2023-08-22 09:50:00
Only for the bold: get to Iruya It is not easy, but it has a prize. He’s charming for something salteño town is considered among the 50 cutest in the world. is almost 3,000 meters high and more than one slackened in the attempt in the narrow and winding section of the mountain path that skirts a precipice where sometimes you have to turn back and look for a wider place to let the climber pass. It is not the case of Andrea and Juan Carlos, who came to this wonder in the heights in their 1982 Fiat 600. You find them on the networks like Dos locos in Fitito. She is a teacher, he is a mechanicThey are passionate about traveling and together they make a first class team: they complement each other in every detail of the adventure.
Juan Carlos in Iruya and Andrea in an iconic kilometer of the mythical route 40. Photos: Dos locos in Fitito.
On their last tour, they have traveled por the mythical route 40 that crosses the length of the country always close to the Andes mountains and have returned from the south to Buenos Aires near the coast in Patagonia by route 3. They have all the sections and the kilometers between each stop written down in a squared notebook that does not lie: they made 13,126 km in 47 days. And one of the places that they liked the most was included a few days ago by the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine in its list of the most attractive on the planet.
Welcome to Iruya, the jewel of Salta
In their own way, Andrea and Juan Carlos had reached a similar conclusion, because this wonder from Salta had impacted them as much as the Spanish journalists who wrote the article. On that trip, they also toured the Argentine northwest by route 9 at the height of Iturbe and then connect with 13 and then with the 33 towards Iruya. And despite the fact that many advise go by bus from Humahuaca (the closest), Purmamarca or Tilcara, or in a 4×4 truck or at least in a tall vehicle and there are others who prefer not to expose themselves to the risks of that mountain road, the Two crazy people in Fitito they cheered at the dear old 600 while raising waves of admiration in their wake.
This is how Andrea narrates this exciting adventure: «Iruya, in the northwest, had a great impact on us. on that road we went through ravines and places while we went up more and moreamazed by the houses on the slopes of the mountains, which covered up to the river canyon with the plantations and were like a postcard. They were impressive landscapes, unbelievable, because one came through the mountains and the panorama suddenly opened up like a postcard»reports.
“Then the road continued along the river, as if it were a canyon, because it got deeper, it went up and down the river,” he adds.
“After about 50 km we arrive at Iruya, which is divided by this same river and rises up on either side as if it were an amphitheatre, with narrow cobbled streets and stunning views“, keep going.
And how did the inhabitants treat them? «Very good, very warm, very pleasant: They helped us, they guided us to find a place to stay, they recommended tours and excursions. We didn’t do many because there was a forecast of rain and we had to return, but we toured Iruya and went to the Mirador de la Virgen, on one side: there is a great panoramic view of the river, the town and the mountains and high walls that surround it
«Iruya is highly recommended. It is not easy to get there, not everyone is encouraged, but you have to do it, yes; You have to be very careful, but you can: we did it with a 600, we recommend it: it’s a unique place, it’s really worth it,” says Andrea,
Iruya, one of the 50 most beautiful towns in the world
Iruya, the picturesque Andean town of barely 1,500 inhabitants located in the highlands of Salta, was chosen as one of the 50 most beautiful towns in the world by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler travel agency.
The selection, which is not done in the form of a ranking, highlights small tourist destinations that have “friendly locals, boutique hotels and an old charm”.
In its Condé Nast Traveler publication, it highlights: “Do you want to see up close the famous and beautiful region of Salta in Argentina? Well, Iruya is. This small town is only accessible via a very dusty four-hour bus ride from the neighboring region of Jujuy; but once you arrive you will have unobstructed views of the Iruya River below, condors flying above and the amazing Andean plateau at every turn.”
Iruya is a “mountain hanging town” with steep streets, a large church that is a prized object in the photographer’s lens, and a quiet and friendly lifestyle. The best time of the year to visit it is between March and June and from August to December.
It is preferable to avoid the rainy season -from December to March- because there may be floods that prevent the passage of cars and leave the town “besieged”.
The points of interest most visited by tourists in Iruya are: Mirador el Cóndor, Mirador de la Cruz, the Iruya River, the Nuestra Señora del Rosario and San Roque church, Awawa House of Culture, the pedestrian walkway and the Santa Rosa square Guevara and also the historic center that has an interesting colonial architecture.
Iruya is located at 2,780 meters above sea level, its streets are cobbled, steep and narrow, the houses are made of adobe, straw and stone. It is within the Las Yungas biosphere, declared a national historic site in 1995 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002.
North to South on Route 40 in a Fiat 600
They started on December 26, 2022 from Buenos Aires heading north, to travel the 40 to the South. they faced for Tafi del Valle, to the west of Tucumán, to connect from there with the mythical route that crosses the length of the country, with which so many travelers dream.
They marveled at the Calchaquíes Valleys and they headed for Humahuaca, to take a trip to Hornacal viewpoint o Hill of 14 colors. «He had a hard time getting there, he had a hard time coming back. But it was worth it,” they say proudly. Juan Carlos is a mechanic and the person in charge of maintaining this jewel of 1982 working.
Then they continued towards Iruya, the beautiful little town at 2780 meters above sea level on the slopes of the Sierra de Santa Victoria, 307 km from the capital of Salta. El Fitito demanded attention and Juan Carlos reached out: advantages of having a mechanic on board.
«They say we are crazy, but life is to be lived. And if the path is not easy, what difference does it make? In the end the reward is worth it. Although the little adventurer asked for cuddles for his gear lever, he attended to it and we reached the incredible landscapes of Iruya», count.
«Almost without realizing it, it was already 10 days on Route 40! The little boy climbed heights of more than 4000 meters several times, passed under the Polvorilla although everyone told us that it was not possible because the river destroyed the road, he saw snow and fought against the mud. And yesterday he crossed a speed bump with muddy water that was coming down with enough force to make us doubt », they relate.
«For those who want to go, the road is very passable, gravel but firm if it did not rain. Also keep in mind that you have to cross the course of a river that carries water in summer and that the climb is great. But cheer up that you can, we attest“, they add.
Welcome to Patagonia: in Caviahue and Copahue
After being dazzled by the north of Neuquén, they stopped in Chos Malal to take a picture at the exact point of the middle of the route.
And then it was the moment in which they headed for the machine that raises waves of admiration on the routes to Caviahue and Copahue.
There, with Chile a handful of kilometers from the other side of the border, between lakes and mountains, one of the activities they did was travel the incredible circuit of the Caviahue waterfallsclose to the mountain village.
This marvel is about 18 kilometers from the mountain village located at 360 km northwest from the provincial capital. They went for the provincial route 26 until the fork 7 kilometers from Caviahue. There the Fitito took to the right the provincial route 27.
Still on gravel, they covered 4 km and after passing the Agrio bridge they continued along the same route for another 4 km, until the access to the waterfall appeared on the left. It’s two kilometers by dirt road until you reach the parking lot.
«In Neuquén, after touching the milestone in the middle of the route, We enjoyed the wonderful colors of the waterfalls and the Salto del Agrio«, they comment.
They were also in Copahue, the thermal complex 19 km from Caviahue.
“We are amazed at the set of snow, healing hot springs and smells that are incredible,” they posted.
Later, they told Voy: «Copahue is crazy, to see how that temperature and vapors come out of the earthgreat. And the Salto del Agrio, beautiful the fall of the water and the colors of the stones below, a brick-like color, makes a spectacular contrast.
13,126 km in 47 days with the Fitito
In 2021, they did BBuenos Aires – Ushuahia in 22 days: 8065 km of adventures. In the following summer they united the north with the south: 13,126 km in 47 days.
After reaching the southern reaches, they went up the coast. And so they arrived at Punta Perdices.
Two crazy people in Fitito They also went through «Caribbean of Patagonia«, as they say to Punta Perdices, this marvel at 65 km from The Grottos in the Rio Negro coast due to the contrast of the white of the shells on the beach with the bluish tones of the sea in the San Matías Gulf.
They came for friend recommendation and they did not regret accepting the advice: “It is a special, different, precious place.”
«All very good: find shells, snails and pebbles, the enormous size of the entire beach. And the attention we had when we entered was given by the reporting people,” they say.
Later they returned to Buenos Aires after a trip that they dreamed and planned in detail.
They traveled 13,126 kilometers in 47 days. They already resumed work: Andrea is a teacher and Juan Carlos a mechanic.
But if this wonderful journey in a legend traveled the roads of the south, It started with the north.
And by the end of this year, they project Argentina – Colombiato. They are Andrea and Juan Carlos, Dos locos in Fitito. Or when dreams come true.
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