Sierras
The Sierras of Cordoba
In the nearby rolling hills or “sierras” of Cordoba you can enjoy an innumerous amount of activities and landscapes at a relatively close distance to the main city. Whether it be camping, hiking, horseback-riding, sunbathing or enjoying some form of adventure tourism, the sierras of Cordoba offer all this and more. Hotels and cabins are easy to find and reserve, and staying in the sierras for a couple of days is a great way to enjoy the endless amount of relaxing scenery at your leisure. People come from all over the world and Argentina itself to explore the low-lying sierras that surround Cordoba in various directions. Each area that has its own special attributes. In the Valle de Calamuchita to the Southwest you will find small Bavarian villages, and in the Valle de Sierras Chicas in the Northwest, there are greener pastures for horseback-riding and trekking. You can then cross over the larger sierras to the Valle de Traslasierra where Adventure Tourism has taken on a whole new name.
Some of the most beautiful towns/cities you can't miss:
VILLA GENERAL BELGRANO
A little mountain town with a Bavarian style, this village was founded in 1932 when immigrants of German, Swiss and Austrian origin arrived to Argentina.
You will be surprised by its red-roofed wooden architecture and Bavarian style. Filled with art, nature, traditional festivals and typical foods, Villa General Belgrano is located just 86 kilometers from the city of Cordoba. It is one of the most visited tourist areas in the Cordoba Province and is located in the Calamuchita Valley where the highest point of Cordoba is located – the Champaquí Hill (2998m). The climate in the area is very moderate all year round and the area is surrounded by green hills and fields. The presence of pine trees and crystal rivers adds to the mystic of the area and the indigenous birds and animals of the area give life to this Centro European village called General Belgrano.
CARLOS PAZ
Spectacular Daytime hang-outs and Unbeatable Nightlife. At the entrance to the scenic Punilla Valley is by f ar one of the most visited ar eas of Cordoba . It is called Villa Carlos Paz and it transforms itself every summer into one of the most important tourist ar eas of the country. Surrounding the San Roque Lake, this city allows you to mix the calm atmosphere of the serene rivers with an intense night life full of discos, theatres, many restaurants and even a casino. The daytime sports ar eas invite you to practice water sports and enjoy the landscapes and cool b ar s. Some of the most popul ar ar e Fantasio, Playas de Oro, La Olla, Playa Sol, Del Ciervo and Amarras.
ALTA GRACIA
Alta Gracia is situated in a valley in the Sierras Chicas. It is one of the most important tourist centers of the ar ea. It is located just a few kilometers from Cordoba and it has an excellent climate, beautiful landscapes and a natural environment. It is a great cultural center: It is one of the most important ar eas for Jesuit ar chitecture and museums like the house of Viceroy Liniers (Spanish colonization time), the “Manuel de Falla” museum (musician), and the famous “Casa del Che Guev ar a” (revolutionist). Talking about entertainment, it has a beautiful Casino and an exciting night life. If you like extreme sports, here you can find P ar achuting, mountain bike rides, trekking, fishing or hunting.
TANTI
Just 50km from the capital of Cordoba you can visit the city of Tanti . It is a very unique local whose picturesque scenery has maintained the essence of the sierras of Cordoba despite the advancement of the other cities in the surrounding ar eas. For this reason the residents ar e very proud of the preservation of their beautiful nature and hillside scenery. It is located at 865 meters above sea level. It has a special microclimate that makes it an ideal place to rest or take p ar t in outdoor activities such as: hiking, climbing, horse riding, hangliding, etc.
Cosquín: A “Music” Town
Just a short 24 km from the village of Carlos Paz in the center of the Punilla Valley is the town of Cosquin which every summer transforms into the “musical heart” of Argentina. At the traditional nine moons folklore festival the festival Cosquin Rock takes place which brings out bands from all over the country and the entire town fills with music both day and night.
In addition to the musical festivals, Cosquin is a beautiful hillside town irrigated by the waters of the Cosquin river where there many daytime hangouts to take in the sunshine and enjoy the fresh water of a pool or nearby river. Also, if you head further north-east on the Characato Route you will arrive at the Pinto and Avalos rivers which offer ideal settings for fishing. Further on between the towns of Villa Giardino and La Cumbre there is a rural road not to be missed which has many shops full of local handmade goods to purchase as souvenirs of your travels in the area.
La Falda
This area, located on the side of the El Cuadrado hill is surrounded by beautiful hillside scenery and natural waterholes that invite you to rest or take advantage of adventure tourism. The nearby La Falda dam offers excellent fishing and the possibility of water sports. The Southern city limits mean the Hermoso Valley and to the North the Huerta Grande, it is one of the most populated and active cities in the Punilla Valley with considerable commercial activity.
La Cumbrecita
La Cumbrecita is a small village located in a small part of the Sierra Grande. It has an Alpine-style construction with hotels hidden in the middle of pine forests and mountain paths. In winter, it has Swiss-style scenery for the snow and alpine style.
Walking Village: Since July 9, 1996, autos have not permitted inside the city center and the entire area is protected as an environmental safe-haven.
Santa Rosa de Calamuchita
This is the most important area of the Calmuchita valley; however this does not impede the warm atmosphere and kindness offered by its inhabitants. The center is only encompasses a few blocks where the commercial and public activities take place. There is a considerable amount of lodging that is affordable. It is a good place to make a base and visit the other nearby hillside towns and villages within a radius of about 50 km.
Yacanto de Calamuchita
Yacanto de Calamuchita is a quaint village, known for its entry into the Sierra de Los Comechingones or Sierras Grandes from the East. The largest peak of these sierras is La Cerro Champaquí that has an elevation of 2885 meters above sea level. At 42 Km from the village, you can reach this peak by the “los linderos” road, and the ascent to the peak can be done either on foot or with a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Mina Clavero: Sun, Fun and Golden beaches.
The sun that reflects on the river-bed of the Los Sauces River is adored by hundreds of sunbathers along the more the 14km of sandy beaches. This paradise surrounded by crystal clear rivers is the capital of tourism in the Traslasierra Valley.
At night the main city center streets shut down and become a walkway full of bars, restaurants and cultural events. There are many complexes in the area where you can rent cabins or even set up your tent at one of the many camping grounds where you can also fish in the streams.
Also in this area make sure to take advantage of the local handcrafts which are made by families with long traditions in the area or crafting ceramics, stone, wood, and knit, leather and woven goods.
Capilla del Monte
Capilla del Monte is a beautiful and attractive town at 980 meters above sea level ideal to make as your base for exploring the many little villages around the Punilla hills.
The Uritorco Mountain, Los Terrones, and the Ongamira Caves are some of the most frequented sights in the area and where the traveler will find some of the most colorful and ancient natural attractions in the area. There are many organized excursions to be found in this area. They vary from day-hikes to extreme adventure tourism such as rock-climbing, paragliding, etc. Capilla del Monte became famous on an international level in the last decades due to a mysterious “halo” that covers the Cerro Uritorco…Many people believe it has extra-terrestrial activity and that UFO’s have been spotted in the area.
JESUIT LEGACY
The “Road of the Jesuit Estates” is recognized by UNESCO as a national heritage and allows the tourist to discover the world-renown values and importance of these historic places. On this journey you will be able to discover scenery, traditions and customs that make up the cultural identity of Cordoba.
In 1599 the religious order known as the “Jesus Company” arrived in Cordoba and in 1767 when King Carlos III was expelled from Argentina, the Jesus Company established a unique socio-cultural, religious, and economic territory in Latin America which is clearly identified in Cordoba, where you can see and explore the remnants that remain today.
The most important Estates open for you to visit today are Caroya (1616), Jesús María (1618), Santa Catalina (1622), Alta Gracia (1643) La Calendaria (1678) and San Ignacio (1725).
We recommend "Esteban Castagna's photobook" :
for more information visit: www.arquitecturacolonialcordoba.com
