La Cumbrecita

La Cumbrecita was founded in the 1930s by a German family who built a house among the pines of the Sierra Grande, and the settlement that grew around it kept both the alpine architecture and an unusual rule: private vehicles stop at a car park on the edge, and the village itself is walked. Wooden chalets and stone paths climb the hillside among pine and native woodland, and footpaths lead out to the Cascada Grande waterfall, the Olla river pool for swimming, a lookout at Peñón del Águila, and a cemetery with views over the valley. Restaurants serve trout, goulash and cakes. In summer the village fills with day visitors; in winter, frost and occasional snow give it the alpine look its founders intended.

What to look for

• The car-free village - wooden chalets and footpaths climbing the hillside.
• La Olla - the river pool where visitors swim in summer.
• Cascada Grande - the waterfall a walk out from the village.
• The forest trails - paths through pine and native woodland to viewpoints.

When to go

Year-round; summer is busiest and best for swimming, autumn colours are excellent, and winter brings frost with occasional snow. Weekdays are far quieter. The walks involve real ascent, so decent shoes matter.

Things to know

Everything is uphill and on foot, which surprises visitors expecting a stroll; the paths are steep and rough in places. Day-trip crowds fill the village and restaurants in high season. The access road is narrow, winding and slow.

Nearby

Villa General Belgrano is the main base; the Calamuchita valley runs north and south.

Key facts