Located in the
altiplano region along the
Iruya River, Iruya sits nestled against the mountainside at an elevation of . It is located over from the province capital of
Salta. There is no direct road connection to the rest of the
Salta province and access is through a road to the adjacent
Jujuy province, a portion of which is unpaved. Nonetheless, the town is popular with tourists for its scenic location and townscape and friendly locals. 8 km north of Iruya there is the village of
San Isidro, 7 km north there is the village of
San Juan, 6 km south there is the village of
Pueblo Viejo. Iruya's name is derived from the
Quechua language, meaning "abundance of straw". == History ==