Sierras de Córdoba

Between the Andes and the pampas, the Sierras de Córdoba comprise several parallel mountain ranges, including the Sierras Chicas immediately west of the capital and the higher Sierra de Comechingones toward San Luis [1], separated by longitudinal valleys. Most Argentine visitors flock to Villa Carlos Paz [2], a middle-class casinos-and-discos resort, but the region’s real pleasures are historic hill towns like Alta Gracia [3] (boyhood home of revolutionary icon Ernesto “Che” Guevara) and La Falda [4], and the backcountry of Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito [5].

January, February, Semana Santa, and July are the peak seasons, but weekends are always busy. Because the Sierras do not exceed 2,800 meters, most of the high country is accessible even in mid-winter, and the dense road system makes it a cycling favorite. The roads, however, are narrow, and the many unpaved surfaces make a mountain bike desirable.