An unpaved road from Quebrada to Humahuaca to Iruya is the start of the discovery of awesome mountain settings, isolated villages and spectacular off-road trails. The dirt road that reaches the village, with a speed limit of 20 km/h, is about 50Km long. It fords several rivers and goes over a 4000 meter pass. Iruya is reachable daily by local bus from Humahuaca (unless rain makes the road impassable). Iruya is a small town of population 1,070 in northwestern Argentina. It is located in the Salta Province of northwestern Argentina, and is the capital of the Iruya Department. Located in the altiplano region along the Iruya River, Iruya sits nestled against the mountainside at an elevation of 2,780 meters (9,120 feet). It is located over 300 kilometers (190 miles) from the province capital of Salta. A 50-km (31-mi) portion of the route to Iruya is unpaved. Nonetheless, the town is popular with tourists for its scenic location and townscape and friendly locals.
Leaving Humahuaca, the road is at first paved, but soon becomes dirt and gravel. The condition of the road depends on the weather, usually very dry, with gullies dry like this one, but summer rainstorms can wash oout the road. The best times to make this trip are in June, July, August, September and October.
The route climbs 13,500 feet and then descends to 9,300 feet to Iruya, just over the provincial border into Salta.
8 km north of Iruya there is the village of San Isidro, 7 km north there is the village of San Juan, and 6 km south there is the village of Pueblo Viejo.
Iruya's name is derived from the Quechua language, meaning "abundance of straw". Iruya was officially founded in 1753, but the first inhabitants settled here around 100 years earlier. They were mainly Indians of which the oldest roots go back to the Ocloyas, a people belonging to the ethnic group of the Kolla who stem from the Kollasuyo, which used to be one of the four regions of the Inca empire.
A sign at the entrance to town warns visitors against
• taking photographs of the residents without permission
• giving out charitable donations to the residents
• inappropriate dress. No bikinis.
