Cosquín - Cosquín

Cosquín is a city in the Sierras de Cordoba in centralArgentina. The town of around 30,000 inhabitants is particularly broad for its beaches Río Cosquín, but better known for its folklore festival in January, which is one of the most famous music festivals in the country.

background

Cosquín lies in the so-called Punilla valley about 10 kilometers north of Villa Carlos Paz and is the second largest town in the valley. To the east of the place is the pyramidal one Cerro Pan de Azúcar ("Sugar Loaf"), the highest peak of the southern part of the Sierra Chica, the eastern mountain range of the Sierras de Córdoba.

getting there

By plane

The closest airport is in Cordoba. Directly from the airport there are only minibuses and taxis to Cosquín, which are quite expensive. Price-conscious travelers should change to the regional bus in the center of Córdoba.

By bus

There are regional buses and slightly more comfortable minibuses (around $ 5 to $ 7) to Cordoba every 20 minutes. Of Buenos Aires and La Rioja also direct connections.

By train

The city has been part of it since mid-2008 Cordoba through the Tren de las Sierras, a narrow-gauge railway. She should follow by 2009 Cruz del Eje be expanded. The fare is very cheap at $ 4.50, the route because of the crossing of the canyon Río Suquía very attractive, even if the train takes almost 2 hours, as the route has to be renovated in several sections.

In the street

From Cordoba there are three options:

• Motorway RN 20 to Villa Carlos Paz, then RN 38 to Cosquín
  • Variant: RN 20 to the intersection with the Autovía de las Sierras shortly before the entrance to Carlos Paz. In the main season and at festivals in San Roque often jam-prone or even closed, but shorter than the main variant.
• Ruta E-55 to La Calera and to the San Roque reservoir, then RN 38 as in variant 1.
• Camino del Pan de Azúcar. Probably the most attractive path, but an unpaved gravel road. Directions: Avenida Rafael Nuñez / Donato Alvarez / Goycochea bis Villa Allende and then straight on the street to the end of the village. The path leads over the valley station of the chairlift to Pan de Azúcar and is interesting for travelers who have time and want to enjoy a little-known mountain landscape. The road leads directly to Cosquín.

mobility

Local traffic is handled by the regional buses that drive along the RN 38, and there are also taxis.

Tourist Attractions

activities

You can go mountain biking very well in the area, but fitness is a prerequisite for the steep climbs. There are also some hiking trails. The ascent to the Pan de Azúcar is safe, but quite steep.

The Río Cosquín is comparatively wide and deep and is therefore very suitable for swimming.

shop

Everything you need can be found in the center. There is also a craft market in the plaza.

kitchen

While normal Argentine cuisine is offered at moderate prices in the restaurants for most of the year, it becomes more colorful at the time of the folklore festival. Especially specialties from the northwest of Argentina are then offered in small stalls and from private houses.

nightlife

• Cosquín Folklore Festival. The folklore festival, called Festival Nacional de Folklore, generally covers the last two weeks of January. This is where the stars of the Argentine folklore scene perform (Mercedes Sosa, Los Nocheros, Los Tekis, El Chaqueño Palavecino etc.) but also rock bands and groups of Central American music styles (e.g. Son Cubano). On the unofficial portal of the festival Aquí Cosquín you can find detailed information.last change: not specified

At the festival, you get to the point luna coscoina to meet. This poetic term refers to the folklore evenings.

Of course, there are also some discos in Cosquín, where pop music and Latin American mainstream is played. From time to time there are also techno parties.

accommodation

There are a few hotels in the center, most of them in the lower and middle price range. Campsites can be found mainly in the district Pan de Azúcar, near the slope of the mountain of the same name, and on the river bank.

health

When hiking you should wear sturdy shoes as there are poisonous snakes in the region.

Practical advice

trips

Also the suburbs of Cosquín, Santa Maria de Punilla and Bialet Massé, are interesting for tourists. The latter is located at the mouth of the Río Cosquín in the San Roque reservoir.

literature

Web links

• Visit Cosquín - Cosquín portal