Maimará: Argentina's Painter's Palette Village

Maimará sits 76 km north of San Salvador de Jujuy on National Route 9, at 2,390 meters above sea level in the Quebrada de Humahuaca. The village won the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages award in 2025, beating more than 270 candidates from 65 countries. Its name means "falling star" in the local Omaguaca language, and the settlement has around 4,000 residents who farm the valley floor beneath the polychrome hills.

The draw here is not a single monument or museum. It is a geological formation called the Paleta del Pintor — the Painter's Palette — a striped hillside of ochre, cream, rust and pale green that rises directly behind the town cemetery. Most travelers pass through Maimará in twenty minutes on the bus between Purmamarca and Tilcara. That is a mistake. Stay for half a day, climb a little, eat lunch, and the village rewards you with far more than the roadside photo everyone stops for.

Getting There and Getting Oriented

By bus, car, or solar train

Buses run from San Salvador de Jujuy's terminal toward Humahuaca and stop in Maimará; the ride takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. If you drive, the route is fully paved and straightforward, with the Río Grande running alongside the road for most of the way. Local buses also connect Maimará to Tilcara, 5 km north, and Purmamarca, about 20 km south.

The Tren Solar de la Quebrada, Latin America's first solar-powered tourist train, has stopped at Maimará since June 2024. It is a slow, scenic alternative to the bus and drops you a short walk from the Paleta viewpoint. A newer afternoon service between Tilcara and Maimará launched in November 2026, aimed at travelers who want the late light on the hills.

Where the village sits

Maimará is compact. The plaza, the church, the cemetery and the access path to the Paleta are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. If you arrive by bus, you will be let off on the main road; walk west toward the hills and you will find the center quickly. There is no formal visitor center, so download an offline map before you arrive — the mobile signal in parts of the valley is patchy.

What to See and Do

The Paleta del Pintor

This is the reason to come. The hillside behind the cemetery is composed of sedimentary layers in vertical bands, and the colors shift through the day. Morning and late afternoon light produce the strongest contrast; harsh midday sun flattens the stripes and washes out the reds. A rough path leads up from near the cemetery for a closer look, and the climb takes about 20 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace. Wear shoes with grip — the trail is dusty and loose in places.

Fossil footprints of dinosaurs and birds from the Late Cretaceous have been found in the Paleta area, which gives the site a second layer of interest for anyone traveling with children or with an interest in geology.

The cemetery on the hillside

The Cementerio Nuestra Señora del Carmen spreads up the slope below the Paleta, and it is one of the most photographed cemeteries in northern Argentina. The tombs are white and pale blue, decorated with flowers, football pennants and small offerings. It is an active cemetery, not a tourist site, so keep your voice low and ask before photographing people or recent graves. The view back over the valley from the upper rows is worth the short climb on its own.

Vineyards and high-altitude wine

Maimará has a small but genuine wine scene. Local operators run walking tours through the vineyards with tastings of high-altitude wines, usually limited to around 10 people and lasting a couple of hours. Book at least a day ahead — these are not walk-up operations. The combination of 2,300-plus meters of altitude and intense sun produces grapes with thick skins and concentrated flavor, and the wines are unlike anything from Argentina's better-known Mendoza region.

The village itself

The plaza General San Martín is the social center, with a small church, benches under the trees and a few shops selling local produce. The valley floor around Maimará is covered in small farms growing fruit and vegetables for the surrounding towns, and you will see produce for sale along the roadside in season. Walking the lanes between the fields takes an hour and is a good way to see how the village actually lives, away from the tour-bus stop.

Practical Details for Your Visit

The Paleta del Pintor and the cemetery are free to visit. There is no gate, no ticket booth and no opening hours — the hillside is open land, and you can walk up whenever there is daylight. This also means there are no facilities: no toilets, no water, no shade. Bring what you need.

Allow two to three hours in Maimará if you want to see the Paleta properly, walk through the cemetery and have lunch. If you are only stopping for the classic photo from the roadside, 30 minutes is enough — but you will miss the best of it. Note that fees and schedules for the wine tours and the solar train change seasonally, so confirm current rates and departure times with the operators directly before you go.

Best time to visit

The dry months from April to November offer the clearest colors and the most stable weather. August is cold and windy — daytime highs around 18°C, nighttime lows near -1°C — but the light is superb and the crowds are thin. December through February is warmer but wetter, and afternoon wind is common. Whatever the season, mornings and late afternoons beat the middle of the day for photography and for comfort on the exposed hillside.

The village is quiet on weekdays and busier when tour buses pass through between Purmamarca and Tilcara, usually in the late morning. If you want the Paleta to yourself, arrive before 9 am or after 4 pm.

Altitude and sun

At 2,390 meters, altitude is a real factor. Most visitors feel fine, but take the first day slowly, drink more water than you think you need, and skip the steep climb if you have a headache. The sun at this elevation is fierce even in winter — a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are not optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maimará worth stopping for, or should I stay in Tilcara?

Maimará is quieter and cheaper than Tilcara, and the Paleta del Pintor is right there rather than a side trip. It works well as a base for two or three nights if you want calm, but Tilcara has more restaurants and hotels. Many travelers visit Maimará as a half-day stop between Purmamarca and Tilcara and regret rushing it.

Do I need a ticket for the Paleta del Pintor?

No. The hillside and the cemetery are free and open at all hours. There are no facilities on site, so bring water and sun protection. The only paid experiences in the village are the wine tours and the solar train.

How do I get to Maimará without a car?

Take a Humahuaca-bound bus from San Salvador de Jujuy — about 1 hour 30 minutes on paved National Route 9 — or the Tren Solar de la Quebrada, which stops in Maimará and offers a scenic, slower ride. Local buses also link Maimará with Tilcara and Purmamarca.

When is the best time to photograph the Painter's Palette?

April to November brings the driest air and clearest colors. Shoot in the first two hours after sunrise or the last two before sunset, when low light deepens the bands; midday sun washes them out. Weekday mornings before 9 am are the least crowded.