Gastronomy is one of the pillars of travel and more and more tourist destinations include proposals for eating and drinking, as well as thematic routes linked to typical flavors and regional products.
Taking advantage of this global trend, the province of Córdoba officially presented The Olive Pathwhich invites travelers to explore the olive groves of the Cordoban mountains, taste the olives and the extra virgin olive oils and tour some of the ventures.
After a winter vacation in which the Córdoba Tourism Agency recorded a year-on-year growth of 27%, the province is now betting on this route for those seeking to taste and learn more about the production of olive oils and olives.
The tourist proposal extends over 170 kilometers, starting from Axis Cross and crossing the Traslasierra Valley. The tour includes Luyaba, Villa Las Rosas, Las Tapias and La Paz.
A route of flavors in Córdoba
In the northwest of Córdoba, visitors can enjoy Cruz del Eje’s extensive olive plantations that produce some of the country’s finest olive oil and table olives.
Some establishments provide tourist services, such as guided tours to learn about the production processes and participate in tastings with unique flavors from the area.
The trip along the Camino del Olivo de Córdoba continues towards Villa Las Rosas, Las Tapias, Luyaba and La Paz, in the Traslasierra Valley. There the olive groves are integrated in harmony with the environmentoffering “incredible landscapes and an authentic agroecological experience.”
In addition, the region offers a variety of complementary activities: cooking workshops, produce markets and hiking trails that enrich the proposal, turning the Camino del Olivo into an unforgettable tourist experience.
The conditions of the region and the varieties that stand out
This province has the ideal geographical and climatic conditions for the cultivation of olive groves.
The mountain landscape and olive groves, in Córdoba. Photo Chacras de Luyaba and Sierra PuraAmong the most notable varieties are the Araucoknown for its large size and mild flavor, ideal for table olives and olive oil.
In turn, the Arbequina It has a fruity and smooth profile, and the Nevadillo It is recognized for its fruity flavor, with herbal notes and a bitter touch.
They also distinguish the Picualwhich provides an intense and fruity oil, and the Oil mill and the Chamomile They add an international dimension to the local offering.
The olive plantations are visited. Photo Chacras de Luyaba and Sierra PuraHow to travel the Olive Path
Cruz del Eje can be the starting point, with four establishments where visitors can access guided tours that show in detail the production process and offer tastings with the characteristic flavors of the area.
Guided tours on the Camino del Olivo in Córdoba. Photo Aceitunas AlvarezVerde Cosecha, Aceitunas Alvarez, Fincas de Cruz del Eje and Soliva are part of the itinerary of that city.
In the Northwest area, Villa de Soto and Paso Viejo also offer tourists visits to olive plantations.
There are workshops and tastings on the Camino del Olivo. Photo Aceitunas AlvarezThe Camino del Olivo continues through Traslasierra, in Villa de Las Rosas, with Olium; Las Tapias, with Le Sommelier; Luyaba, with Chacras de Luyaba, Olivate, Sierra Pura and Abra de los Olivos; and La Paz, with Olivida.
This is where Diego Niembro, son of sports journalist Fernando Niembrois dedicated to the production of extra virgin olive oil. Luyaba farms, its blend of four varieties of olives (arbequina, manzanilla, picual and nevadillo) was recognized as the best in the country in the last edition of the Caminos y Sabores fair.
In each of these olive factories, their own owners or specialized guides explain how the oil is made, its characteristics and properties.
Additionally, the region offers a variety of complementary activities, such as cooking workshops, produce markets and hiking trails that enrich the proposal.