Maimará, Argentina: The Painter's Palette Hillside

Maimará, at 2,383m, sits between Purmamarca and Tilcara and is easy to skip if you're moving fast through the Quebrada — which would be a mistake. Its hillside, known as the Paleta del Pintor (Painter's Palette), has the same mineral striping as Purmamarca's more famous hill, in some lights arguably more vivid, without the crowds.

What makes Maimará distinct is its cemetery, built directly into the lower slope of the hillside facing the town — rows of white crosses and tombs stacked up the incline, visible from the highway as you pass. It's a striking, slightly eerie sight and one of the most-photographed cemeteries in Argentina, though it's an active local burial ground and should be treated with the same respect you'd show any cemetery, not as a photo backdrop.

Getting there

Maimará is 74km from San Salvador de Jujuy on RN9, about 1.5hr by car; any bus running the San Salvador-Tilcara-Humahuaca route passes through and can drop you at the edge of town. From Salta, it's roughly 2.5-3hr (175km). Maimará sits directly on RN9, so it's a straightforward stop to add to a Purmamarca-Tilcara day without detouring.

When to go

Same pattern as the rest of the Quebrada: April-November is dry and clear, December-March is wet with afternoon storms. Early morning light hits the Paleta del Pintor well; by midday the colors flatten out under direct sun.

Altitude

The elevation shown is a reference point; the route may climb higher. Plan gradual ascent and seek individual medical advice before high-mountain travel. A suggested itinerary does not establish medical suitability. If symptoms appear, do not continue ascending; seek medical advice and descend if symptoms worsen. CDC guidance on altitude.

Practical notes

• Maimará has far less tourist infrastructure than Tilcara or Purmamarca — fewer restaurants and shops, so it suits a stop rather than a multi-night base.
• Cash is the safer bet for the handful of small shops and eateries in town.
• The cemetery is visible and photographable from the highway pull-off without needing to walk into it — treat it as an active burial site if you do go closer.
• Small-scale vineyards have started appearing around Maimará at this altitude — ask locally if any bodegas are open for visits.
• Combine it with Purmamarca and Tilcara in a single day if you're short on time; all three are within about 20km of each other.

Frequently asked questions