When is the next scheduled climb?
The next summit day is Saturday, 17 October 2026. Departures run between October and April.
Córdoba, Argentina
Climbing Cerro Champaquí from the lodge door
Almost everything written in English about Cerro Champaquí describes the Villa Alpina or Los Molles routes. This is the other way up: the west face, from the Quebrada del Tigre, on a trail that starts at the door of the lodge. Up and down in one day — no camping on the mountain.
2,790
metres
1,400
of ascent
11 h
round trip
Next departure
The next scheduled climb
Saturday, 17 October 2026
That is summit day; you arrive the evening before. Departures are scheduled between October and April, and the climb runs whether or not you bring a group of your own.
The route
The west face, by the Cuesta de las Cabras
The trail leaves from the door of the lodge and climbs the Cuesta de las Cabras, an old herding path inside the estancia. You leave at 6:30 am, summit around midday and sleep back at the lodge the same night. Always with a certified local guide.
La Abundancia is a 1,200-hectare private nature reserve in the Quebrada del Tigre, San Javier, in the Traslasierra valley of Córdoba province. The house dates from 1897 and has 11 en-suite rooms.
How many days
Two programmes
The climb itself is the same, and it is always done in a single day. What changes is how much room you leave around it.
Both include full board, the guided ascent and the guided walk to the tabaquillo forest. There is no camping and no mountain refuge: you sleep at the lodge, in an en-suite room, both nights.
Two nights
3 days · 2 nightsArrive at midday, walk the tabaquillo forest in the afternoon to get a feel for the ground, and have the route briefing over dinner. Summit day is next. You leave mid-morning on the third day.
Three nights
4 days · 3 nightsSame start, same summit on day two, plus one more night so you are not driving home on stiff legs. The third day is free: the stream, the spring-fed pool and the reserve's trails.
Dates
This season's departures
Departures run between October and April — the window where the daylight covers an eleven-hour walk. The date shown is summit day: on both programmes you arrive the day before and climb on day two. The three-night option adds a free day afterwards.
- Saturday, 17 October 2026
- Ask about this date
- Monday, 14 December 2026
- Ask about this date
- Monday, 1 March 2027
- Ask about this date
- Tuesday, 16 March 2027
- Ask about this date
A group taking the whole house can climb on its own date. Minimums then apply: 10 people for Sunday-to-Wednesday nights, 15 for Thursday to Saturday.
Questions
Frequently asked
How high is Cerro Champaquí?
2,790 metres (9,153 ft). It is the highest summit in the province of Córdoba, Argentina.
How long does the climb take?
About 11 hours round trip, with 1,400 metres of ascent. You leave at 6:30 am and are back at the lodge by about 5:30 pm — no camping on the mountain.
How many days do I need?
Two nights is the minimum: arrive, walk the tabaquillo forest, summit the next day, leave on the third. Three nights keeps the summit on day two and adds a free day after it, to rest before travelling home.
Do I need technical climbing experience?
No. There is no scrambling or climbing involved and no technical gear. You do need good general fitness and previous long mountain days: the difficulty comes from the sustained ascent and the length of the day.
Can I hike it without a guide?
No. The summit is always done with a certified local guide, and our guides are from the house. There is no mobile signal in the gorge, so an unaccompanied hiker cannot be reached if something goes wrong.
What is included?
En-suite room, all meals, a packed lunch for summit day, the guided ascent, the guided walk to the tabaquillo forest, access to the reserve's trails, and transfer coordination from the airport or bus terminal. Drinks and the cost of transfers are not included.
When is the best time to go?
October to April, which is when we schedule departures. Winter ascents are possible but expect strong wind, sub-zero temperatures at the summit and, more importantly, fewer daylight hours for an eleven-hour walk.
How is this different from the Villa Alpina route?
Villa Alpina is the best-known route and climbs the east face over two or three days, staying at mountain posts. From La Abundancia you climb the west face by the Cuesta de las Cabras in a single day, and sleep at the lodge with all meals included.
Enquiries in English are welcome by WhatsApp or email. The rest of the site is in Spanish. Versión en español