Hotel Almeria

MAAM Museum, little bit disappointing

by vtveen

’Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña’ (MAAM Museum) is completely dedicated to one of the most important discoveries in the field of high altitude archaeology, which took place in March 1999 at the peak of Llullaillaco Volcano (6730 m) with the finding of three children - buried 500 years ago as a religious sacrifice - belonging to the Inca culture, together with almost 150 different artifacts.

After ascending the staircase to the first floor in the modern interior of a historic neogothic building and paying our entrance fee, we could enter the first hall of this museum. Immediately we could watch a video about the expedition and excavation of the bodies. Just a pity it was in Spanish, with English subtitles.

We went to a second hall, where artifacts were exhibited which were found next to the bodies of the Llullaillaco children; among them nicely decorated pottery, bags, gold and silver jewellery, headdresses and articles of clothing.
In the ‘main’ hall were some photos of the children displayed with information of them. Just one of the preserved ‘bodies’ can be seen from some distance, behind a thick window in a special climatized chamber.

All together we were a little bit disappointed about the museum, especially after reading so many favourable reviews:
- information is only in Spanish (although we got printed English explanation for our tour)
- in just 20 minutes we were ready with our visit (most probably the museum was wasted on us).
- the entrance fee of 30 pesos per person is by the far the most we paid in Argentina.

The museum has on the ground floor a coffee-shop and a nice gift shop, with some original gifts from northwest Argentina.

Information
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 11.00 am – 7.30 pm
Entrance fee: 30 pesos per person.
See also their website.

NEAR SALTA : ALTIPLANO

by swesn

We passed by several llamas on the rest of the desert altiplano.

Then, we stopped at a very sorry-looking, desolate mining town San Antonio de Los Cobres for lunch.

We were all more or less suffering slightly now from the altitude now. Well, here at the restaurant, they served coca tea and so we ordered them to fortify ourselves.

On our way down, we passed another shrine but this one for Pachamama (Mother Earth). The Indians who passed by here would leave their bottles of alcohol that they were drinking, some coca leaves, cigarettes, etc... to worship Pachamama. One type of bottles read: PURE ALCOHOL 96%. Gosh, mere mortals use 90% alcohol to disinfect wounds. But 96%??!? Imagine drinking that!

The following day, I took roughly the same road to cross into Chile.

At Salinas Grande, this time, there was no annoying second layer of clouds and so it was brilliantly white and beautifully 'salty'. Oh, it was amazing!

For lunch enroute to Chile, we stopped in the middle of nowhere... very bleak... very desolate...