In short: Pueblo Escondido is an abandoned tungsten mining camp from the 1960s, now working as a mountain hut. It sits on the Córdoba side of the Sierra de Comechingones, in central Argentina, below Cerro Áspero (2,049 m / 6,722 ft). You reach it on foot from Villa de Merlo, in San Luis, on a two day, 15 km traverse.
Pueblo Escondido does not appear on road maps and has no access road for ordinary cars. It is a mining hamlet you reach on foot, on horseback or in a properly prepared vehicle, and that is exactly why it is still standing more or less as the miners left it.
This guide covers what you need before you go: which province it is actually in, how high Cerro Áspero is, how to get there, how far you walk and what you find when you arrive. For dates and prices on the guided traverse, see the Cerro Áspero and Pueblo Escondido trek page.
Is Pueblo Escondido in Córdoba or San Luis?
It is in Córdoba province, in the Río Cuarto department, on the western slope of the Sierra de Comechingones. The confusion makes sense: the usual way in is from Villa de Merlo, which is in San Luis, and the route crosses the provincial line.
This is the question people ask most, and the answer is simple geography. Cerro Champaquí is the reference point that separates the sierra de Achala to the north from the Sierra de Comechingones to the south, and the watersheds of those ranges form the border between the provinces of Córdoba and San Luis. That is how Argentina’s Geological and Mining Survey describes it in Sitios de Interés Geológico de la República Argentina (Candiani, 2008). Villa de Merlo sits at the foot of the San Luis side; Pueblo Escondido is over the crest, in Córdoba.
So both answers you will see online have something to them. You usually start on the San Luis side and the destination is in Córdoba. If you search "Pueblo Escondido San Luis" you will still find it, because that is what everyone who leaves from Merlo calls it.
A note on the name: the Cerro Áspero in this guide is the one in the Sierra de Comechingones, not other peaks in Argentina that share the name.
How high is Cerro Áspero?
Cerro Áspero reaches 2,049 metres above sea level, or 6,722 feet. It is a sierra summit rather than high mountain: nowhere near high enough for altitude sickness, and there is nothing to acclimatise to.
To place it in the same range, Cerro Champaquí, the high point of both Córdoba and the Comechingones, reaches 2,790 m. Áspero sits about 740 metres below it, and that gap is what turns a three day traverse into a two day one.
That moderate height is what makes it a good first objective. The demand is in the hours of walking and in the climb on the way out, because getting to the village means going down first and then back up to leave.
How do you get to Pueblo Escondido?
Not in an ordinary car. The base is Villa de Merlo, in San Luis. From there a transfer drops the group at Puesto El Tono, on the provincial line, and the rest is on foot: about 9 km to the village.
Access works in three stages. First you get to Villa de Merlo by road, which is the tourist hub for the area and where you want to sleep the night before. Second, a vehicle takes you up to Puesto El Tono, where the walking starts. Third, you walk.
That last stage is the reason the place survived. With no access road there was no development, no cabins and no weekend tourism. What is left is what the miners left.
On our trips the transfer from Merlo to El Tono and back is included, so you do not have to sort out a vehicle or arrange the return.
How far do you walk, day by day?
15 km over two days, with one night in the hut at Pueblo Escondido itself. Day one is 9 km with 100 m of climbing and 400 m of descent. Day two is 6 km, and you climb those 400 m back.
It is worth understanding the split, because it runs opposite to what people assume. The first day finishes descending into the village, so you arrive with reasonably fresh legs. The second starts with the climb back to the ridge. Shorter in distance, but it holds the real climbing of the traverse.
| Day | Distance | Elevation | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 9 km | +100 m / -400 m | Salto del Tigre, climb to Cerro Áspero, descend to Pueblo Escondido |
| Day 2 | 6 km | +400 m | The village and the mines, climb back to the ridge, return to Merlo |
Departure times from Merlo shift with the season. In summer you start earlier to get through the ravines before the midday heat.
How hard is it, and who is it for?
Moderate. No technical ground, no exposure, no scrambling: you walk the whole way. What you need is stamina for hours on the move and for the 400 m climb on day two.
You do not need previous mountain experience or a night in a hut behind you. In fact it is one of the best traverses to start with, because it puts the two things that intimidate people about a longer trip, the pack and the night in a hut, into a two day format, with the option of a porter if you would rather walk without the weight.
If you have never done anything like it, what to expect on your first mountain trek walks through the day to day. And if you want to arrive ready, the 30, 60 and 90 day training plan is built for exactly this kind of objective.
What are the mines at Pueblo Escondido?
Tungsten mines, the metal used for filaments and cutting tools. The camp ran until the 1960s and was abandoned when the operation stopped paying. The buildings, the tools and the mine entrances are all still there.
Walking through them is the part that surprises people who came only for the peak. There are no fences, no signs and no ticket office. It is a village that stopped, with the miners' houses still standing and the main building now serving as the hut you sleep in.
You visit the mines with the guide, always. Old mining ground has a genuine risk of collapse and none of the galleries are shored, so going in alone is a bad idea. That mix of industrial history and empty sierra is the real reason to make the trip.
There are photos from our trips if you want to see how the village looks now.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn are the best windows for walking: comfortable temperatures and water in the ravines. Summer works with an early start, and the streams are part of the appeal. Winter gives clear, beautiful days and cold nights in the hut.
| Season | What the sierra is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (Mar-Jun) | Comfortable temperatures, good visibility | The best window of the year |
| Winter (Jul-Aug) | Clear days, very cold nights in the hut | Good with the right layers |
| Spring (Sep-Nov) | Mild weather, water in the ravines | Excellent |
| Summer (Dec-Feb) | Strong heat in the ravines at midday | Ideal for making the most of the streams |
Seasons here are southern hemisphere. Whatever the month, sierra weather changes fast and the waterproof layer is not optional. If you are comparing dates across several peaks in the area, we go into it in the best time to trek in Córdoba.
What should you bring?
Broken in hiking boots, a comfortable pack, layers, a waterproof shell, a headlamp, two litres of water and a sleeping bag for the night in the hut.
The hut covers a roof and meals, but it is not a hotel: you either bring a sleeping bag or rent one there. Nights at this height run a lot colder than the afternoon suggests, so check the comfort rating on your bag rather than the extreme rating on the label.
The headlamp is the other essential people forget. There is no street lighting in the village and the dark is total. If you are buying one, how to choose a headlamp covers the lumens that actually matter.
Before every departure we send the full kit list, so you do not buy more than you need.
Frequently asked questions about Pueblo Escondido and Cerro Áspero
Is Pueblo Escondido in Córdoba or San Luis?
It is in Córdoba, in the Río Cuarto department, on the Córdoba slope of the Sierra de Comechingones. The confusion comes from the traverse usually starting in Villa de Merlo, which is in San Luis, with the trail crossing the line between the two provinces.
How high is Cerro Áspero?
2,049 metres above sea level, or 6,722 feet. It is a sierra summit: no acclimatisation and no mountaineering technique required.
How do you get to Pueblo Escondido?
Not in an ordinary car. You drive to Villa de Merlo, a transfer takes you up to Puesto El Tono on the provincial line, and from there it is about 9 km on foot. The village has no access road for ordinary cars.
How many days is the trek?
Two days with one night in the hut at Pueblo Escondido. Day one is 9 km with the climb to Cerro Áspero and the descent to the village; day two is 6 km through the mines and back up the 400 m to the ridge.
Is it hard? Do I need previous experience?
The difficulty is moderate and you do not need previous experience. There is no technical or exposed ground. Walking long distances fairly regularly is enough, along with being ready for the climb on day two.
Can you sleep at Pueblo Escondido?
Yes. The main building of the old mining camp works as a mountain hut today, and that is where you spend the night. You can rent a sleeping bag on site.
What was mined at Pueblo Escondido?
Tungsten. The camp ran until the 1960s and was abandoned when the operation stopped paying. The buildings, the tools and the mines are still there, and you visit them with the guide.
Can you hire mules to carry your pack?
Yes, mule portering is optional and booked separately. We recommend it if this is your first time carrying a heavy pack, though plenty of people do the traverse with their own gear and no trouble.
How much does the guided traverse cost?
Current prices, open dates and everything included are on the Cerro Áspero and Pueblo Escondido trek page, updated for every departure.
Still have questions before booking? Message us on WhatsApp at +54 9 3512 11-3842 and we will get back to you.