoo-HOOEY). The Spanish colonial town is 945 mi/1,520 km northwest of Buenos Aires. It has a pleasant atmosphere alive with Andean flair and a constant springlike climate. The city streets are lined with orange trees, and whitewashed European-style buildings mingle with adobe architecture.
A colorful indigenous market—Mercado del Sur—is opposite the bus station, selling herbs and spices, flowers and knock-off clothes. The nicely restored cathedral houses a gilded pulpit that was carved by native people. If you can manage to be in town around Easter, you'll see celebrations with traditional costumes, music and imagery that blends paganism with Catholicism.
Nearby Tilcara is home to a pucara—an Incan fortress—that commands a scenic view from its hilltop position. Jujuy's environs are a good place to spot llamas in a desert landscape and take photos of the vividly colored rock strata dotted with cardon cacti. Northeast of Jujuy are the Parque Nacional Calilegua (a cloud forest) and the Termas de Reyes (thermal baths located on the canyon slopes of the Rio Reyes). It's also a good base from which to reach Salinas Grandes, the picturesque and fully functioning salt flats, located at 2.5 miles/4 km above sea level.
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