The Ultimate 48-Hour Guide to Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita

Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita are the famous German villages in the mountains of Córdoba, Argentina. Get a taste of Europe in South America.

Many people don’t realize that there are German Villages in Argentina. However, European migration largely influenced the mountains of Córdoba. Going to Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into an old-fashioned German or Swiss movie set.

This area is now known as a beautiful getaway and holiday destination in Argentina. I have been to these villages twice. Once in 2005, and again in 2022, so I was able to see how they have changed and how much they are still the same as ever.

In this blog post, I will discuss my personal experience with these German Villages in Argentina, as well as where to stay, how to get there, and what to see.

My Personal History with German Villages in Argentina

In 2005 I made a stop here on the way to Paraguay from Buenos Aires, with my friends Sarah and Arturo. Because it was so many years ago, it was hard to remember details, but once I arrived at Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita years later, small memories started popping up, and several places felt very familiar.

I was able to retrace my steps and visit many of the same places I had visited decades before in both Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita.

48-Hour Itinerary in Córdoba’s German Villages

Visiting Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita is a great way to spend time outside of Córdoba Capital. It’s easy to get there and it’s not that far away.

Day 1 Córdoba to Villa General Belgrano

• Take the bus from Córdoba to VGB
• Drop off your things at your hotel
• Have lunch in one of the many German restaurants
• Go hiking at Cerro de la Virgen
• Shower and relax at your hotel
• Wander the streets and have dinner

Day 2 Villa General Belgrano to La Cumbrecita

• Get up early and head to the bus station
• Take the bus to La Cumbrecita (buy roundtrip tickets)
• Spend the afternoon wandering around the hiking and swimming areas
• Have a late lunch and take the bus back to Villa General Belgrano
• Have dinner in Villa General Belgrano

Day 3: Villa General Belgrano to Córdoba

• Check out of your hotel
• Head back to the bus station in Villa General Belgrano
• Take the bus back to Córdoba Capital

Villa General Belgrano

Where is Villa Gral Belgrano?

Villa Belgrano is located in the mountains of the Córdoba Province in Argentina, southwest of the provincial capital city (also called Córdoba). It takes about 4 hours on a bus to reach Villa General Belgrano from Córdoba Capital.

What is the history of Villa General Belgrano?

Villa General Belgrano was founded by Germans in 1930, hence the strong Germanic influence everywhere you look. The architecture, the statues, and even the park dedicated to Oktoberfest are very Germanic.

Villa General Belgrano is home to the third largest Oktoberfest in the world (the first is in Munich obviously, and the second is Blumenau in Brazil). Villa Belgrano has a population of only around 6000 inhabitants, however, it sees more than that every week, as several tourists flood in from around Argentina to enjoy the alpine forests.

Getting to Villa General Belgrano from Córdoba Capital

While getting to Villa General Belgrano was easy, getting information online about how to get there was not so easy. I spent hours online trying to find bus schedules from the main bus terminal in Córdoba Capital and couldn’t find anything, not even on BusBud, which is usually reliable.

I was able to find the schedules recently on Plataforma10 though.

You can also purchase tickets from the Córdoba bus terminal, which is what I did. I went down to the basement where tickets are sold, and wandered around the hallways, reading the signs of each bus company until I found one sign that read “Villa Belgrano.”

The bus between Córdoba and Villa General Belgrano takes about 4 hours and costs about $10-12 USD each way. The bus usually leaves from platform #77 in the newer section.

Where to Stay in Villa General Belgrano

Cabañas del Milagro

The Cabañas del Milagro has a swimming pool, free breakfast, cabins, and rooms in a building. It is a great place to stay for families, and I believe in the high season, it would be very beautiful. This is where I stayed.

Book the Cabañas del Milagro HERE for a great location and clean rooms.

Posada Tantra

This guesthouse is right in the center of town. There is a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden, and free continental breakfast.

BOOK NOW to stay in this central hotel with a free breakfast

Rancho Grande Hotel

This is a beautiful yet affordable hotel with a great view of the mountains. There is also a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, a garden, and a lounge.

Stay in this stunning hotel in the center of town, BOOK NOW

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What to do in Villa General Belgrano

Villa General Belgrano is a small town and there isn’t a whole lot to do. I think you only need one day here to see everything.

Explore the Streets

Villa General Belgrano feels a bit ‘kitsch‘ as the strong German influence can sometimes feel like a movie set, rather than a true town. There are several German restaurants, beer-drinking spots, Oktoberfest parks, etc. It’s worth taking a stroll around town to soak it all up.

Hike to the Cerro de la Virgen

If you head east, leaving the downtown and heading for the highway, you’ll find a trailhead for a hike called Cerro de la Virgen. At the peak (el cerro), you’ll find a metal statue of the Virgin Mary. It’s more like two giant intersecting metal sheets with a crown on top.

The hike took me about one hour up and was more difficult than I had anticipated, but completely worth it. The view from the top was stunning, and I took about 30 minutes to enjoy the breeze up there. Coming down was much quicker, and I made it back to the cabañas just before sunset.

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Attend the Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest in Villa General Belgrano is the third largest in the world after Munich and Blumenau. It is held over multiple weekends in October. Thousands of people gather to eat, drink, be merry, and celebrate the German culture and influence in Argentina.

Bus from Villa General Belgrano to La Cumbrecita

You can buy your bus tickets to La Cumbrecita directly from the bus station in Villa General Belgrano. They suggest you arrive at the bus station at least 30 minutes before the departure to purchase your tickets.

Select the “ida” (going there) time, and wait in front of the station until the bus arrives.

Once you arrive at the bus station in La Cumbrecita, you’ll need to go straight to the “boleteria” (ticket office) to select your return time (vuelta). The buses fill up quickly so you must purchase your return ticket in advance.

The bus takes about 50 minutes between VGB and La Cumbrecita. I arrived at 11 am and selected the 5:30 pm return and I feel that it was sufficient time.

La Cumbrecita

Where is La Cumbrecita?

La Cumbrecita is located just northwest of Villa General Belgrano in the Calamuchita Valley. It takes just under one hour to travel between these two German towns. La Cumbrecita is more surrounded by nature and trees than VGB is.

The History of La Cumbrecita

La Cumbrecita was founded by two German brothers in 1934. They planted trees and turned the area into an alpine forest. They also built the roads to a few surrounding areas. La Cumbrecita is similar to VGB, in that it also has that huge Germanic influence, which is obvious by the architecture, signage, restaurants, etc.

What is it like to visit the village of La Cumbrecita Argentina?

La Cumbrecita is very small and surrounded by nature. What everyone likes to tell you about La Cumbrecita is that cars are not allowed. You must park your car in the lot on the edge of town. Then you’ll cross over a bridge and enter a town of foot traffic only. There are some restaurants, shops, and hotels when you first enter.

As you continue down the dirt roads, you will find several natural wonders to play around on in the nature. There are big and small waterfalls, swimming ponds, nature trails, hikes, and giant boulders. It gets very crowded in the warmer months.

What to do in La Cumbrecita Córdoba

There is quite a lot to do around this small village.

Peñon de Aguila

Everyone suggests going to this theme park. However, it is only open on the weekends, so I did not go. You will see signs for this as you walk along the main road once you arrive.

Nature Places to Visit

The majority of the sights are at the very edge of the village once you pass through it. You’ll follow along a dirt road, which eventually leads you to a fork. It’s at this fork that nearly everyone gets confused. It’s unclear which direction to go, left or right, as it is not marked. I’ll tell you now- go left!

Once you go left, all the signs will become much more obvious. Which way to the Cascada Grande, La Olla, Lago de las Truchas, El CerroWank, etc.

Cascada Grande

This is a big waterfall. It’s about a 30-minute hike to get there, around fallen trees, and over stones. You’ll hear the water falling as you get closer. It was a hot day when I went, and several people were wearing swimsuits, even though the water was quite cold. It is a great place to relax with friends.

La Olla

Next I headed to La Olla (the pot), which is a smaller waterfall ending in a small pot-like swimming hole. There were no swimmers here, and the vibe was much less party-like than at the Cascada Grande. It was much more relaxed as you could hear more clearly the water and nature surrounding you.

Lago de las Truchas

After La Olla, I grabbed a snack and headed down to Lago de Las Truchas. This area was less lake and more giant rocks. It was cool to wander around and jump over these massive rocks in the river bed. Lots of people were here reading, relaxing, and having picnics.

Cerro Wank

Next, I began the ascent to the Cerro Wank. I passed by a couple to ask how long it would take to reach the peak- over an hour. I did not have that kind of time left in the day.

If you would like to do more extensive hiking in the area, I suggest heading here first, and doing it earlier in the day before it gets too hot. Because I knew I wouldn’t have time to reach the peak, I walked up just a bit further, played around with my drone, and headed back down to the town center for lunch.

Eat Lunch in Town

I was hoping to find something German, but it seemed that the restaurant I had selected was German in façade only. They offered the standard Argentinian touristy options of hamburgers, salads, and french fries. I did have a beer, however. It only seemed right.

Once I finished lunch, I grabbed my book and sat near the river for an hour before the bus arrived to take me back to VGB.

Is La Cumbrecita worth visiting?

Every Argentine you meet will ask if you have been here, so it’s worth visiting mostly just so you can say “YES!” Other than that, it’s a very cute town with only foot traffic. If you like nature, it is worth visiting. It’s very quiet here at night. Summer days can get busy and full, but overall, La Cumbrecita is peaceful and worth a visit.

Where to Stay in La Cumbrecita

Hotel La Cumbrecita

This German-inspired hotel is so cute with amazing views, offering both rooms and bungalows. Breakfast is included, and it’s an easy walk to the center of town.

Go back in time at Hotel La Cumbrecita, BOOK NOW

Balcones de La Cumbrecita

This hotel has incredible views of the mountain, an outdoor swimming pool, a large dining room, and it is within walking distance of the center of La Cumbrecita.

BOOK NOW to stay in this stunning hotel in La Cumbrecita

Other Day Trips in the Province of Córdoba

The Córdoba Province is stunning and surrounded by nature. If you’re looking for other worthwhile weekend or day trips outside the capital of Córdoba, here are a few suggestions:

• Tanti and Los Gigantes
• Villa Carlos Paz
• Tren de las Sierras
• Mina Clavero
• Capilla del Monte
• La Cumbre

German Villages in Argentina Final Thoughts

While these German villages in Argentina are small mountain towns, they are worth your time. You can see a lot there in just one weekend, or throughout a couple of days.

Because of its more touristy nature, the food and accommodation up here are more expensive than in other parts of the province, so be prepared for that. However, because they are in the middle of nature, you will feel calm and relaxed. It’s a great way to get away from city life for a few days.

Six hours was the perfect amount of time for one day in La Cumbrecita. However, next I think I would choose to sleep up in La Cumbrecita instead of Villa General Belgrano to feel more surrounded by nature all day.

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