San Salvador de Jujuy

Founded by Spaniards in 1593, San Salvador de Jujuy (simply Jujuy to most Argentines, and s. s. de jujuy on signs) was the northernmost town on the military and trade route between the Spanish garrisons in Peru and the northern cities of Argentina.

Today the quarter-million inhabitants—including a large indigenous population—of this city busy themselves with administration of the province's main sources of income (mining and tobacco). Just a few are beginning to deal with tourism, too. Although Jujuy lacks nearby Salta's colonial dreaminess (and hotel selection), it has a pleasant downtown, unadulterated local culture, and just a bit of frontier-town charm. And, just outside town, you can ride horses along mountain paths in the jungle or go boating in valley waterways.