Iruya

Iruya

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 mi) 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.

Iruya is situated almost 350 kilometers away from Salta City that seems to be hanging from the mountains and suspended in time and stands on a promontory in the valley of the Iruya river. The road to Iruya has thousands of breathtaking landscapes. The town keeps its steep, narrow streets paved with stones and the thatched houses as well as the customs and clothes of 250 years ago. In its environs you can find the pre-Columbian ruins of Titiconte. One of its main attractions are the religious celebrations, like the celebration of the Pachamama, where the pagan and the sacred are mixed.

Road to Iruya

Close to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Iruya is a remote town with a well-preserved indigenous culture. Buses from the town of Humahuaca crawl up winding gravel roads through high mountain passes and valleys to get here. Visitors can wander along the 

Iruya, salta

town’s steep cobblestone streets among adobe houses and meet locals in traditional attire. There is trekking in the hills and surrounding villages like Colanzulí and San Isidro are worth a visit too.. 8 km north of Iruya there is the village of San Isidro, 7 km north there is the village of San Juan, 6 km south there is the village of Pueblo Viejo.

Iruya's name is derived from the Quechua language, meaning "abundance of straw".

History

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

 

Iruya, salta argentinaIruya was a passing-through town, because here rested the convoys and mule trains that carried goods from the Puna to the Valley of the river San Francisco and vice versa. Its foundation date is not known, but some sources indicate that it was founded in 1741. The crop terraces in the nearness of the town are very interesting. At 6 miles, through dangerous gorges and mountains with abrupt slopes, the pre-Columbian town of Titiconte is situated.

In Quechua, its name means “brave straw” or “place of high grazing”. The most important festivity takes place in the first weekend of October, with cults to the Virgen del Rosario, where the pagan and the religious become confused in a unique syncretism. The church “Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Roque” deserves to be visited; it has just one nave and a lateral tower located over the front’s right side: this tower is divided in three bodies.
 
In October 1st, the celebration of Nuestra Señora del Rosario takes place, and many ritual dances are performed. Besides, hundreds of pilgrims gather in the outskirts of the town. Hundreds of local people, moved by their faith, take part in the religious celebrations, singing, praying and playing different indigenous instruments, such as quenas, cajas and sikus. Together with the music, the typical dance of the Cachis is performed by a group of people with masks and the dance symbolizes the eternal fight of good and evil.
 
At the foot of Iruya, in its river’s bed, the barter business is established among its settlers, the inhabitants of Alta Puna and adjoining towns.
 
From June to October, it is ideal to visit Iruya, due to the weather conditions of the area.
 

 

Submitted by admin on Dec 5 2011 - 5:48pm