When planning a trip to Tercero Arriba Department, water, birdwatching and history offer different areas of focus. At Dique Piedras Moras, activities include rowing and sailing boats as well as diving; along the Río Ctalamochita, the focus is on the birdlife of the Espinal region. Almafuerte and Villa Ascasubi add urban and historical themes to the mix.

Water, Birds and Exploring the Town

The “Mejor en Bici” city program provides tourists in Almafuerte with free bicycles to explore the town. Check the access arrangements before your trip, as they may change. This lets you plan exploring the town as a separate focus from water activities at Dique Piedras Moras.

At the dam, activities include rowing and sailing boats as well as diving; motorboats are prohibited. This rule clearly sets out how the lake may be used. By contrast, along the Río Ctalamochita, the focus is on observing the birdlife of the Espinal region. Morning hours are recommended for this, although conditions vary. When choosing between these two nature experiences, you are comparing regulated water sports with wildlife observation for which a particular time of day is recommended.

Historical Traces in Almafuerte and Villa Ascasubi

The former settlement of El Salto lies beneath Piedras Moras Lake in Almafuerte. Its location under the lake makes it a distinct historical subject alongside the activities mentioned at the dam today. These two aspects offer different perspectives on the same place: the lake as a setting for water-based activities and as the site of a former settlement.

In Villa Ascasubi, the ruins of Capilla de Rodríguez preserve calicanto foundations. The chapel dates to 1727 and served for many years as the center of the Curato del Tercero Arriba. Thus, the ruins connect the specific age of the building with the chapel’s former role as the center of the Curato. The Antiguo Puente Carretero was Villa Ascasubi’s first road bridge. The chapel and bridge therefore offer different ways to explore the town’s history: through a historic site and its former function, and through local road-building history.

For a broader look at Villa Ascasubi, the town’s tourism office offers a podcast as an audio guide. It covers history, buildings and notable figures from the town’s beginnings to the present, and is available on Spotify for mobile devices and computers. Individual episodes or platform availability may change, so check in advance if you plan to use the podcast for your trip planning.

Trail Profiles in the Broader Córdoba Destination

The landscape of the broader Córdoba destination includes sierras, valleys, rivers and lakes, which are suitable for trekking, canoeing, hiking and horseback riding. This landscape is part of the broader Córdoba destination and complements the specific themes in Almafuerte and Villa Ascasubi. In the broader Córdoba destination, the “Puentes” trail runs along the south bank of the Río Ctalamochita, from the road bridge on Route E79 to the “Puente Viejo” road bridge. In the broader Córdoba destination, the “Puentes” trail is 1 kilometer long, has an elevation change of 1 meter, is considered easy, and takes 30 minutes in total for the round trip. Visiting hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. are recommended for the “Puentes” trail in the broader Córdoba destination.

In the broader Córdoba destination, the “Las Barrancas” trail runs along the north bank of the Río Ctalamochita to a 10-meter-high cliff. In the broader Córdoba destination, the “Las Barrancas” trail is 3 kilometers long, has an elevation change of 7 meters, is technically moderately difficult, and takes 90 minutes in total for the round trip. In the broader Córdoba destination, the two trail profiles differ in distance, duration and technical rating: “Puentes” is the shorter trail rated easy, while “Las Barrancas” is the longer, moderately difficult route. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out.

Discover More Destinations

Almafuerte, Río Tercero, Las Perdices, Colón Department, Presidente Roque Sáenz Pena, Tulumba Department, Cruz del Eje Department, General Roca Department

Back to the broader travel overview: Córdoba.