Argentina - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 73

companions, a handwritten resignation
letter to Fidel Castro, and photos from
a visit Castro and Hugo Chávez made to
the house in 2006.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By bus Regular buses from Córdoba (every 15min; 1hr) and
Villa General Belgrano (every 30min-1hr; 1hr) stop at the
bus terminal on C P. Butori, at Av Presidente Perón, around
eight blocks west of the Tajamar reservoir; minibuses tend
to stop nearer the centre on Lucas V Córdoba street.
Tourist information The tourist of ce is in the clock
tower alongside the Tajamar reservoir on Av del Tajamar,
at C del Molino (Dec-Feb daily 8am-11pm; March-Nov
Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri-Sun 8am-9pm; T 03547
428128, W altagracia.gov.ar).

30km west to the alpine-flavoured village
of La Cumbrecita , where there are good
opportunities for hiking, abseiling and
cooling off in the Río Almbach.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus The bus terminal is on Av Vélez Sarsfield, a 10min
walk northwest of the main street, although all buses
make drop-offs and pick-ups in the town centre.
Destinations Alta Gracia (every 30min-1hr; 1hr) and
Córdoba (every 45min-1hr; 2hr). Pájaro Blanco ( T 03546
461709; call for the latest timetable) runs a minibus
service several times a day to and from La Cumbrecita
(30min); its bus stop is on Av San Martín, 100m north of
Plaza José Hernández.

1

INFORMATION
Tourist information The tourist of ce is at Av Julio
Roca 168 (daily 8.30am-8.30pm; T 03546 461215,
W vgb.gov.ar).
Mountain bike rental Bike Cerro Negro, Av Julio Roca
625 ( T 03546 462785).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Alta Gracia Hostel Paraguay 218 T 03547 428810,
W altagraciahostel.com.ar. A cosy little hostel, five blocks
away from the main square, with a basic dorm, a couple
of priv ate roo ms, a kit chen and a patio area at the back.
Dorms AR$60 , doubles AR$150
Morena Sarmiento 413 T 03547 426365. Set in a white,
neocolonial house, this restaurant's menu runs the gamut
from prawn ravioli to paella and veal in mushroom sauce.
The pizzas and fish dishes are also pretty good. Mains
from AR$45. Tues-Thurs 8-11pm, Fri-Sun noon-3.30pm
& 8-11pm/midnight.

ACCOMMODATION
The hotels in town are generally overpriced, but cabañas
(self-contained cabins) make a good alternative for groups
of four or five - ask at the tourist of ce for suggestions.
Camping Rincón de Mirlos 9km west of the centre, off
the RP-5 T 03546 15 516 4254, W rincondemirlos.com.ar.
The best of several campsites around town, Rincón de
Mirlos has a bucolic riverside setting, clean dorms, isolated
camping pitches among the trees, a restaurant- bar, and
long st retche s of sandy beach. Camping/person AR$35 ,
dorms AR$60
Posada Nehuen San Martín 17 T 03546 461412,
W elsitiodelavilla.com/nehuen. This central guesthouse
has a selection of comfortable en suites with TVs, mini-
fridges and ph ones, tho ugh the decor throughout is a bit
old-fashioned. AR$270
Ì Hostel El Rincón Alexander Fleming 347, 15min walk
northwest of the bus station T 03546 461323, W hostel
rincon.com.ar. This laidback, Hostelling nternational-
a liated hostel offers dorms, en-suite private rooms, and
a place to pitch your tent, as well as kitch en acce ss and a
small po ol. Camping/person AR$20 , dorms AR$65 , doubles
AR$110

VILLA GENERAL BELGRANO
The twee resort town of VILLA GENERAL
BELGRANO , 50km south of Alta Gracia,
unabashedly exploits its Germanic
heritage with all kinds of kitsch. Founded
by the surviving seamen of the Graf Spee ,
which sank of the coast of Uruguay in
1939, the town's main street, Avenida
Julio Roca , comes over like an alpine
theme park, with folksy German beer
houses and eateries resembling Swiss
chalets. You'll either love it or hate it.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The best (and some might say only)
reason to visit Villa General Belgrano
is to sink steins of locally brewed beer
at the annual Oktoberfest . Held during
the first two weeks of October in Plaza
José Hernández, it is considered the
continent's best celebration of this
German tradition. The most popular
day-trip from Villa General Belgrano is

EATING AND DRINKING
The town's numerous cafés and restaurants dish up Germanic
food of varying quality.
Café Rissen Av Julio Roca 36 T 03546 464100.
Situated on the main strip, this kitsch café is probably the
most popular in town. Excellent cakes (from AR$20) and
sandwiches are on the menu: the Black Forest ( selva negra )