Tilcara

June 12, 2025

An easy day. Very little climbing and a big descent - 60 meters of climbing versus 520 meters of descent. We're now at only 2470 meters above sea level, the lowest we have been since arriving in South America. The difference in temperature as we have descended from Tres Cruces is noticeable. This morning it was only one below zero while tomorrow morning is forecast to stay in positive figures.

A stiff headwind countered the downhill to some extent but apart from part of yesterday's ride and today, we have had very little wind.

A giant llama a few kilometers outside Humahuaca.

The views were pretty good today with multi coloured mountains on our right hand side for most of the way. I'm guessing the reddish colours come from iron and the greenish tints are caused by copper.

We got to Tilcara with enough time to get some grocery shopping done before the tiendas and carnecerias closed for siesta. However our hostal took almost an hour to find, being hidden behind the railway station with no visible access from the road. We eventually had to duck under the simple barrier that is supposed prevent access to the railway line to avoid a big climb up a rough track that apparently provides vehicular access to the hostal.

After my disparaging remarks about Argentina's railway system in my post on Tres Cruces I was surprised to see a modern passenger train at the railway station in front of the hostal.

Tomorrow we head down to Villa Jardin de Reyes, just outside San Salvador de Jujuy, an even bigger descent than today with a net altitude loss of more than a thousand meters.

Today's ride: 47 km (29 miles)
Total: 1,300 km (807 miles)

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