Yavi brings together the history of a colonial hacienda and a chapel that preserves an almost intact Baroque ensemble. As you explore the town, you’ll encounter its many facets: the historic settlement layout, houses made of adobe and straw, and a tradition that comes to life on Good Friday.
Yavi as the centre of a hacienda
Yavi was established in the second half of the 17th century as the centre of the colonial hacienda of the same name. It was used mainly for agriculture and livestock farming. Small areas of farmland still exist in Yavi, although they have become smaller over the past few decades. Agriculture and the history of the settlement are therefore among the town’s key themes.
The historic centre was located on the edge of the Río de Casti. Two buildings associated with the colonial hacienda shaped the area. Their arrangement formed an outer square in dialogue with the chapel forecourt. This spatial connection offers a way to explore the hacienda’s history not only as a chronology, but also through the layout of the historic centre.
The chapel, courtyards and streets
Toward the end of the 17th century, Juan José Fernández Campero y Herrera and Juana Clemencia Bernáldez de Obando had Yavi’s present-day church built as a palace chapel. The interior of the 24-metre-long chapel and the 10-metre-long Capilla de Ánimas preserves an almost intact Baroque ensemble of a pulpit, altarpieces, images and paintings. The two lengths and the different features give the chapel interior a distinctive architectural dimension.
The residential buildings also have a clear layout: their façades mostly face the street, while the courtyards lie behind them and are reached through entrance halls. One of the best ways to experience Yavi is to walk along its wide streets. You can take in houses made of adobe and straw, the most common building materials there. This brings together an appreciation of the streets with an interest in the construction methods and the historic settlement.
Traditions in Yavi
On Good Friday, the Doctrinas come to Yavi from places such as Inti Cancha, Suripugio and Yavi Chico. Along the way, they sing and recite the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. In the wider Yavi destination, the Doctrinas tradition is passed down from generation to generation and is part of the intangible cultural heritage of Jujuy Province. This religious tradition adds a cultural dimension to the buildings, tied to a specific day in the church calendar.
Rural work is another possible experience: visitors can take part in work carried out by Yavi residents and shared with visitors.
The wider Yavi destination
Near Yavi Chico, petroglyphs on riverbanks attest to settlement since around 900 AD. Yavi Chico is also home to the pre-Hispanic settlement of Antigal de Yavi Chico. It lies opposite the town, across the Río Yavi Chico, and can be reached on foot in about 15 minutes. The site includes ancient graves. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
A hike from Yavi Chico to Yavi follows the Yavi Chico and Yavi rivers and passes through a wooded gallery forest, an oasis in the Puna. If you plan this hike, check trail conditions locally as well. This route description refers to the wider Yavi destination, not just the town centre.
The Yavi microregion lies in the Argentine Puna, a relatively flat plateau above 3,200 metres, crossed by mountain ranges from northeast to southeast. The microregion is connected to San Salvador de Jujuy by Ruta Nacional 9, which is fully paved. Local road conditions can change; check them before travelling.
The wider destination also includes the Monumento Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos, designated as a biosphere reserve and Ramsar site. Its conservation aims include protecting Argentina’s largest Puna wetland and its rich birdlife, including flamingos and migratory waders. Alongside Yavi’s architectural history, the landscape and nature conservation of the wider region are also themes to explore in their own right.
For the overview of the wider destination: Yavi.
