Located in the beautiful region of the Puntilla Valley in Argentina, Villa Carlos Paz is an important city, national attraction and tourist centre of the Cordoba Province. Although it is only 36 kilometres from the large city of Cordoba, Villa Carlos Paz offers a natural alternative to the urban streets and is popular with its stunning views, enticing rivers, water sports and hiking opportunities. Situated along the Don Roque Dam and in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas, it is a beautiful haven adored by travellers and holidaymakers from the city looking to relax in nature and enjoy the many recreation activities on offer.
Water sports are one of the main appeals of Villa Carlos Paz as the many rivers, large lakes and pleasant climate mean swimming, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and even fishing, a common pastime. Hiking is another popular activity, and there are many walking routes for visitors to explore, traversing through the Puntilla Valley and to the summits of the Altas Cumbres. For visitors wanting relaxation and beautiful views, there is a chairlift to the La Cruz lookout, train journeys through the mountains, and tours offering relaxing sightseeing routes to the chapel of St Francis and modern observatory. The city itself has much to offer in the form of shopping, restaurants and nightlife, and visitors can try national delicacies, witness a cabaret show or party in the clubs and discos for a spark of local culture.
Visitors can easily reach Villa Carlos Paz from the city of Cordoba, which is only a 40-minute drive away and accessible via the N20 highway. Public transport services like buses and private minivans and taxis run from Cordoba and other nearby towns to the city. Once in Villa Carlos Paz, visitors can explore by foot as the area is small and easy to navigate.
The land of Villa Carlos Paz was originally occupied by the indigenous Comechingones people, although the city was not developed until the construction of the San Roque Dam in 1891 and formation of the beautiful reservoir lake. The mountains drew hikers to the area because of its natural beauty, gaining popularity with the construction of the chairlifts to the surrounding hill summits. Today, it is home to 45,000 people and welcomes many visitors looking for energetic entertainment, wonderful scenery and enticing local culture.