Tilcara

Founded in 1600 and witness to many battles during the War of Independence, Tilcara is on the eastern side of the Río Grande at its confluence with the Río Huasamayo. Purveyors of local crafts crowd the main plaza, and artists and musicians escaping the big cities fill the cafés and bars. There are several reasons to stop off in this 2,469-meter-high (8,100-foot-high) Quebrada town: an interesting museum; nearby Inca ruins, caves, and waterfalls; and a good selection of accommodations and restaurants.