Yavi Chico

Information

Yavi Chico is a small village in the Puna region of the Argentine province of Jujuy, located 4 km from the village of Yavi and just 1 km from the border between Argentina and Bolivia. It is situated alongside the Cajas River, which has high banks in this area. It is a small village that can be explored in a short time and still retains much of the traditions and customs typical of Puna communities. The buildings are mainly made with adobe walls and the main activity of the local population is agriculture.

It has an Indigenous community museum called "Mama Antonia-Tata Portal", where archaeological objects from the area are displayed, such as ceramic vessels and mortars belonging to the Yavi culture. A chapel can also be visited.

For birdwatchers, Yavi Chico is a good place to see Puna species, as it is common to find a good variety of birds with relative ease. Simply walking through the village streets, it is possible to record several of them without having to travel long distances. Some of the species that are commonly seen include the creamy-breasted canastero (Asthenes dorbignyi), the black-hooded sierra-finch (Phrygilus atriceps), the citron-headed yellow-finch (Sicalis luteocephala) and the d'Orbigny's chat-tyrant (Ochthoeca oenanthoides).

For those interested in birdwatching, a good idea is to allow more than one day and take the opportunity to explore Yavi Chico as well as the nearby village of Yavi. There is accommodation there for spending the night as well as a good abundance of wild birds, so both villages can complement each other very well for those who want to take the time to get to know the species found in this part of the Puna.