Ecotourism

Córdoba has three National Parks in its territory that span over 1,975,000 acres and offer a rich and unique biodiversity with local flora and fauna, unforgettable landscapes and experiences to enjoy all year round.

Besides, these places offer the chance to visit them through their trails, mountains, and even a salty water lagoon, the biggest in South America and the fifth biggest worldwide. Some of the activities you can practice are: photo safari, bird-watching, trekking, cycling, and fishing.

For those people who enjoy ecotourism, you will be able to camp in the permitted areas, or lodge in a wide variety of accommodation.
We invite you to visit them!

QUEBRADA DEL CONDORITO NATIONAL PARK: Over 6562 feet above sea level, in Quebrada del Condorito National Park, we can watch birds and other local animals, like the Achala lizard or the red fox. It has outstanding trails to enjoy trekking.

ANSENUZA NATIONAL PARK: Mar Chiquita or Mar de Ansenuza is a salt lagoon, fed by drinking water rivers (Dulce, Suquía, and Xanes, although Río Dulce feeds 80% of its volume). It’s an area with a great biodiversity, a continental wetland, and the greatest lake surface of Argentina, the greatest salt lake of South America and the fifth greatest of the world. Its flamingos are the most admired species of the area

TRASLASIERRAS NATIONAL PARK: It’s a region with a great biodiversity that keeps the historic heritage of the Comechingón people. It has over 200 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The area is part of the conservation corridor of the north of the province, together with Ansenuza National Park.

SALINAS GRANDES NATURAL RESERVE: This flat and white landscape is approximately 494,210 acres big. Although in special conditions, animal and vegetal species adapt to the salinity of the soil and survive well. In Winter, visitors can walk over the salty land which, in Summer, fills with water and is home to thousands of flamingos. The Reserve is an excellent place to visit and organize different tours that allow you to know and get astonished by the beauty of the natural landscape, where the “salt mines” stand out, an important industry that uses the natural commodity, and the activities at sunrise and sunset that allow you to admire the great “white plain” and a unique landscape in Córdoba. During the night, you can go stargazing, an ideal activity to harness the clear skies.

CERRO COLORADO NATURAL RESERVE: This natural and historic reserve is located to the north of Córdoba, 105 miles from Córdoba city, and has a surface of 7413 acres. It’s a pre-hispanic archaeological site that was inhabited by the indigenous peoples of Sanavirones and Comechingones. The landscape is characterized by reddish rocky formations. It’s an ideal reserve to go trekking and visit the State Archaeological Museum, which offers guided tours to visit the cave paintings of Cerro Colorado.

For more information, call the local information center: 03522 – 15403626  or email to comunacerrocolorado@hotmail.com

PARQUE LA QUEBRADA NATURAL RESERVE: It starts in the mouth of streams that flow to La Quebrada Dam. It’s the shelter of flora and fauna species, wealth guarded by environmental protection acts. In the dam, you can fish breams and silver smelts and practice water sports.

CHANCANÍ- LOS TÚNELES NATURAL RESERVE: It’s 164 miles from Córdoba city and includes the Chancaní State Park and Forest Reserve. Its land is a remaining part of the chaqueño forest with a wealth of quebracho, carob, and species of mountain lions, wildcats, and collared peccary. The road of Quebrada de la Mermela joins the Camino de los Túneles, and offers outstanding panoramic views. One of the main activities in the reserve is watching condors and blue and gray falcons in an extremely beautiful natural environment.

PAMPA DE ACHALA WATER RESERVE: Two of the tallest mounts of Córdoba are here:Champaquí, 9,153 feet, and Masizo Los Gigantes, 7,805 feet. Quebrada del Condorito National Park is part of this huge reserve. You can watch unique flora and fauna species, in a shocking natural setting: condors fly from above, mountain lions, red foxes, rivers full of trouts, pilgrim falcons, Montevideo tree frogs. It’s a perfectly balanced setting where men can sit and watch the magic of creation.

CYCLING. Cycling is a very popular activity in Córdoba, since it has a lot of roads for cyclists, both for the ones that prefer paved ways that connect towns and cities, up to mountain trails full of adventure. By pedalling through the ways and villages of Córdoba, cyclists can experience and learn about the wealthy history and culture of the province. May is the cycling month, with a schedule of special events.  

HIKING AND TREKKING. The mountains of Córdoba, with their ups and downs, valleys and rivers, ravines and lakes, offer multiple outdoor activities, enjoying the nice weather and fresh air. And, in this huge and diverse territory, Córdoba’s trails invite you to discover jaw-dropping places that, sometimes, are only accessible by foot. So, hiking usually implies a low difficulty and it’s a combination of sport and tourism. Córdoba is the perfect place for this activity, thanks to its landscapes and the variety of offers in its territory.

BIRDWATCHING. To this date, there are over 440 bird species registered in Córdoba. All year long, you can watch and take pictures of resident and migratory birds, among which we find endemic species and endangered species at national and global level. The existence of diverse environments and weather conditions allow for the development of different vegetation types, which determine the great diversity of birds in the region.

STARGAZING. Clean skies, clear of urban pollution, turn on the stars light, which allow us to enjoy the unique show of the universe. Qualified tourist suppliers offer different activity types to engage with the night sky through talks, expositions, observation, photography. The visitors can enjoy the vastness of the sky and the stars. Discovering the dark skies, dotted with shining stars is the main tourist resource, and each gazing offers a different and unforgettable experience. 

SPORT FISHING. Córdoba is an ideal natural setting for recreational fishing, both traditional and fly fishing; thanks to nice weather, the closeness of fishing places with service centers, and the myriad of activities to enjoy all year long. The most popular species for the activity are: trouts, silver smelts, wolf fishes, and carps. Every water mirror has authorized fishing clubs that provide services that include vessel renting, barbecue pits, camping sites with stores, bait and fishing tackle sales. For information on seasons, closures, and to request for permissions, go to: https://ambiente.cba.gov.ar/ 

CERRO CHAMPAQUI.  This is the tallest mount in Córdoba with 9153 feet above sea level and it’s a challenge for thousands of visitors that love trekking and enjoying a different experience. On the way it’s possible to find native flora, streams, granite formations and wide valleys. From the top, a special place to enjoy the sunset and shocking views, you can see Traslasierra Valley (to the west) and Calamuchita Valley (to the east). 

LOS GIGANTES.  Los Gigantes is part of the northern end of Sierras Grandes, and it’s a formation 350 million years old. The massif is an excellent attraction because of the great granite stones that generate thousands of contours. It’s one of the most important rock climbing centers of the country, there are about 400 equipped routes for sport rock climbing in its walls. Besides, it’s the perfect spot for trekking and hiking lovers that enjoy landscapes among slopes, streams, and valleys. Its highest point is 7677 feet above sea level.

ONGAMIRA VALLEY.  Ongamira valley has a rare and astonishing landscape. There is red sandstone that contrasts with the green flora of the area. The main spots for trekking are: the area of Ongamira Caves – with low difficulty trails – and Cerro Charalqueta or Colchiqui, which is 5167 feet tall and is the best viewpoint of the whole valley. Its trail, packed with nature and history, offers a trip through time, because it was a native peoples settlement. You can visit archaeological excavations and Museo del Viajero. 

CERRO URITORCO. This is the highest mount of Sierras Chicas, with 6493 feet. To go up, you go through a varied vegetation, among springs and lagoons. Some visitors climb it for the challenge of getting to the summit, others for the mysteries around it, for the phenomena attributed to it, its histories, and legends. From its top, you have a shocking view of Capilla del Monte and El Cajón Dam, and, weather permitting, Salinas Grandes.

DAMS OF CÓRDOBA  Córdoba has over a dozen dams, being the main ones: Los Molinos, San Roque, Río Tercero, La Viña, La Quebrada, Cruz del Eje, and Piedras Moras. There are other smaller dams that have a water supply function: Pichanas, El Cajón, Mal Paso, Cerro Pelado, and Los Alazanes, among others. These water mirrors have a great landscape and tourist value; specially in Summer, people indulge in them by practicing sport and water activities.