This small mountain town in Argentina's Córdoba province has stone houses from the 1920s and hiking trails leading to the Cerro La Banderita peak.
Los Cocos, a village with 1,242 residents, sits 1,220 meters above sea level northwest of Córdoba, Argentina. It borders the northern edge of Lago La Viña and has rocky hills like La Rosilla and El Camello. Walk through pine forests to reach the Greek Roman Museum with its replica statues, or try finding your way through the shrub maze at El Descanso Natural Park. Ride the cable car at Aerosilla complex to see the Punilla Valley from above. The village center includes a 50-meter swimming pool, soccer fields, and Museum La Loma, where you'll find paintings by Alfredo Guido showing rural Argentine scenes. Mild temperatures throughout the year make this area suitable for exploring trails in the Sierras Chicas mountains.
Hiking Trails and Mountain Views
The Sierras Chicas mountains around Los Cocos have trails through quebracho forests and over granite slopes. Follow the path up La Rosilla hill to reach viewpoints facing Lago La Viña’s reservoir. El Camello hill gets its name from rock shapes that look like a sitting camel when seen from the east. At El Descanso Natural Park, three marked walking routes take 30 to 90 minutes to complete, passing gardens with native plants. The Aerosilla cable car operates daily except in high winds, taking 15 minutes to reach a 1,650-meter summit with clear views of San Marcos Sierra village. Watch for large birds like turkey vultures circling thermal currents above the valleys.
Museums and Local History
Two museums highlight different aspects of the area. The Greek Roman Museum in El Descanso Park displays plaster copies of statues like Venus de Milo and architectural pieces from Mediterranean antiquity. Museum La Loma in the village center keeps 19th-century farming tools alongside Guido’s oil paintings of gauchos and mountain landscapes. Santa Teresita Chapel, built in 1915 using local stone and timber, holds mass every Sunday at 10 AM. Free tours on Wednesday afternoons explain how missionaries established this settlement as a livestock outpost.
Rock Climbing and Water Activities
Las Pampillas hill has 23 documented climbing routes on limestone walls, with protection bolts installed up to grade 5.10c. Guides from Córdoba Climbing School offer half-day lessons including equipment. The Olympic pool opens from December to March, charging 500 pesos for day access to its eight lanes and diving boards. Rent kayaks from Lakeside Adventures near Lago La Viña’s western shore, where the water stays calm in mornings. Five campgrounds around the lake provide drinking water and fire pits – bring your own tent or rent one onsite.
Getting There and Weather
Drive from Córdoba via RN38 and RP51 highways, passing through Jesús María’s vineyards. The bus from Córdoba’s terminal departs at 7:30 AM and 4:15 PM, taking 2 hours 40 minutes. January temperatures often reach 30°C by midday, but drop to 15°C at night. Winter mornings sometimes dip below freezing, though snow rarely sticks. UV radiation remains high even on cloudy days – wear hats and long sleeves when hiking.
Day Trip Suggestions
La Cumbre, 40 minutes east by car, has paragliding launches from Cerro El Mirador between October and April. Capilla del Monte, an hour north, sells handmade knives and woven ponchos at its Saturday market. Both towns connect to Los Cocos via unpaved but maintained roads. If visiting Uritorco Mountain, start hikes before 9 AM to complete the 6-hour round trip in daylight. Return to Los Cocos by 7 PM to avoid driving on unlit roads after sunset.
