Córdoba is a beautiful city nestled in the heart of Argentina, but if you know me and Jake, then you know that the hustle and bustle from city life can be a bit overwhelming for us. We love exploring a new city for about 2 days, then we are ready to leave the busy city for some relaxation out in nature.
Lucky for us, Córdoba is home to the Sierras Chicas mountain range, which offers many beautiful hikes and fun activities.
If you are looking to get out of the city and spend some time in nature like we were, there are some fascinating places in the mountains outside of Córdoba! Let us share some of the best day trips from Córdoba, Argentina, so you can experience the natural beauty for yourself!
- Cerro Pan de Azúcar (Sugar Loaf)
- Labio del Indio (Indian Lip)
- Villa Carlos Paz
- La Cumbrecita
- Spend the Day with a Gaucho
Cerro Pan de Azúcar (Sugar Loaf) Trail and Chairlift
Whether you are up for a great hike, or you would rather take a leisurely ride to the top of a mountain, Cerro Pan de Azúcar is a must!
It is about a 1.5 hour drive from the city, and it is a mountain peak that offers a hiking trail or a chairlift up to the top.
We opted to do the trail because we were craving some hiking after spending so much time in cities, but the chairlift is a great option for those that don’t want to make the steep climb to the rewarding view at the top of the mountain.
Labio del Indio (Indian Lip)
On the way back from hiking Cerro Pan de Azúcar, be sure to stop at this little park. Labio del Indio is right along the river, and on the opposite side you are facing a cliff wall. It is a beautiful and serene little place to stop and maybe even have a picnic lunch.
Villa Carlos Paz
We knew there was a dam along the reservoir we wanted to stop at on our way back to Córdoba, but we did not intend to stumble across this nice village along the reservoir.
Villa Carlos Paz is a beautiful spot over the water looking towards the mountains. There is a walk all along the reservoir, as well as lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars to enjoy!
La Cumbrecita
We drove a couple hours out of the city to come to this little German village I read about on a blog, not exactly sure what to expect, but we knew we could probably find some good hiking in the area.
It turned out to be a great decision! The village was a little touristy, but there were not many people there. Once you arrive to La Cumbrecita, you pay to park your car, as you are not allowed to drive through the streets within the village. There are many German restaurants and shops to stop at as you walk through.
The best part for us though was the hiking trails. We hiked two trails, the Cerro Wank and the Cascada Grande.
The Cerro Wank trail, our personal favorite, is a 2 mile loop trail. It ascends to a mountain peak, gaining 807 feet in elevation. The hike is fairly easy, but you get a beautiful view from the top!
The Cascada Grande (Large Waterfall), as you can tell by the name, is a waterfall hike. The trail is a little over half a mile long, and while there is some climbing to do, the trail is easy otherwise. As usual with a short waterfall hike, there were quite a few people there. Nevertheless, the waterfall was beautiful, and in the warmer months, you can even swim in the water.
Spend the Day with a Gaucho
While looking for some things to do outside of the city, we came across a posting on Airbnb to spend the day with a gaucho. If you are not sure what a gaucho is, it is basically a nomadic cowboy found in Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. They are livestock farmers and skilled horsemen. Even more interestingly, their typical attire includes a poncho, a leather whip, loose trousers called bombachas, and a hat.
We saw Salvador’s posting on Airbnb, “Discover the Gaucho Culture,” offering horseback riding, a typical Argentinian barbecue (asado), and drinks included, so we decided to give it a go.
It ended up being a really relaxed day of riding horses, feeding animals, eating asado, and drinking coffee and wine. It was a lot of fun getting out on the farm and experiencing a Gaucho’s way of life.
While the city of Córdoba offers so many great things to do, I strongly recommend getting out and discovering the countryside of Córdoba. There are so many beautiful things to do and see!
-M & J
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