Purmamarca: Colors, Trails and Culture

Colorful Landscapes and Living Traditions

Purmamarca is known for Cerro de Siete Colores: its rock layers display different hues. Cerro de los Siete Colores is a stone rainbow; its colors reflect the sedimentary origins of its rocks. This distinctive landscape feature shapes the character of the town. If you are considering which experiences you want to define your stay, Purmamarca offers both this view of the landscape and trails and cultural sights.

The Cerro is not just a single splash of color in the townscape: the hues described are part of the mountain’s rock layers. Anyone particularly interested in landscapes and their forms will find a specific reason to add Purmamarca to their travel list. Those interested in culture can, by contrast, explore the Capilla de Santa Rosa de Lima and the Cabildo. These different interests can help you decide what kind of stay you are looking for in Purmamarca.

Paseo de los Colorados

Paseo de los Colorados offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. The route is 3 km long and passes behind Cerro de los Siete Colores, following the riverbed of the Río de Tumbaya. It runs along a winding, easy-to-walk path. Its length and route give you specific guidance when adding an excursion to your day’s plans; the walking time cannot be determined from the distance alone.

When choosing your destination, you can weigh whether the trail and landscape or the buildings and traditions matter more to you. The Paseo is a way to explore the surroundings of Purmamarca in its own right.

The Capilla and Cabildo

Santa Rosa de Lima is the only monumental building in the settlement of Purmamarca. Today’s Capilla de Santa Rosa de Lima has characteristic features of Hispanic American churches in the Sevillian Mudéjar tradition. One of its side walls features a depiction of the Virgen de Cocharcas, followed by ten Cuzco paintings about the life of Saint Rosa. This sequence combines a depiction of the Virgen with a series of paintings about the Saint’s life, making the interior a specific point of interest for those interested in culture.

The Cabildo is also part of the town’s history: it was built around 1850. Together with the Capilla, it offers a reason to get to know Purmamarca through its buildings as well as its landscape. If you are choosing a holiday apartment based on the interests of your travel group, this cultural focus may be just as important as the prospect of a stay shaped primarily by trails and scenery.

Festivals and Regional Cuisine

The Encuentro de Copleros de Purmamarca takes place every year in the central square. The Concurso de Queso de Cabra de Purmamarca is held every year in February at Plaza 9 de Julio and is one of the region’s most important cultural and gastronomic festivals. The February date gives the cheese competition a clear time frame. If you are interested in local traditions and food, these festivals are another reason to consider Purmamarca as a destination.

Purmamarca as a Starting Point

Purmamarca is a starting point for exploring the Quebrada de Humahuaca, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. When planning your holiday, you can therefore decide whether you mainly want to get to know the town itself or explore the Quebrada as a broader destination. National Route 52 passes through Purmamarca, which lies west of National Route 9, about 3 km away.

More town pages: San Salvador De Jujuy, Humahuaca, Ciudad Perico, Huacalera, Hornillos, La Quiaca, Maimará and San Javier.

For the main travel overview: Jujuy.