Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Tupiza
Much of Tupiza's appeal lies in the surrounding landscape, a visually stunning wilderness
of
quebradas
(ravines), thirsty riverbeds and thriving cacti that'll have you whistling a
Western theme tune in no time. It's great hiking country and also perfect for exploration
on horseback or 4WD - several Tupiza operators offer these excursions.
If you're hiking without a guide, it's not easy to get lost, but take a map anyway - you
can get them from various tour agencies. Carry at least 3L of water per day in this dry
desert climate. It's wise to wear shoes that can withstand assault by prickly desert vegeta-
tion, and to carry a compass or GPS if you're venturing away from the tracks. Flash flood-
ing is also a danger, particularly in the summer months; avoid camping in the
quebradas
or entering the canyons, especially if it looks like rain.
El Cañón del Duende
This canyon can be reached from Tupiza on a great half-day stroll; ask any of the agencies
for a map and directions. You can also enter the canyon on foot for a scenic 20-minute
hike through its towering red rock formations.
El Cañón del Inca
is also part of most itin-
eraries.
CANYON
El Angosto
This scenic spot near Tupiza is a spectacular tunnel of a road carved into the mountain -
great for photographs.
LOOKOUT
QUEBRADA DE PALALA
Just northwest of Tupiza is Quebrada de Palala, a broad wash lined with some very im-
pressive red formations known as fins. During the rainy season it becomes a tributary of
the Río Tupiza, but in the winter months it serves as a highway into the back country and
part of the salt route from the Salar de Uyuni to Tarija. Beyond the dramatic red rocks, the
wash rises very gently into hills colored greenish-blue and violet by lead and other miner-
al deposits.
To get here, head north on Tupiza's Av La Paz from
Plazuela El Mundo
past the giant
slide; 2km ahead, along the railroad line, you'll see the mouth of the
quebrada
. About
5km further along, the route passes some obvious fin formations and continues up the
broad
quebrada
into increasingly lonely country, past scrub brush and cacti stands.
