Pucará de Tilcara

Incredible vibes, very interesting. Definitely it worths visiting

Must see archeological site in Tilcara, best experienced with a guide as there are not many explanatory panels around

Beautiful view and so much history! Learned a lot from our guide. Jardin botanico inside is small but very nice . Heads up last time to enter is 17:30, after 17:30 they wont let you in

The site was interesting with good signs and information describing the ancient civilization but the entrance fee was rather steep compared to other local attractions. I'm glad I visited but definitely not someplace I'd be interested in revisiting.

An incredibly important pre-Colombian and even pre-Inca civilization archeological site, with traces of human habitation that date back more than 10,000 years. This fortified city that at its peak housed over 2,000 inhabitants was originally built by the Omaguaca tribe around the 12th century. Unfortunately not everything is original / preserved, but part of the Pucará was rebuilt in the last centuty (it was re-discovered 1908) and a monument "in the style of the stone houses" was even added in 1935 to commemorate the archaeologist who first excavated the land. The location was strategically chosen to be easily defensible and to provide good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca and the views are still spectacular today. The Pucará de Tilcara was declared a National Monument in 2000, and is the only publicly accessible archaeological site in the Quebrada de Humahuaca. Highly recommended!

This is, as self-described, a compromised archaeological site. It’s worth visiting because it is the only pre-Inca site in the area that I’m aware of. But the archeologists disturbed the ruins in their attempt to reconstruct things. They worked in a manner that was current 60 or so years ago. And there is a monument to the archaeologist, which isn’t even architecturally related to the area. Having said all of that if you’re in the neighborhood, definitely give it a visit. There are things to learn.

Entirely too expensive at $12 USD per adult! The Pucara has been partially reconstructed over the last 80 or so years and done so in ways that don't actually respect the traditional building techniques that would have been used by the original inhabitants. At the top of the hill there is a monument for one of the archeologists that eradicated additional structures and put up a terribly out of place pyramid. The best parts of the park were the subtitled video (in a building near the entrance) intended for those who could not hike up the hill, and the back part of the botanical gardens where it was both peaceful and protected/shaded from the climate.

Impressive remains of an ancient city, first taken over by Incas and then by the Spanish. Great views as it's on a hill and many cacti🌵 around if you like them.