Carlos Paz
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Situated in a fertile valley in the province of Córdoba, Villa Carlos Paz is called the “city of everyone”. Between the Sierras Chicas and the Sierras Grandes, it is considered the second top tourist destination in the country, and offers a multitude of things to travelers, such as cultural events, recreational activities, adventure, nightlife, comforts and services, all based in an extraordinary landscape.
Carlos Paz, Córdoba
The area was originally Comechingones territory, an indigenous community that was seated along the San Antonio and Cosquín rivers. What is today called Villa Carlos Paz originally had its origins in Estancia Santa Leocadia, founded in 1668; that was a common beginning for many towns throughout Argentina. The property passed into the hands of Rudecindo Paz in 1869 with the construction of the Dique San Roque, which was a project of vital importance for the area. It provides a distribution system for potable water, and sparked a large amount of growth and development in the area.
Years later, in 1913, Carlos Nicandro Paz founded the town, using his own name, which eventually became a tourist destination. It was officially declared a city in 1964. For more information about different destinations in Argentina, visit this Argentina Travel Guide.
Villa Carlos Paz enjoys hot summers, refreshed by the cool waters of Lago San Roque, which is also home to one of the most photographed attractions in the area: El Embudo, or “The Funnel”, is a great engineering feat that is an important, and impressive looking, part of the dam.
Another must-see is the Reloj Cucú, or the Cuckoo Clock, which has been in the city since 1958. It is considered to be the largest such clock in the world, and was built by German engineers who used traditional German craftsmanship for its creation. Every half hour, a giant wooden bird emerges from the clock to announce the time.
Within the city, there are many museums, walkways, and points of cultural interest that simply must be seen while visiting. There are theatres that produce high-level shows, and several recreational parks. PekoS is a recreational complex for the whole family, although the focus is on children, with mazes, educational stables, a crazy mirror room, a mini train track, and many shows, such as the sea lion show.
There is also Montaña Mágica, or Magic Mountain, which is something like a rollercoaster, but is actually situated on the real rolling hills of the Córdoba sierras. The carts are single-seaters, and have brakes for those who don’t want too much acceleration. There are several other fun parks of all different sorts; you will never be without something new to go explore. If you want a taste of history, look no further than the Parque Temático Vida Aborigen Vida Jesuítica, where history, legend and landscape combine in this important tourist circuit.
For those who simply want to enjoy the outdoors, there is the Paseo de las Farolas, or the Gaslamp Walk, as well as many open spaces to enjoy the fresh air. There are also many adventure tourism activities offered, such as horseback riding, hiking, trekking, fishing, mountain biking, even SCUBA diving and rock climbing, among other things. No matter your age group or your interests, you will never be short of activities here in Villa Carlos Paz.