Ruins, stone wall remains, and hills lie on both sides of the national highway in the Quebrada de Ovara. Together with agricultural terraces, seasonal cultivation areas, enclosures, and mounds of cleared stones, they shape the site's archaeological character. Ovara is thus marked by various traces of earlier agriculture, not just individual ruins. If you are interested in archaeological landscapes, these different forms can provide a common thread for exploring the area.

Archaeological Traces and Agriculture

Archaeological features include seasonal cultivation areas, agricultural terraces, and various types of enclosures. Cultivation terraces lie in the Quebrada de Ovara, with mounds of cleared stones between them. An archaeological survey also identified circular structures at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level, as well as circular stone heaps, north of an access road.

To understand the site's themes, it helps to distinguish between forms and use: ruins, wall remains, and circular structures lend different shapes to the archaeological picture; seasonal cultivation areas, terraces, and enclosures draw attention to agricultural use. This can help you consider whether you would rather explore Ovara through its archaeological forms or its evidence of agriculture.

Community and Culture

The Comunidad Aborigen de Ovara in the Department of Humahuaca has state-recognized legal status, granted in 2008. This is a distinct aspect of the area's profile alongside its archaeological structures: it concerns the community, while the terraces and enclosures bear witness to agricultural use. In 2017, Ovara hosted the third edition of the Festival de la Chicha y las Canteras.

Accommodation in Ovara

Hostería El Valle Sagrado is an accommodation in the municipality of Hornaditas, Ovara. Visitors can take part in making homemade bread in a clay oven there. If you would like to include this activity in your plans, confirm availability directly with the Hostería. This also lets you choose where to stay based on whether this specific offering suits your visit.

Setting in the Department of Humahuaca

The Comunidad Aborigen de Ovara is located in the Department of Humahuaca. The Quebrada de Humahuaca provides the regional context: it is a narrow, dry mountain valley about 155 kilometers long, crossed by the Río Grande. In 2003, UNESCO declared the Quebrada de Humahuaca a World Heritage cultural landscape. Along the Río Grande runs the Camino Inca, a significant cultural route that is known to have been used as a trade route over the past 10,000 years. This broader history of the landscape complements Ovara's local archaeological traces and offers a distinct perspective for understanding the destination. Indigenous traditions are also passed down from generation to generation in the valleys of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

For the broader travel overview: Department of Humahuaca.