Tilcara to San Francisco

The place

This trek crosses the Jujuy Andes in northern Argentina from the arid Quebrada de Humahuaca into the subtropical Yungas cloud forest, dropping from roughly 4,200m at its highest pass to around 1,400-1,600m at the finish. Over four days it follows old paths linking small Andean settlements between puna scrubland and increasingly green, forested valleys near Valle Grande. It is a physically demanding high-altitude trek with limited services and water along most of the route, best attempted November through April, and its defining feature is the landscape shift from dry ochre rock formations to jungle canopy.

Day by day

1. 1
   J1 · Casa Colorada (Tilcara) → Yutos Pampa13.00 km · +900 m
2. 2
   J2 · Yutos Pampa → Molulo16.00 km · +500 m
3. 3
   J3 · Molulo → San Lucas (via Abra del Potrero)19.00 km · +300 m
4. 4
   J4 · San Lucas → San Francisco (via Peña Alta)11.00 km · +250 m