We stayed in Tilcara four nights. It's a small (4,000 pop) Andean hillside town overlooking a broad river-carved valley and surrounded by dry red-rock mountains. The morning sun on the rock reminded me of Zabriskie Point in Death Valley. The buildings look like adobe and and are roofed with bamboo and cement. While geared towards tourists, the narrow streets, shops, and cafes are tasteful and the town bustles with locals shopping and eating. I think most of the tourists are Argentine though we met a Canadian from Tokyo staying in the hotel.
The Patio Alto hotel's architect took the local design cues—brick, cement, stone, bamboo—then reinterpreted them with spacious modern comforts, colourful tiles, metal, and visual surprises. Every space, every piece of furniture, every light fixture looks great. I´m reminded of the Kelebek Hotel in Goreme, another beautiful hilltop work of art. The internet is spotty but you don't come to Tilcara for the internet.
I like Tilcara. A beautiful location, a cool breezy high-desert climate, and a charming town with plenty of cafes and restaurants, all surrounded by colorful hills with hiking trails. Everywhere I look I want to pull out my camera and take a picture.
