Central Hills at your feet

DAY 1. ARRIVE IN CORDOBA, THE HIDDEN GEM OF ARGENTINA.

Upon arrival at the Córdoba airport, you will be greeted by one of our guides and transferred to Hotel Azur Real. After check in we start a 2 1⁄2 hours walking tour. We will visit the Jesuit Block. It contains the core buildings of the capital of the former Jesuit Province of Paraguay: the church, the Jesuit priests’ residence, the university, and the Colegio Convictorio de Montserrat. Then we go to Paseo del Buen Pastor, a place with some interesting architectural nuances and interesting sculpture made by local artist. 

Your guide will introduce you into the tradition of having mate, one of the most importat cultural features in Argentina 

Spend some of your time on the rooftop terrace & pool at the Hotel. The original house, where Azur is located, was built in 1915 as a traditional home-store, where the household members and the family business co-existed. The property evolved over the years, becoming a drugstore, a restaurant, and later a students residence. Part of the building was used by Dean Funes National School, where personalities from the City of Cordoba attended classes. Perhaps its most iconic student was Ernesto “Che” Guevara. So yes, your will stay at the same place where the legendary political figure spend some years during his childhood. 

Evening at your leisure to explore the city and try the local cuisine, an interesting mixture of different backgrounds. 

Night at Hotel Azur Real. 

DAY 2. ALTA GRACIA – CHE GUEVARA ́S HOUSE

After breakfast we leave the city south direction heading to Alta Gracia following Che Guevara ́s frootprints. Alta Gracia is located 50km south from Cordoba and it ́s the home town of several historic buildings: Jesuit Estancia, Manuel de Falla Museum and Che Guevara`s Museum. 

In the 1930s, the family of young Ernesto (Che) Guevara moved to Alta Gracias because a doctor recommended the dry climate for his asthma. Though Che lived in several houses – including one in Rosario, where he was born – the family’s primary residence was Villa Beatriz, which was purchased by the city and restored as this museum. Its cozy interior is now adorned with a photographic display of Che’s life. Two huge photographs commemorate a visit from Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. 

Drive back to Cordoba.
Lunch included.
Night at Azur Real Hotel

DAY 3. CORDOBA TO ASCOCHINGA

Leave the city in north direction along national route 9 to visit a region full of history, culture and local traditions. Today we will visit 2 Jesuit Estancias – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one wineyard. 

Features of the mixture of local habitants, Italian inmigrants and Spanish colonialism will be seen on every corner. The Jesuit estancias were devoted to agricultural and livestock activities. They had camp tender stations, pens and pasturelands for cattle, sheep, mules and horses, as well as orchards, fields to grow wheat and corn, ponds and irrigation ditches to water the crops and operate the mills. 

The location of Estancia in Jesus Maria, is not random. The Royal Road to the capital of the viceroyalty used to go through this area. In 1618, the Jesuits acquired the twenty thousand grape varieties, the mill, 250 cows, 25 oxen and 30 pigs of the land then known as Chacra de Guanusacate -a name given by the Sanaviron natives- for eight thousand Pesos. 

By 1620, when it had already been given its present Christian name, this second productive undertaking of the Company of Jesus would concentrate salaried natives and approximately three hundred slaves who had been bought at the port of Buenos Aires and were in charge of the heaviest tasks. As it was to be expected, Latin, Spanish and Italian, as well as native American and African tongues were spoken at the estate. 

Then continue your trip visiting Estancia de Caroya. This huge colonial grand house is surrounded by tree groves and vines at the foot of the mountain range known as Little Hills (Sierras Chicas). 

By 1661, it had been sold to the founder of Monserrat College, Priest Ignacio Duarte Quiróz, who succeeded in transforming it into a prodigious land producing corn and wheat, fruit, wine, honey and carob trees. Later on, in 1867, Duarte donated it to the College so that it would be used as a summer yard by its students. Pupils like Juan José Paso, Nicolás Avellaneda and viceroy Liniers’ children spent their well-deserved holidays there. 

After a interesting dosis of local history, it ́s time to explore another side of the region: winemaking. The craft winery Di Candi is waiting for us for a wine tasting. 

Continue the trip to Estancia La Paz and overnight there. 

Night at Estancia La Paz

DAY 4. ESTANCIA LA PAZ TO CORDOBA

After breakfast take you car and drive to El Manzano (estancia El Rosal). Our rerpesentative will be waiting for you to enjoy a horseback riding to explore the area and then you will enjoy an authentic asado (BBQ). 

Then visit Candonga church which is a beautiful construction located in a small valley surrounded by green hills. It was built in the 18th century and has become in a national historical monument. 

Night at Estancia La Paz. 

DAY 5. ESTANCIA LA PAZ NEXT DESTINATION

Transfer out to airport to cath your next fligth.