Cerro Champaquí

Cerro Champaquí is the roof of the Córdoba sierras, a broad granite summit at 2,790 metres with a small lake just below the top and views that on clear days reach across the province in every direction. It is the classic multi-day walk of central Argentina: routes climb from Villa Alpina in the east, from Los Molles, or up the long western flank from San Javier in Traslasierra, taking one hard day up with a night at a puesto, one of the mountain farmsteads that offer beds and meals, and a day back down. The terrain is grassland, granite slabs and streams, with weather that changes fast; snow lies on the summit in winter and storms in summer can be violent.

What you actually see

• The summit and lake - the granite top at 2,790 metres with its small lagoon.
• The puestos - mountain farmsteads offering beds, meals and mules.
• The grassland ridges - long open slopes and granite slabs on the climb.
• The panorama - views across the sierras and out to the plains.

When to go

October to April for the most reliable conditions; in winter the route is cold with snow and short daylight. Summer storms build in the afternoon, so walkers start early. Weather on the summit can differ completely from the valleys.

Honest expectations

This is a demanding two-day walk with significant ascent, exposure and no marked infrastructure beyond the puestos; going without a guide on unfamiliar routes is unwise. Water sources are not reliable late in the season. Landowner fees are charged at several points along the trails.

Nearby

Villa Alpina and the Calamuchita valley lie east; San Javier and Traslasierra are west.