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An update from Evaneos
Iruya

Iruya (Argentina)

Practical information about Iruya

  • Encounters with locals
  • Viewpoint
  • Countryside
  • Mountain
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Handicraft
  • Off the beaten track
4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
3 hours by bus from Humahuaca
When to go
From March to November
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Iruya

David Debrincat Travel writer
459 travel articles

80 km from Humahuaca, north of Quebrada de Humahuaca is the tiny villge of Iruya, which feels like it is at the end of the earth. It is really wonderful!

My suggestion:
You can go there just for the day. But you might prefer to stay a few days to really experience life in the village.
Summary:

When you first look at Iruya on the map there's nothing to encourage you to visit it during your trip to Argentina. That would be a serious mistake!

Iruya is one of those places that is described as being "at the ends of the earth". You don't really need to go as far down as Ushuaia. The end of the world is 80 km from Humahuaca. I got there after 3 hours of winding roads, and crossing over a mountain pass at 4,000 metres. It's not the most original thing to say about Argentina but, the scenery was magnificent! During the journey my bus passed herds of donkeys and I saw vicunas skipping across the mountains. Iruya is huddled into a cliff. The church is really cute and the cobbled streets are very steep. On the corner of a street I met a woman selling empanadas. They were absolutely delicious.

I hope Iruya manages to retain its atmosphere of a village lost at the end of the world for a long time to come.

View of Iruya