Maimará

Multicolored hills, trails through a river gorge and stories of Andean traditions give Maimará its distinctive character. The Paleta del Pintor is considered the town’s main attraction: its multicolored hills define the landscape. Traces and tracks of various dinosaur and bird species from the Late Cretaceous have also been found at the Paleta. Those interested in landscapes and geological history will find two distinct reasons to take a closer look here.

Walking routes with different focuses

The circular route to Puente Natural starts at the Oficina de Informes Turísticos de Maimará and leads through the Quebrada del Cementerio. The trail follows a riverbed and climbs gently; four hours are allotted for the six-kilometer route. The difficulty level is low. At the destination is Puente Natural, a fluvial geological formation in a gorge beside the Río Grande. This loop combines a distinctive landform with a longer walk through the Quebrada.

Two shorter walks start at the main square or the Oficina de Información Turística. “Miradores y Fiestas Andinas” takes two hours, covers 2.5 kilometers and has a low difficulty level. At several viewpoints, the topics include Pachamama, Carnaval and Todosantos, as well as the philosopher Rodolfo Kush. The route taken by the Sikuri bands to the Virgen de Punta Corral is also covered. The “Maimará: Pueblo agricultor” walk also takes two hours, is 1.65 kilometers long and has a low difficulty and exertion level. It passes through Plaza San Martín and Plazoleta del Agricultor before reaching the quintas, where you can see vegetables, horticultural crops and flowers. This lets you choose between a culturally focused walk and an insight into the town’s agricultural character, depending on your interests.

Another route starts at the Oficina de Informes Turísticos, crosses the bridge over the Río Grande and follows a bridle or trekking trail to Cerro General San Martín. Panoramic views accompany you from start to finish. For planning your day, this route differs from the described walks around town mainly because it crosses the river and climbs Cerro General San Martín.

Agriculture, crafts and regional cuisine

At Turismo Rural Maimará, the focus is on meeting farming families and learning about their animals and growing areas. The offerings also include bicycle tours, guided walks, and craft or cooking workshops. The “Maimará: Pueblo agricultor” experience complements this theme with a walk through the quintas. If you’d like to discover the rural side of Maimará, you can consider these different formats when choosing what to do.

Several other experiences invite you to take part, too. At Textil Alborada, visitors learn step by step over two hours how to embroider a souvenir or item of clothing; they can take home the piece they embroidered. Inti Pacha combines a visit to an organic garden with a workshop on making artisan bread from local products. The two-hour experience also includes a tasting of homemade breads and sweets; you can take home the bread you make. At Qullana, visitors make their own cosmetic product from local medicinal plants in a local, artisanal process.

Local cuisine can also be enjoyed alongside the region’s agricultural produce: many ingredients come from the vegetable-growing areas on both banks of the Río Grande, at the foot of the Paleta del Pintor. Many recipes have been passed down through generations. The three-hour “Cicloturismo rural” route starts at the central square, follows the old railway line among other places, and ends at Bodega Jesús Vilte, where wine can be purchased and tasted. For horseback riding, Cabalgatas “La Huella” offers reservable rides in the morning, afternoon or evening.

Andean traditions and getting around

The Carnaval de Maimará is one of the town’s traditional celebrations. The colorful hilltop cemetery can be visited with due respect. The route over the Paleta del Pintor also has spiritual significance: every year, pilgrims and Sikuri bands from Maimará take this route to reach the sanctuary of the Virgen de Punta Corral. Maimará is part of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape since 2003.

Maimará is located on Ruta Nacional N° 9 and has two access roads: one to the south, beyond the Museo Posta de Hornillos, and one to the north, opposite the cemetery. When choosing a vacation rental, you can use the experiences described here to help shape your trip: walking routes, agriculture, crafts, regional cuisine and Andean traditions each offer a different focus.

More destinations

Yala: Yala, Purmamarca: Purmamarca, San Javier: San Javier, La Quiaca: La Quiaca, Hornillos: Hornillos, Huacalera: Huacalera, Tilcara: Tilcara, Humahuaca: Humahuaca.

For the main travel overview: Jujuy.