The common people know the most obvious destinations: Córdoba capital, Clavero Mine, Villa Carlos Paz, La Cumbrecita, Villa General Belgrano, La Falda, Cosquín. But this Argentine province has much, much more to offer. Between mountains, gullies, rivers and waterfalls, a series of villages and landscapes to remember unfold. Some that are not usually in tourist guides or among the first recommendations, but which are worth putting on the radar to The next vacations.
How green was my valley
Barely 115 kilometers from the Cordovan capital, in the Calamuchita Valley, hides the charming little town of Amboy, birthplace of the hero Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield. It is one of the first recommendations of the travel specialist Agustina López, in charge of the @pasaje.en.mano account and herself from Cordoba. “Entering this town is stopping the clock for a while. It has less than 300 inhabitants and facades of yesteryear that hide family houses, grocery stores and warehouses, ”she details. In addition to the museum and monument to the hero born here, another must-see is the San José chapel, pristine white and said to have been built by a single person with sheer effort. In addition, this town is crossed by the homonymous river, which makes it very fresh and green. A good way to discover it is to stay in a “glamping” located right next to the water, Aguada de Lunas.
Also in the Calamuchita Valley, San Miguel de los Rios It is another stop recommended by the influencer. 122 kilometers from the capital city, it is located on the banks of a river, in this case the Tabaquillo, which offers perfect spas to escape the crowds that usually arrive in Córdoba in summer. “This river is the best kept secret in the area,” encourages López. You can choose to dive in the area that you like the most, although the preferred spots are Tres Cascadas and Puente Blanco”. As its name indicates, the first place connects three waterfalls, while the second one combines crystalline waters, stones in the bottom and surrounding pine vegetation for a memorable landscape.
Another interesting point in this area are the archaeological remains of what was the Jesuit ranch San Ignacio, the largest farm that the Jesuits have had in Córdoba. On a plain, it overlooks the Santa Rosa River and is a very valuable historical point. In terms of eating, meanwhile, the expert recommends a family vineyard called Juana Urbana, whose home cooking restaurant is combined with the possibility of tasting the wine itself, and which is located halfway between San Miguel de los Ríos and Villa Yacanto . One more seductive piece of information about the area for those seeking disconnection? There is no cell signal here.
hidden gems
The diverse landscapes in its four cardinal points are another of the strengths of this province, which allow you to find incredible discoveries. For example, to the north, leaving Capilla del Monte behind and in the Copacabana area, Adrián Beretti, influencer and owner of the Hi! Córdoba Turismo (@hi_cordoba), recommends not to miss the clay maze. “This unique terrain groups several kilometers of sinuous and clayey gullies that intertwine to form this particular labyrinth”, he details. In the passageways you can find trees with twisted trunks, some even “floating”, with their roots turned into branches. “The panoramic views are captivating and very colorful,” says the expert.
In the Traslasierra area, more precisely in the town of the walls, Agustina López recommends a “hidden gem”: the Boca del Río leveling dam, which receives the waters of the Los Sauces river after a journey between mountain corners. This body of water is ideal for non-motorized nautical activities (you can rent a kayak and row to an inaccessible arm of the lake) and for resting on its shores which, if the weather is good, will provide an unforgettable sunset, with the sun beating directly over the water.
Toward San Marcos Sierras, a town with dirt streets and a very tame rhythm between handicrafts and guitar playing -just know that it even has a Hippie Museum-, three rivers stand out, ideal for enjoying. One is the Quilpo, whose several kilometers alternate different sectors: some low ones, ideal for going with children, deeper pools and natural waterfalls. The next is the San Marcos River, perfect for walking along its banks and appreciating the aboriginal mortars and an old ditch. In addition, going up its channel it is possible to find two sources of hypothermal waters, Agua Mineral Grande and Chica. And the third river is the Pinto, which is accessed by a gravel road that is well worth the trip. It combines quieter areas ideal for bathing and resting with a western sector that offers great sunsets, as well as offering an impressive view of its zigzagging course between mountains. Given this perspective, it is an area chosen for air sports, and it is not uncommon to see hang gliders, paragliders and hot air balloons flying through the sky and making the landscape even more fascinating.
excursions
Finally, this province surprises with its own salt pans, a little-known wonder. 180 kilometers northwest of the capital, the Great Salt Flats they share territory with La Rioja, Catamarca and Santiago del Estero. Here the ground is swampy and the horizon seems endless. And thanks to the enormous portion of white land, the contrast of the sunsets is impressive. You can stop very close in San José de las Salinas to eat or spend the night.
Another particular place is the Monte de las Barrancas Wildlife Refuge, a protected area to preserve the biodiversity of the area, with a forest of native flora and fauna that seems to magically emerge in the middle of the desert. A surreal and dazzling spectacle that confirms, once again, the enormous wealth and charm of Córdoba, a province that displays attractions far beyond the obvious and more tourist destinations. It’s just a matter of venturing onto the map.
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