What to do in Villa General Belgrano?
What is Villa General Belgrano?
Villa General Belgrano is a small mountain village in the Calamuchita Valley of Northern Argentina, best known for being a replica of what you can expect to find in Germany or Switzerland.
The top things to do here will make you think you’re in the Alps rather than South America. Check out the mountain scenery, enjoy German beers and Swiss chocolate, admire the Central European-style statues dotted around town, and even attend Oktoberfest if you’re here at the right time of year.
I came here from Cordoba to get a taste of Europe after 7 months of travel in Latin America. And it’s one of the quirkiest spots on the continent. You don’t need to spend longer than a day or so here, but it’s still fun to visit. If you fancy swapping Argentina’s wonderful steaks for a more Germanic schnitzel or bratwurst, then Villa General Belgrano is the place to be. Read on to find out why this small village should be a part of your Argentina itinerary.
What to do in Villa General Belgrano (Top 5 Things)
1) Admire the Alpine Scenery
The village was created around 100 years ago when a couple of Germans saw a lot of potential and decided to make a home away from home here. Over the years, Villa General Belgrano became a popular spot with European tourists and expats alike. And it looks just like a typical Alpine village in Central Europe.
Set in the mountains, you are surrounded by pine trees. You can even experience gloomy weather up here, which only adds to the quintessentially European experience!
The buildings carry a strong Germanic theme, with wooden architecture all over the village, and many buildings proudly associating themselves with Munich, beer steins, Oktoberfest or other references to the land of efficiency, autobahns and Einstein.
Have a walk around the different shops in the village and enjoy experiencing this excellent little ethnoburb. You can even go hiking through the mountains if you wish to see a little more during your trip here.
2) Oktoberfest
You don’t have to go all the way to Germany to enjoy Oktoberfest, this popular festival is also celebrated in Villa General Belgrano.
In fact, Oktoberfest here is the third biggest in the world. Only Munich in Germany and Blumenau in Brazil have bigger events.
If you want to go to Oktoberfest in Villa General Belgrano in 2024 and beyond, then keep an eye on the official Instagram page. Details of dates and other important details will be posted in due course. In 2023, details were released on July 22nd, so expect this information to come out around a similar time each year.
In 2023, the festivities took place from October 6th-8th and again from the 13th-16th.
In 2022, around 98,000 people flocked to this tiny village to celebrate from September 30th until October 10th.
Parades take place along the streets, with thousands of revellers dressed in lederhosen. Beers are flowing throughout the day, meaning it’s not necessarily an event for families. But adults can have a lot of fun here.
Oktoberfest outgrew the village centre and has since been celebrated in Bosque de los Pioneros which is a 10-15 minute walk away.
3) Indulge in Alpine-Style Chocolate
Which country has the world’s best chocolate?
The answer to that question is very subjective, but one country that will pop up many times in this conversation is Switzerland.
If you’re a fan of Swiss chocolate then I have some good news. Villa General Belgrano attempts to emulate this, with plenty of chocolate shops dotted around the village.
In fact, there is even a chocolate festival which takes place every winter, usually around July time (remember summer months in the northern hemisphere are generally winter months in the southern hemisphere, and vice versa).
Personally I loved the chocolate shops they have here. You can get not just European-style flavours, but also local Argentinian favourites. For example, chocolate filled with dulce de leche. This is the perfect village to experience the best of both worlds.
Would highly recommend sampling a few sweet treats whilst you’re in the area.
4) Enjoy German Beers
It wouldn’t be a Bavarian-style village without the main ingredient. The streets here are lined with bars offering an abundance of German-style beers.
Bars and breweries alike are in no shortage up here. Walk down Av. Julio Argentino Roca all the way towards Cerveceria Kuruf at the very end of the street. Then head back up towards Resto Bar.
If you take this route and stop for a pint at each stop… well let’s just say you probably won’t remember how to get back to your hotel…
Oh, and the only thing that changes at Resto Bar is the road name. From here you can walk up Av. San Martin towards Ottilia which is the final place to grab a drink along this dense stretch through the village. There are many more places to grab a drink between the two stops.
Latin America doesn’t have the same drinking culture as some parts of Europe. But Villa General Belgrano tries to bridge that gap a little.
5) Check Out the Quirky Statues
Villa General Belgrano is full of fun statues that give the village a bit of character and add to the Germanic theme here.
El Ciervo Rojo is home to a reindeer, a wooden train, and a photo stand-in where you can take a few pictures whilst pretending to wear lederhosen. Outside is a rabbit in lederhosen with the word “danke” (German for “thank you” on its front).
Opposite nearby Tavernetta Ristorante by the Biergarten souvenir shop is a plump-looking man holding a stein of lager in one hand and a barrel in the other. If one statue sums up the area then it’s this one!
Walk down the streets and see what else you can spot. Get a few fun photos for Instagram whilst you’re in the area.
6) Plaza Jose Hernandez
This mini park was once where Oktoberfest was held. But as popularity grew, the park was no longer appropriate to hold such a large event.
A large beer barrel, Germanic statues and arches at the entrance remain as a reminder of what this park once was.
Today it is more of a spot to sit on one of the wooden benches and watch the world go by.
There is even a mini amusement park opposite. Check out Jardar Park for a little bit of family fun whilst you’re in VGB, as the village is sometimes known.
Now you’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for wild rollercoasters or a Disney World experience here. Instead this is more of a child-friendly funfair that you can enjoy for an hour or two with youngsters.
I guess the adults have Oktoberfest, so it’s only fair to give the kids some entertainment too.
7) Bosque Encantado de Don Otto
In fact, Jardar Park isn’t the only attraction for youngsters in VGB. El Bosque Encantado de Don Otto (the enchanted forest of Don Otto) is a mini theme park just a 10-minute walk from Plaza Jose Hernandez. The theme here is fairies and elves.
You can try your hand at archery, ride on a merry-go-round, play a few games, and take pictures of magical creatures here.
Admittedly, there isn’t much of interest for adults. However, the kids will enjoy this one.
It costs around $5 to enter, although this price may be outdated very quickly due to the volatile currency in Argentina, which is currently experiencing terrible inflation.
Is Villa General Belgrano Worth Visiting?
This is a unique spot, very different from elsewhere in Argentina. There are many great places across the country such as Iguazu Falls, Mendoza and La Boca in Buenos Aires. Yet VGB offers something that the others do not. If you were wondering what to do in Villa General Belgrano, then hopefully this post has helped. Feel free to comment below if you want more information.
I would say it is worth a 1-2 day trip here. Any more than two days and you may get bored once the novelty wears off. The exception would be during Oktoberfest or other events such as the chocolate festival. This is because there will be plenty of daily activities to keep you entertained in these times.
If you’re into history then you could also visit the Museo Historico (historical museum) to learn more about how VGB grew into what it is today. This is near the tourist office which is one of the most impressive pieces of architecture the village has to offer. You can even go to the top of the tower for a great view of Villa General Belgrano from above.
VGB is a safe part of Argentina, which is itself one of the safest countries in Latin America. So don’t worry about crime here at all.
How to Get to Villa General Belgrano
If you don’t have your own rental car, then you will most likely be coming by bus from the city of Cordoba. The journey takes around 2-3 hours each way, depending on traffic. It costs around $3 for a one-way ticket.
Again, any prices here are to be taken as a rough guide due to the volatile nature of the Argentine peso, and the fact it fluctuates wildly at short notice.
I found the bus ride a little bumpy, but having done bus journeys of up to 25 hours in various parts of Latin America, this was fairly light in comparison. You will only find this tricky if it’s your first bus ride in the region.
Where to Stay in Villa General Belgrano
There are no hostels in VGB, which is bad news for budget backpackers. Only hotels can be found here, and prices start from around $25 per night. And quality is pretty average.
I stayed in Hotel Berlin by CPH. The breakfast was pretty good, so I will at least give them that. On the other hand, the room was tiny and I could hear every noise coming in from the reception area. Also it took a while to find anyone working at reception to check me in. I mean it wasn’t a bad place for one night, would say it’s overpriced though.
There are two types of accommodation round here. Hotels such as this one, and cabana-style properties a couple of kilometres from the centre where you can soak up the mountainous environment whilst surrounded by blissful forest scenery. The latter may appeal more to travellers who wish to go hiking and spend time outside of VGB itself, rather than simply sticking to the village
Regardless of the cost however, I would highly recommend a trip here. Hopefully having read this far, you now have a good idea of what to do in Villa General Belgrano. You certainly won’t forget this spot in a hurry.
Prost!
