Things to Do Around Cordoba City in Argentina

Jesuit ranches, beautiful landscapes with the sierras as protagonists, summer resorts and much more. So that you don’t miss anything, we tell you things to do around Cordoba city.

The province of Cordoba has a lot to offer, and many are unaware that less than 100 km away from the capital there are incredible places to visit and disconnect from the big city.

Surely we have more places to see in the surroundings of Córdoba Capital, so we accept suggestions to complete the article and make a future visit. For the time being, these are the places where we have been.

🔝 See also things to do in Córdoba city.

Map of things to do around Córdoba City

The best way to travel around the city of Cordoba is to have a car, that way you will have more comfort and more independence of schedules.

In any case, the capital’s bus system is quite good, with many schedules and local companies available for sightseeing.

1. La Cumbrecita

For us it is one of the most beautiful villages to see in the surroundings of Cordoba capital. At almost 1,500 meters above sea level and surrounded by the Sierras Grandes de Córdoba, it is located in a valley with forests.

Its charm lies in the style of construction of the houses and premises very similar to what we can find in Switzerland or Austria and the natural environment that surrounds it.

🔝 Check out this article with detailed information on things to do in La Cumbrecita.

In addition, it has the advantage of being a village that can only be covered on foot, vehicles are not allowed to enter and must be parked at the entrance before crossing the bridge over the Rio del Medio river, for a mandatory fee of 700 pesos (March 2022) for the maintenance of the village.

La Cumbrecita can be easily seen in half a day, it has a pedestrian walk that runs through the town and back, being of little physical difficulty and crossing all the attractions of the place. But, perhaps the best thing to do is to sleep at least one night in one of the inns or hotels and enjoy much more of the charm of the town.

Among the main places to see in La Cumbrecita we can mention:

• La olla: a natural pool formed by the Almbach stream, ideal for sitting and drinking mate on the shore.
• The chapel: in the highest part of the village with its alpine architecture.
• Hiking in the surrounding area.
• Enjoy one of the many viewpoints to the mountains.
• Cross the small forest, surrounded by exuberant vegetation.
• Visit Peñon del Aguila, a theme park for entertainment, ziplining and other activities.

📷 Check here the tour to La Cumbrecita and Villa General Belgrano from Córdoba and make a reservation..

Where to stay in La Cumbrecita?

If you want to stay in La Cumbrecita, two good value for money options are:

• Aires Serranos: adults only with outdoor pool, garden and terrace and rooms with views.
• Solares Cumbrecita: excellent location, abundant breakfast and solarium with swimming pool. Complex with a Central European style architectural design.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find here the best hotels in La Cumbrecita.

2. Villa General Belgrano

One of the most nationally recognized cities in the province of Córdoba. There are many things to do in Villa General Belgrano, the town is characterized by the large German colony that has been settled for many years and maintains its customs and traditions through gastronomy and festivities.

Undoubtedly the main attraction of the place is the Oktoberfest, the famous beer festival that imitates on a smaller scale that of Munich in Germany. For two weeks the city receives a large number of visitors, a beer park is set up with different stalls of local and national beer brands and there are parades of the community.

Villa General Belgrano also has a beautiful natural environment of streams and mountains around it. This way you can enjoy Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, Los Reartes and other mountain villages just a few kilometers away.

Where to stay in Villa General Belgrano?

If you want to stay in Villa General Belgrano, two options with good value for money are:

• BlackStone Apart : excellent aparts for families, very good location, attention and outdoor and indoor swimming pool.
• Bad-wiessee Apart Hotel : offers rooms and apartments. It has a spa and swimming pool.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find here the best hotels in Villa General Belgrano.

3. Embalse, one of the places to see in the surroundings of Cordoba

The largest artificial lake in Córdoba invites you to take a drive along one of its sides along route 5.

On the way, you will pass by the Vertedero bridge and the reservoir viewpoint, two places to take a break and enjoy the panoramic views of the lake.

If you want to enjoy the surroundings with more time, in the town of Villa del Dique there are numerous lodgings and a camping site to spend the night.

4. Alta Gracia

Another of the places to see in the surroundings of Cordoba capital and that we loved is Alta Gracia, which is not a big city to go around, rather with a whole day or even half a day you can see everything.

The city was one of the most important in terms of the Jesuit legacy in Argentina, so much so that the estancias of this city plus those of Jesús María and the buildings of the Capital, are World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

🔘 Check out the rest of the World Heritage Sites we have visited.

One of the main attractions is the Tajamar, an ancient dam built by the Jesuits in the 17th century to supply water and irrigate crops. Next to the dam is the old public clock building that houses the local tourist office.

Just across the street is the museum of the Jesuit Estancia, a 17th century residence with a lot of history where Viceroy Liniers lived and where the Jesuits settled to evangelize.

In the interior there are samples of pieces and furniture of that time, you can see the different rooms of the enclosure along with the chapel that is next to it. Admission is free.

The Che Guevara Museum is located in the house that Che lived in as a child. His family settled in the city because of his asthma problem and Alta Gracia’s good air quality. Inside, each room tells the story of the Argentine revolutionary and there are photos, objects that belonged to him and letters.

The Lourdes Grotto is a sanctuary located on the outskirts of Alta Gracia surrounded by beautiful scenery. The grotto dedicated to the virgin together with the chapel at the top is visited by many of the faithful. There are a lot of posters in gratitude for the wishes granted. However, it is necessary to keep silent during the visit because it is a place of prayer.

📷 Check here the excursion to Alta Gracia from Cordoba and make a reservation. Includes: transfers and guide.

🔝 Check out our visit to the Gruta de los Pañielos in our list of things to do in Sierra de los Padres.

Where to stay in Alta Gracia?

If you want to stay in Alta Gracia, two good value for money options are:

• Posada Develier: facing the lake with excellent service, it is a simple inn with a swimming pool in the garden.
• Solares Hotel & Spa: continental breakfast, swimming pool, garden with games for children and comfortable rooms.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find here the best hotels in Alta Gracia.

5. Villa Carlos Paz

A few kilometers from the capital of Córdoba, Villa Carlos Paz attracts a lot of tourism all year round, being one of the main vacation destinations in Argentina, even with a great billboard of theatrical shows during the summer months.

Built around San Roque Lake, it has beautiful viewpoints, lots of nightlife, its famous Cu-Cu clock that is a symbol, small beaches to enjoy and the lake for water sports or catamaran rides.

The estancia La Quinta park is also worth a visit. In the past there were about 400 hectares whose owners were the Jesuits. Today the park is reduced to only 5 hectares, but it is very well wooded and has playground equipment for children. We stayed for a whole afternoon drinking mate and with Benji enjoying the games.

There are two ways to get there from the capital city of Córdoba: the highway or the road of the hundred curves. At least the outward or return trip is worth doing it by the latter route, which although it takes longer, allows you to have very nice views of the lake and to visit the former Molet power plant, the first reservoir in South America, to see the engine room and instruments used to generate electricity in the early twentieth century.

Where to stay in Villa Carlos Paz?

If you want to stay in Villa Carlos Paz, two options with good value for money are:

• Porto del Sol: spacious, comfortable and modern apartments with swimming pool, close to downtown.
• Portal del Lago Hotel: four swimming pools, a large garden, sauna, tennis and paddle court and lake views to feel totally relaxed.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find the best hotels in Villa Carlos Paz.

6. Jesus María

Jesus Maria is another must-see attraction in the area around the capital city of Cordoba. As in Alta Gracia, the imprint left by the Jesuits has its mark in this city.

Starting with the Jesuit estancia Caroya, a beautiful and very well maintained 17th century site. Strolling through its grounds is like going back in time and remembering the golden age of the place from a historical point of view. You can observe elements related to the Jesuits and to the first factory of bladed weapons that was installed in the place and that served the war of independence. In addition, the estancia served as a post for travelers, hosting national heroes such as San Martín and Belgrano.

Another place to visit is the National Jesuit Museum with free admission. It is another of the estancias linked to the Jesuits. Touring the different rooms, the inner courtyard and the adjoining chapel is a delight.

A few kilometers from Jesus Maria is Colonia Caroya, famous for its salami and wine production.

📷 Book here the Colonia Caroya winery tour. Includes: entrance fees to the wineries, tasting, transfers and guide.

Where to stay in Jesus Maria?

🏨 Looking for sleeping options? Find here the best hotels in Jesus María.

7. Other places to see in the surroundings of Cordoba city

• Route of the high peaks: route 34 that ends in Mina Clavera is a beautiful road through the sierras where you will not be able to stop looking at the landscape around you. On the way you will pass through the Quebrada del Condorito National Park, ideal for hiking.
• La Falda and Cosquín: two other towns in the Cordoba highlands, ideal for resting. The famous National Folklore Festival is held in Cosquín every year in January.

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