Tercero Arriba Department: Water, Nature and History

Tercero Arriba Department offers a variety of ways to plan a trip: water activities and a bicycle program in Almafuerte, birdwatching along the Río Ctalamochita, and local history in Villa Ascasubi. The wider travel area also includes hiking trails with specific distances and times. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can make your choice based on the excursions that are a priority during your stay.

Almafuerte: Cycling and water activities

The municipal “Mejor en Bici” program provides tourists with free bicycles so they can explore Almafuerte. Check the current rental options before your trip. Activities on the Dique Piedras Moras include rowing and sailing, as well as diving; motorboats are prohibited. When planning, take into account both the permitted types of boats and the other water activities.

The former settlement of El Salto lies beneath Piedras Moras Lake in Almafuerte. In the wider destination of Córdoba, the remains of the former village of El Salto include a church dedicated to Saint Joseph, a cemetery, the village houses and an old bridge. It connected the north and south sides, which were separated by the river.

Birdwatching and hiking trails

Birdlife from the Espinal region can be observed along the Río Ctalamochita. Morning hours are recommended for birdwatching; conditions may vary. Travelers who prefer a trail with a known distance and schedule will find two differently described routes in the wider travel area.

In the wider destination of Córdoba, the “Puentes” trail runs along the south bank of the Río Ctalamochita, from the road bridge on Route E79 to the “Puente Viejo” road bridge. It is 1 kilometer long, has an elevation gain of 1 meter, is rated easy, and takes a total of 30 minutes round trip. Recommended visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The “Las Barrancas” trail follows the north bank of the Río Ctalamochita to a 10-meter-high cliff. At 3 kilometers long, with an elevation gain of 7 meters, a technical rating of moderate, and a 90-minute round trip, it is the longer of the two routes described. Check trail conditions before setting out.

History and culture in Villa Ascasubi

The ruins of the Capilla de Rodríguez in Villa Ascasubi preserve foundations made of calicanto. The chapel dates back to 1727 and was the center of the Curato del Tercero Arriba for many years. The Antiguo Puente Carretero is also part of local history: it was Villa Ascasubi’s first road bridge.

Villa Ascasubi’s tourism office offers a podcast as an audio guide to the town’s history, buildings and notable people. It covers the town’s development from its beginnings to the present and is available on Spotify for mobile devices and computers. If you plan to use the audio guide, check before your trip that the episodes you want are available on the platform.

The history of the wider destination of Córdoba also includes Pedro C. Molina, the founder of Almafuerte. Between 1880 and 1886, he designed the Canal Molina as an irrigation system. The Cementerio Municipal preserves mausoleums and pantheons of architectural value. Descendants of European immigrants who brought the neoclassical style to this area rest there.

More experiences in the travel area

Astrotourism is offered in the Pampa Agropecuaria tourist area in the wider destination of Córdoba. Low light pollution favors nighttime skywatching there; conditions depend on the weather and season. The Feria Arte-Sana provides local and regional exhibitors with space to showcase handmade crafts and processed products. If you plan to visit the fair, check the event dates in advance. At the edge of Route E79, Parque de la Infancia features sculptures of various cartoon characters.

Río Tercero is also one of the points of interest in the wider travel area. Law 27.378 declared the city the National Capital of Sport and included it in the national tourism calendar.

Córdoba at the provincial level

The broader destination of Córdoba includes mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes, which are suitable for trekking, canoeing, hiking and horseback riding. Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito is in the province and protects more than 35,000 hectares of the Chaco Seco ecoregion. At 2,789 meters above sea level, Cerro Champaquí is the highest point in the province. In the wider destination of Córdoba, the three-day trek runs via Villa Alpina; overnight stays are planned at mountain huts at the foot of the mountain. Check the applicable access and guide requirements before departure.

Discover more destinations: Almafuerte, Río Tercero, Las Perdices, San Justo Department, Cruz del Eje Department, Santa María Department, Unión Department, San Javier Department.

For the broader travel overview: Córdoba.