Things to do in Mendoza Province

Get picked up from your hotel in Mendoza and get on the road for a full day of exploration in the Andes. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, begin by taking the dirt roads through Villavicencio where you can catch amazing views of the highest peaks in the Andes. Reach Uspallata Valley and make your first stop at the town of Uspallata where the native Huarpes settled during the pre-Hispanic era. Take your time to soak in the Andean scenery and grab a snack. Then, continue on to Polvaredas and Punta de Vacas. Snap some photos before getting to Puente del Inca, a natural arch situated 8,924 feet above sea level. Admire the swirls of colored rock and the mountain views from the bridge. Journey towards the Chilean border, and stop at a natural viewpoint at Aconcagua, the largest mountain in both the Southern and Western Hemispheres. From November to April, it's possible to enter the Aconcagua Provincial Park and hike to the Horcones Lagoon. Then head to Las Cuevas village for free time and a bite to eat if you so choose. Journey back to Mendoza on the famous Ruta 7 and get dropped off at your hotel.

This tour amidst vineyards will show you how some human effort has transformed the desert into a modern-day oasis. You will learn all about how this was achieved through an irrigation system of canals inherited from the Huarpes, the native inhabitants of this region. You will visit two or three selected wineries in the Luján de Cuyo or Maipú regions. This is an area where your enologist guides will explain the process of wine making. Following this educational lesson, you will also have the chance to taste some of the best wines in the region in both wineries. You will then visit an olive oil factory, another specialty of the Mendoza region. At the conclusion of your tour, you will return to your accommodation in Mendoza City.

Ride for 2 hours in the Andes on horseback in the company of bilingual guides. Choose whether to just take the horse ride in the morning (BBQ lunch not included), to conclude your morning ride with a BBQ lunch, or to ride at sunset and end your tour with a BBQ dinner and traditional folk music. The tour begins with either morning or afternoon pickup from your hotel in Mendoza and travels to Los Amigos Post. Here, get kitted out with all the necessary equipment and get acquainted with your horse, which will be selected depending on your size and experience.  After a quick trip to the riding school for a safety lesson on how to ride on mountain roads, it’s time to set off for Mirador Eagles Nest. Upon arrival at Mirador Eagles Nest, admire the breathtaking views across the Andes. Jump down from your horse and stretch your legs as you explore the landscape and take some photos.  From here, look back and see how much of the road you have traveled, and feel like a true adventurer. Don't forget to keep an eye out for black eagles and condors that circle around, as well as other wildlife in the area. Continue the horse ride to Aguaribay Post, and enjoy a delicious Argentinian Asado BBQ (if one of the options with BBQ is selected).  The BBQ lunch or dinner option includes chorizo, morcillas, ribs, steak, grilled vegetables, homemade bread, seasonal salads, and local wines. There’s also a vegetarian option. If you selected the morning trip, the BBQ lunch is optional. For afternoon tours, a BBQ dinner is included, as well as a sunset ride and a traditional folk music session.

Mendoza is one of the greatest wine regions in the world. With more than 1,500 wineries spread out through Lujan de Cuyo, Valle de Uco, and Maipu regions, explore wide open spaces with nothing but vines, mountain grandeur, and blue skies. Mendoza is a successful example of an irrigation system of canals inherited from the Huarpes, the native inhabitants of this region, that turned the desert into a modern-day oasis. Visit 2 wineries, taste wine, walk amidst vineyards, and learn how wine is made. Then, enjoy a 3-course lunch accompanied by excellent wines at Bodega Zuccardi, Bodega Salentein, Bodega Lopez, Bodega Norton, or Bodega Nieto Senetiner, with vast vineyards spread over the main terroirs of the province of Mendoza. Visit 2 wineries in the Luján de Cuyo, Maipú or Valle de Uco regions. Your enologist guides will explain the process of winemaking. Following this educational lesson, you will also have the chance to taste some of the best wines in the region in both wineries. Have an incredible lunch in one of the wineries, depending on the option selected.

Meet your guide at 10 am at Carinae, Argentina’s oldest active winery. Embark on a guided tour and tasting. Hop aboard a multi-bike, and sample ham and cheese as you pedal through the countryside. Visit the La Melessca olive oil factory, where you’ll tour the facility. Savor a full tasting of regional products, such as olive oils, Aceto Balsámico, and of course, more wine. Journey to Tempus Alba and enjoy a guided tasting along the way. Tempus Alba is the biggest exporter of wine in South America and a must-see in Mendoza. Its wines are poured all over the world. Select the “Tour with Lunch” option and after your tour sit down for a 3-course meal with drinks at Finca el Pino. Marvel at the ancient trees that surround the restaurant, which was once owned by the landholder of all Coquimbito and the builder of the train to the Andes.

The tour offers a variety of colors and reliefs. Early in the morning along the river Mendoza you will get a view of the majestic mountain range Cordon del Plata and the Potrerillos dam, providing  hydraulic power generation and water distribution for irrigation. The next visit will be to the Uspallata pre-Hispanic settlement of aborigin Huarpes, and the southern last point of the Inca Empire as far as the Inca Trail from Peru. Attractions: The Vaults of Uspallata, historic “adobe” (mud) buildings, which the chaplain Fray Luis Beltran used for casting cannons and guns. After visiting the villages of Picheuta, polvareda, Punta de Vacas and Los Penitentes ski resort, you will have free time to use the chair allowing you to enjoy beautiful panoramic views. Later you will go along the route of the Puente del Inca with architectural works of strands and natural hot springs. Continue in this direction and 2,750 meters above sea level to the viewpoint of Cerro Aconcagua, the colossus of Americas of 6959 meters surrounded by the Laguna Horcones and the Aconcagua Provincial Park. Following the international route to reach the ultimate destination, the European style village Las Cuevas is located 3,200 meters above sea level. Between Las Cuevas and the international tunnel, it's the path that allows you up to “Cristo Redentor” monument, located 4,200 meters above sea level, which symbolizes the union between Argentines and Chileans. Please take into account that the tour will be given in English at the featured places which are: Potrerillos, Uspallata, Puente del Inca, Aconcagua and in summer at Cristo Redentor.

Immerse yourself in the adrenaline of this Adventure Circuit, starting with a 12-kilometer rafting trip on the Mendoza River where you can admire the breathtaking views of the mountain range of the Andes that surround you while sailing on rafts through rapids level 3 and 4. Your day ends with Canopy Trasandino, a 990-meter/0.6-mile canopy for adventurers in search of new experiences. Cross the mighty Mendoza River hanging from a reinforced steel cable 10 meters from the river and take in views of the old city. You will be able to choose the option with roundtrip transfer or go on your own.

Get picked up from your hotel in Mendoza and get ready for a full day in the Andes. Your route begins along the Mendoza River, up to the border with Chile, and after 62 miles (100km) you will reach the Valle de Uspallata. Continue on to Polvaredas and Punta de Vacas where you can reach one of the best Mendoza ski resorts, Los Penitentes. Then, continue to Puente del Inca, a natural arch situated 8923 feet (2,720m) above sea level. Admire the swirls of colored rock and the mountain views from the bridge. A short distance from the border, a natural viewpoint allows you to appreciate the magnificent Aconcagua. If the park is open, you can trek over to Los Horcones Lagoon (entrance not included). On the border with Chile, you will find Las Cuevas - 10,500 feet (3,200m) above sea level - a small village built in a European style. Between Las Cuevas and the international Tunnel to Chile, there is a road that takes you to the monument of Cristo Redentor that is 13,780 feet (4,200m) above sea level. This road can be taken with favorable weather conditions, usually during January and February. Journey back to Mendoza on the famous Route 7 and get dropped off at your hotel. This tour to the high Andes you have two routes you can choose from. The regular option bordering the Mendoza River, traveling to national Route 7 taking you to Upsalatta. The second option is subject to favorable route conditions, heads north traveling on a mountain route starting in Villavicencio and arriving at Upsalatta giving you a different view of the Andes.

The tour departs Mendoza in the early morning and heads 260 km south, driving for approximately 4 hours to the modern city of San Rafael. Located in the middle of an oasis, San Rafael is a popular provider of energy, wine, and adventure tourism. With your guide, visit some of the city’s most important sites including Villa 25 de Mayo, a so-called living museum where the city was founded. After your tour of the city, visit the nearby Valle Grande Dam to learn about the imposing Atuel Canyon which starts 70 km away from San Rafael city and runs into the dam. The canyon is a geological wonder and was formed millions of years ago by rough winds and the waters of the Atuel River. Spend the rest of the day at the Valle Grande Dam riverside base where you can enjoy lunch at the onsite restaurant and admire breathtaking views of the canyon. The base also offers an array of optional added-extra water activities such as a catamaran ride along the river.

Take the Route 40 across the Mendoza River to get to the Valle de Uco region. In a landscape that combines blue skies, extensive groves, desert fields, and snowy mountains, the cities of San Carlos, Tunuyán and Tupungato combine their geographic characteristics to form an unforgettable wine region. The essential water to irrigate this wine region comes from the melting of mountain rivers, turning an arid zone into an oasis. The pure water used in the irrigation of this region is responsible for producing lower levels of PH in the grape. Other factors such as the thermal amplitude can also change acidity. All these characteristics explain why the wines of the Valle de Uco region have such intense colors and flavors. You have the option to choose between three different experiences. For each option, you will visit two selected wineries with a guide, enjoy a premium wine tasting, and indulge in a 3-course lunch with selected wines to appreciate the views that surround the wineries in a day of gastronomy and history.