At a short drive from Córdoba city, nature merges with adventure on country roads, at hill peaks, in the deepness of the water
The most important tourist areas in the province are towards the west of the capital city and they are delimited by the Small Hills (=Sierras Chicas); Big Hills (=Sierras Grandes) and Western Hills (=Sierras Occidentales). There, trekkers have plenty of proposals, with roads presenting different difficulty leverls. Between ancestral chapels and historical footprints, fresh water streams quench the thirst and invite to relax.
At the Punilla Valley, the Uritorco mount, at 6,398 f.a.s.l., is ideal for trekkers in the search of spiritual roads. There, they shall find much more than just adventure. This mount is visited by those looking for an ideal place to meditate and connect themselves with their essence. At a bit more than an hour drive from the capital city, this mount is accessible from Capilla del Monte, where all tourist services are available.
Trained trekkers shall find at the Big Hills a place to walk for hours and contemplate the landscape which shall make them feel close to heaven. Champachí and Los Gigantes mounts, at 9,154 and 7,788 f.a.s.l. respectively, host emblematic birds like the condor and represent a challenge for the most experimented trekkers.
At Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, La Cumbrecita, Villa Gral. Belgrano, La Falta, Villa Giardino and La Cumbre, there are pathways with medium and low difficulty levels that invite visitors of all ages to enjoy this outdoors proposal, according to each person’s time and energies.
At Quebrada del Condorito National Park it is possible to practice trekking at pathways especially designed for such purpose.
Along all its territory, the province of Córdoba has a privileged geography for birdwatching. In an environment of hills and not so far from the capital city, in wetlands, rivers and lagoons it is possible to observe a great variety of bird species at their natural habitat. The wetland of the Saladillo River, is one of the most important landlocked wetlands in Argentina for migratory birds. For this reason, Birdlife International declared it Important Bird Area (IBA). Acknowledged ornithologists have identified this region as a paradise for shorebirds.
At 131 miles from the provincial capital, Mar Chiquita Lagoon with its Multiple Use Reservation is a wetland with a surface of more than 2,500,000 acres. It was declared RAMSAR Site and it is the habitat of the region’s shorebirds that migrate to the Northern Hemisphere. The most frequent species found in this area are: common phalarope, lesser yellowlegs, sandpiper, white warbling finch and golden plover. It is also possible to photograph flamingos, ducks and seagulls, as well as other aquatic species.
Quebrada del Condorito National Park
At the tourist region of the Big Hills, there are other representative species like condors, eagles, hawks and vultures. The big walls of Quebrada del Condorito National Park are the perfect shelter for condors. They depart early in the morning to search for food and it is necessary to find the precise moment to see them. No doubts this place is a great challenge for birdwatchers and it is at only 55 miles from the provincial capital, very close to the tourist towns of Villa Carlos Paz, Mina Clavero, Alta Gracia and Villa General Belgrano. After a pretty intense day, sunset falls on the water and seems to merge with the colors of the horizon. Gastronomy at the neighboring towns and villages guarantees a varied offer of flavors inherited from the European culture.
