The route that goes from Salta to San Salvador de Jujuy (93 km away) is the so called Camino de Cornisa (Mountain Road). It runs along a valley that was the centre of the communications with the Alto Peru (Bolivia) in colonial times. The road goes through the Santa Laura pass, surrounded by splendid subtropical vegetation, and it continues to the north bordering the Los Sauces River, one of the most difficult parts of the road. It finally goes into the old road used by carriages and carts coming from San Salvador de Jujuy in the past. At this spot, all passengers carrying merchandise had to continue their journey to the Altiplano on mule.

San Salvador de Jujuy is the capital of the province of Jujuy, name derived from the word xuxuyoc, Inca official supposed to have lived here. This city is located 1260 m. above sea level and 1660 km from Buenos Aires city. It is on the northern extreme of a large valley and at the foot of the Sierra de Zapla. At present, the city is crossed by two rivers, the Xibi and the Grande rivers, and it is built on an uneven terrain and linked to its surroundings by ten bridges. It keeps very few colonial buildings. 22 km to the north of the city of Jujuy are the Termas de Reyes, thermal springs from the Reyes River located at 1800 m above sea level. The therapeutical properties of these waters have been known since ancient times; the strongly mineralized water flows at temperatures that range from 52 to 58- C. There is a hotel set in a landscape of extraordinary beauty and lush vegetation. Here, a mountain road leads to the Lagunas de Yala (Yala Lagoons), 26 km from Jujuy, where there are three lagoons surrounded by beautiful alder woods. Ideal for camping and hiking, the lagoons are part of the Potrero de Yala Provincial Reserve. Going up a short steep slope, you reach a belvedere with a very nice view of the surroundings. At an altitude of 2200 m above sea level there is a fish breeding station. 

Towards the north of San Salvador de Jujuy is the Humahuaca Gorge, a valley of different width crossed by the Grande River, the Humahuaca Gorge starts in the north, in Esquinas Blancas at an altitude of 3500 m, and it ends at 1300 m above sea level. The total lenght is 170 km, but tourists only visit the gorge up to the Humahuaca village. On the way, many villages can be visited, such as: Leon, Volcan and further on, Tumbaya, 51 km from San Salvador de Jujuy. Tumbaya has one of the oldest churches of the gorge, at the foot of the hill. The building, dedicated to Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria de Tumbaya, dates back to the 19' century and it was declared National Historic Monument. It keeps its old colonial features. The village of Purmamarca is only 4 km from the route that goes to Humahuaca, where the route to Susques starts. The village has Spanish origins and is surrounded by fertile lands even though its name has a different meaning: Purmamarca means "barren or waste land" in quechua. The urban centre keeps its 191 century outline with the church at the front. The village has about 250 permanent inhabitants. The Cabildo, a very small building of colonial features, was used as a prison and a police station in the past; at present, it houses an artisans' market. It is precisely the presence of the numerous artisans in the square opposite the church and the Cabildo that gives a typical touch to the village. However, the most important attraction of Purmamarca is, undoubtedly, the Seven-Colour Hill. The minerals it contains and its colours correspond to sediments from the Mesozoic (geological period that finished 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs disappeared) and the Tertiary (period when the Andes were formed). On 30th August, the Santa Rosa de Lima Festival takes place and 10th February, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) Festival is held.

Tilcara, located 84 km to the north of San Salvador de Jujuy at an altitude of 2460 m above sea level, is a typical village of the gorge. Founded in the year 1600 approximately, it was known for the fortress (called Pucara) located on a near hill. The presence of the coyas give a colourful aspect to the streets of the village. There are some interesting museums such as the Archaeological Museum with a collection of pieces from the valley, the Puna and Bolivia; the Soto Avedanio Museum, with sculptures of that artist; the Regional Museum Jose A. Terry, with paintings; and the Folk Museum. There are some simple hotels, inns and bungalows as well as camping sites. 

From here a walk can be taken to Garganta del Diablo, a deep gap located 7 km from the begining of the Huasamayo River, where there is a wonderful view of the Humahuaca Gorge. Several festivities are held in this village such as the Tilcareno in January, the Carnival in February and the Inti Raimi Festival in July, celebrated with bonfires in the period when animals give birth. Each animal has a saint that protects it. The Pucara de Tilcara is 2 km from the village of the same name. Pucara means "fortified place" in Quechua. It is the first of the four fortified villages that the primitive inhabitants of the Humahuaca Gorge built on rises located by the Grande River. There are other indian villages located on plateaus in the transverse valleys. The Pucara stands on a small hill, 70 m above the level of the Grande River. On the east side of the hill, there is a necropolis with a monument built in the shape of the truncated pyramid on the top. The remains of two famous archaelogists that worked on the reconstruction of this site are buried here. At the foot of the Pucara Hill, there is an interesting Botanical Garden where numerous characteristic plants, both of the gorge and the Puna, grow. In the surroundings, there are numerous sites since this part of the gorge was densely populated before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Towards the north of Tilcara is Huacalera, village that borrowed its name from an old estancia in the Humahuaca Gorge. It developed around the Monterrey Hotel founded by a Spanish businessman at the beginning of the 20' century. The hotel was very successful for some time, but when the route was paved and the journey from San Salvador de Jujuy to Humahuaca shortened, it disappeared. In the surroundings there is a monolith pointing at the Tropic of Capricorn and indicating the line where the sun reaches its vertical southern extreme during the summer solstice of the southern hemisphere. On the northern extreme of the Humahuaca Gorge, 2900 above sea level is Uquia. This is an old settlement of the omagoacas indians that lived in the valley. Later, the Spaniards settled in this region so some of their houses of the 19" century built in the typical style of the Altiplano. Its main attraction is a church with colonial characteristics, one of the oldest in the Northwest. In the area there are many archaeological sites; the following among them stand out: Penas Blancas and the Pucara de Calete. On the 3rd of May the Festival of the Cross is celebrated to honour San Madero and San Francisco de Paula.

Humahuaca, village located at an altitude of 2945 m on the right bank of the Grande de Jujuy River and 1833 km from Buenos Aires, is an old settlement of the Omaguaca indians. Its Spanish origins date back to the beginning of the 17" century. The architecture of the constructions in the urban centre is typical of this region, with small abobe houses and narrow cobble-stone streets. In the centre is the Town Hall (where the old Cabildo stood), the Cathedral and the Monument of the Independence that represents a chasqui (a postman in ancient times) running. The statue weighs 60 tons of melted bronze and is 10 m tall. Other places that are well worth a visit are the Ramoneda Museum and the Regional and Folk Museum that shows aspects of the life and customs of the inhabitants of this area. Next to the railway in the station, there is a picturesque market that sells regional products. From there, you can visit: Coctaca (9 km away), large archaeological site; Hornaditas (18 km away), along the route that goes to La Quiaca; Iruya (77 km away) and Leandro Lagoon.

The Salinas Grandes de Jujuy are great salt deposits in the Puna, located 3368 m above sea level. Borax and sodium are extracted from these deposits. The ordinary salt is harvested according to the old methods and its primitive industry can be seen from April to November. The Guaytayoc Lagoon, very salty too and solid in some parts, also belongs to the system.