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- Cerro Uritorco (Capilla del Monte) — The mountain everyone talks about: a solid day-hike with granite scrambles, panoramic views over the Sierras Chicas, and a distinctive mystical vibe that locals lean into. Even if you skip the UFO lore, the trails, rock formations and wildflower season make it worth the climb.
- Los Terrones — A local natural cathedral of honey-coloured cliffs and spires just outside Capilla del Monte. Walk the short circuits between weird, sculpted rocks, take photos at dramatic viewpoints, and watch birds that love the vertical stone — feels like a tiny desert canyon tucked into the hills. (Hidden gem — quieter in shoulder season.)
- Estancias and valley roads of Ascochinga — Big old ranches, country roads, polo fields and century-old manor houses: visiting Ascochinga
- Cerro Uritorco (Capilla del Monte) — The mountain everyone talks about: a solid day-hike with granite scrambles, panoramic views over the Sierras Chicas, and a distinctive mystical vibe that locals lean into. Even if you skip the UFO lore, the trails, rock formations and wildflower season make it worth the climb.
- Los Terrones — A local natural cathedral of honey-coloured cliffs and spires just outside Capilla del Monte. Walk the short circuits between weird, sculpted rocks, take photos at dramatic viewpoints, and watch birds that love the vertical stone — feels like a tiny desert canyon tucked into the hills. (Hidden gem — quieter in shoulder season.)
- Estancias and valley roads of Ascochinga — Big old ranches, country roads, polo fields and century-old manor houses: visiting Ascochinga is like stepping into the rural Córdoba of another era. Rent a bike or hitch a ride to an estancia for high-value, low-crowd horseback rides, mate rounds under shade trees, and a real sense of regional history.
- Estancia Jesuítica / Historical center of Alta Gracia — A genuine colonial-era estancia and the surrounding town with whitewashed streets and old criollo houses. It’s one of those spots where the architecture, old plazas and local craft stalls tell the story of settlement and daily life in the Sierras Chicas — great for a slow afternoon walk with coffee and empanadas.
- Jesús María and the Doma y Folklore experience — The town itself is low-key, but the annual Doma y Folklore festival is one of Argentina’s rawest rural celebrations: gaucho horse-breaking, folk music and camping communities. If you time it right, you’ll see traditions, horsemanship and regional pride that don’t translate the same way anywhere else.
- Colonia Caroya: Italian-Córdoba food culture — This small town wears its Italian immigrant roots openly: family charcuterías, hand-made salamis and small bakeries producing specialties you won’t easily find elsewhere in Argentina. Eat local, visit a family workshop, and chat with makers — it’s a tasty cultural detour unique to the Sierras Chicas.
- River beaches and swimming holes of Unquillo / Salsipuedes — Shallow, tree-lined river spots where locals picnic, barbecue and jump off rocks. Not polished resorts — these are real neighborhood summer escapes: bring food, a blanket and sunblock, and expect to share the day with families from nearby towns.
- Paragliding launches around Villa Allende — Short drives from town take you to simple launch sites where small local schools run tandem flights. The lift is mellow, the views across the Sierras Chicas are lovely, and it’s one of those local-adventure things that gives you a whole new appreciation for the landscape without needing expensive gear or a long trek.
- La Serranita viewpoints and country lanes — Low-traffic backroads, small farms, and sunset viewpoints that locals use for late-afternoon mate and photo stops. This is proper slow-travel country: pull over, walk a dirt lane, talk to someone in a shop, and you’ll see everyday life in the hills rather than a packaged attraction. (Hidden gem — largely missed by bus tourists.)
- Small artisan wineries and family orchards near Mendiolaza / Colonia Caroya — Not Mendoza producers, but tiny cellars and fruit farms where you can taste locally made wines, liqueurs and preserves, often straight from the family table. The intimate, hands-on tastings and orchard walks show a quieter side of Argentine viticulture adapted to the Sierras Chicas slopes. (Hidden gem — call ahead for visits.)
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.