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How to get to Hornocal on your own | Rainbow Mountain
In the north of Argentina, the province of Jujuy holds one of the most amazing landscapes in South America: the Hornocal, known as the Mountain of 14 colorsIt's one of the most impressive corners of the Humahuaca Gorge and a must-see on any trip through northwestern Argentina.
In this article we tell you How to get to Hornocal on your own with your rental car and the best tour options if you don't want to drive. We also share practical tips for making the most of your visit and combating altitude sickness.
What is the Hornocal in Jujuy
The Hornocal, popularly known as the Mountain of 14 colors It is one of those natural wonders that seem to have been taken straight from a canvas. It is a mountain range that is part of the Hornocal mountain range, within the Humahuaca Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Its appearance is due to the geological formation called Yacoraite, composed of layers of different minerals that, after millions of years of tectonic movements and erosion, have been tilted to form a multicolored zigzag. For example, the red that comes from iron oxide, the greenish tones from copper, and the yellow from sulfur.
How to get to Hornocal on your own
The Hornocal viewpoint is one of the usual stops on any itinerary through Salta and Jujuy. is to 23 km from Humahuacaand it takes about 45 minutes to get there by car. Google Maps gives you perfect directions to take the carretera.
The access is gravel and quite steep, but it's not as bad as they say: It can be done with any vehicleIf you meet someone in town, they might try to convince you that you need a 4x4 to sell you transportation, but the reality is, you don't need one.
Going it alone has the advantage that you can stay as long as you want at the viewpoint, without depending on timetables and you also save on transport costs, which are not cheap. Not to mention that you're sure to You will see many vicuñas along the wayWe stopped several times to enjoy them up close!
Other options to get to the Mountain of 14 colors
If you cannot get there with your own vehicle, either because You are visiting the region without renting a car or because of rain the road is not in good conditionDon't worry, there are alternatives and you won't have to miss the visit to Hornocal.
Shared transportation from Humahuaca
In the main square of the town You can hire 4x4s that go up to the viewpointThey include waiting time at the top and return. When we went, they cost around âŹ15 per person; it's difficult to give an updated price considering the constant devaluation of the Argentine peso.
This is one good option if the road is not in good condition, although the reality is that it is difficult to know, because if you ask they will surely tell you that it is in poor condition. The best option to find out is to look at the Google Maps reviews recent, it was there that we saw several people commenting that a 4Ă4 was totally unnecessary.
Guided tours from Salta or Jujuy
the best alternative if you don't rent a carThey usually combine Hornocal with towns like Acara y Purmamarca, which makes the excursion more comprehensive. We recommend booking it from San Salvador de Jujuy because the transfer will be shorter.
there are also from Salta, but the distances are longer and you spend a good part of the tour inside the bus. From Salta It's more worthwhile to take a trip to Cafayate and Quebrada de las Conchas, then take a public bus to San Salvador de Jujuy to continue exploring the area.
What to do in Hornocal
To access the Hornocal viewpoint you have to pay a small entrance fee which is charged directly at the carRetera, almost at the entrance. When we visited it was 1000 Argentine pesos, at the time only 1 euro at the exchange rate.
Once you're up there, the main thing is to enjoy the views. From the parking lot itself, you'll have a breathtaking panorama, but if you want For an even better view, you can take a short trail that descends a few meters.The outward journey is easy, but the return journey is a little more difficult due to the elevation gain and the altitude, although taking it easy is fine.
In the viewpoint area you will also find some craft stalls where locals sell textiles, souvenirs, and even hot drinks, which is great for the chilly altitude. There's also sure to be a vicuña wandering around the area; they're incredibly adorable.
Tips for your visit to Rainbow Mountain
Now that you know how to get to Hornocal on your own, here are some final tips for your visit.
- Wear a coatEven in summer, the wind can blow up there and the temperature can feel very cold, much colder than down in Humahuaca.
- Stay hydrated and avoid sudden efforts to avoid getting a headache, which is very common at over 4.000 meters above sea level.
- Buy chewing gum or carlove them will help you combat altitude sickness.
- Calculates at least an hour and a half between going up, going down and enjoying the 14-color mountain.
- the best light To see the colors it is usually in the afternoon, but we went at noon and it was very beautiful.
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Thank you for reading, we hope this guide on How to get to Rainbow Mountain without a tour that helps you plancar your trip. We have more articles with Practical information about northwest Argentina, so feel free to continue exploring the guides of ArgentinaWe also encourage you to follow us on Instagram to gossip about our routes. Have a good trip and enjoy this unique region!
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