Uspallata

About

Nestled in the Andes, Uspallata is an unassuming border town. Outside a few cafes and bars, there’s not much going on in the town proper, but that’s alright, because the amazing surroundings more than make up for it. In fact, the movie 7 Years in Tibet was filmed here. Hike to the Uspallata mirador for a sweeping panorama across the valley to the souring Andean peaks beyond. There’s not much in the way of signage up there, but you don’t need to know the names of the mountains to know it’s a great view. Uspallata’s other main attraction is Las Bóvedas (“The Vaults”). Built by Jesuits in the 18th century, these historic smelters are notable for their unique egg-shaped furnaces, which were appropriated by General San Martín to use as offices and warehouses during the Liberation Campaign. Today, Las Bóvedas houses a small history museum.