Amaicha del Valle is one of my most treasured destinations in Argentina, and one that is not very well known by foreign tourists.
I initially went there to volunteer (using a platform called Workaway), but have returned twice since to participate in the Andes winter solstice ceremony and to take my parents to the town, the Sacred City of Quilmes, and out “on Country” in the desert to where some of the Elders live (pictured below).
Where is Amaicha del Valle and what makes it so special?
Amaicha del Valle is a town in the northwestern part of Tucuman, 2 hours south of Cafayate, Salta.
Amaicha is an Indigenous owned, self-governed Diaguitas-Calchaquí community. In 1716, the Spanish crown handed the community back their land and now everything in the valley is run by the community – a Chief (Cacique) and a Council of Elders.
Ownership of land is almost unheard of for Indigenous communities across the globe, so after reading Sebastian’s profile and reviews on Workaway, I was intrigued to learn more.
Quick Intermission: What is Workaway?
I’ve been a member of Workaway.info on and off since 2018 during my first large solo trip. It is a platform that allows families, organisations, farms, hostels and many more people to find an extra set of hands in exchange for accommodation and food.
For travellers, volunteering with these hosts brings so many benefits. It allows us to:
- Slow down in our travels and find some stability
- Learn about a place, community and its people more deeply
- Visit off the beaten track locations
- Share skills and learn new ones
- Participate in a cultural exchange
- Make long lasting international friendships
- And of course, save some money
I’ve done Workaways all across the Americas including farm work, hostels and B&Bs, tourism, website development and translation work. I am still in frequent contact with many I’ve met and have even returned to some places to visit.
Such as Amaicha del Valle.
My work as a volunteer
I was volunteering in the house (and bed and breakfast) of a local tour guide and Calchaquí man, Sebastian. My volunteering roles were primarily centred around the B&B (making sure it was clean and ready for guests), the farm and helping out with the day to day life in the desert.
Having spent the majority of my life past age 9 in the city, I noticed the importance of the small tasks that hold big importance out here. I settled the dust every morning with buckets of water, removed each kernel off cobs of corn for seeds and to turn into flour, watered the cacti, and hacked at branches with a machete to make wood for a new fence.
For me, experiences like this really help me slow down and counteract the city-minded, highly-productive working drone I had become (which had ended up damaging my mental health).
It was also a great way to connect with the land and nature around me, rather than rapidly passing through on the way to the next tourist attraction.
The Cultural exchange – for the B&B Guests too
With him being a tourist guide and owning a B&B, I was lucky to be surrounded by other visitors that had come to learn more about the community and culture here. Most of these tourists were from different states across Argentina.
Sebastian hosted many tours (which I was able to join for free) during which he shared so much about his Calchaquí culture, their history and the ongoing issues the community has with the government, private investors and land ownership.
We visited the Sacred City of Quilmes, the desert and rock formations of Tiu Punco where a few Elders still live and the community nature reserve. I played with his pets, walked to some waterfalls and enjoyed the rides on the motorbike. We had Elders come to visit and serenade us with songs, danced in the street during the Adobe Festival and spent hours in the hammock.
Sebastian and I formed a great friendship and I was so lucky to participate in a ceremony in the hills where members of the community celebrate the winter solstice around an important arch through which they welcome the new year’s sun. He invited me back in June to participate in Inti Raymi, the Andean winter solstice ceremony.
Why you should visit Amaicha Del Valle
My two weeks there allowed me to slow down, connect with the culture and drastically improve my Spanish.
It’s a great place for you to do the same, whether you’re a volunteer or looking to add a cultural connection onto your Salta/Jujuy road trip.
The tours that Sebastian provide allow such a great insight into the Calchaquí history and living culture. The knowledge and perspectives will stay with me forever, and I’m sure I’ll return for a fourth time.
Here I’ve linked his insta for his tours, his bed & breakfast accommodation, and his Workaway listing here.
If you sign up to Workaway using this link I’ll get a short extension of my membership!!
*This article contains affiliate links which may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you, however Workaway is just an organisation I believe in sharing with the masses.
See some of my other posts about Argentina:
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