DAY 43 (2 OF 2) – PUCARA, TILCARA, ARGENTINA

From Garganta del Diablo, the hike back to Tilcara was a pleasant downhill walk.  At the edge of Tilcara, instead of returning to the town centre, we crossed a bridge that led us to Pucara, the pre-Inca ruins overlooking the town on a hilltop.  Near the entrance of the ruins, we stopped by a café for lunch.  Recommended by Felipe, Grandma Rose at the café made some of the best vegetarian food in Tilcara.  Her dog at the café was really playful. He sat beside us and watched us eating, always looking for food under the table.  After the delicious meal, we made our way up to the ruins of Pucara, a partially reconstructed fortress.  From Pucara, the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains was gorgeous.  The wind was strong and the clouds were low.  The field of giant cacti in the middle of Pucara was interesting to stroll around, despite most cacti did not look too healthy.  Some of the taller cacti looked a little scary as they swayed in the strong wind, as if they could fall any moment.

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Read other posts on Northwest Argentina in 2013 South America:

Day 43.1 – Garganta del Diablo, Tilcara
Day 43.2 – Pucara, Tilcara
Day 44.1 – Hills of Seven Colours, Purmamarca
Day 44.2 – Cemetery, Purmamarca
Day 45.1 – Antigua Gusthouse, Tilcara
Day 45.2 – Museums and Plaza, Salta
Day 46.1 – Carpe Diem, Salta
Day 46.2 – Helados Miranda, Cafayate
Day 46.3 – Bodega el Porvenir, Cafayate
Day 47.1 – Bodega Domingo Molina, Cafayate
Day 47.2 – Quebrada Las Conchas, Cafayate
Day 48.1 – Museo de Vino, Cafayate
Day 48.2 – El Hornito, Cafayate
Day 48.3 – Goodbye Northern Argentina, Salta

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought