Welcome to Mendoza
Your packing list for Mendoza should contain the following: hiking boots, swim suit, sunscreen, fishing rod, winter coat, dinner attire, bottle opener, empty stomach, open mind. And that’s just for your carry-on.
Things to do in Mendoza
Top 10 attractions in Mendoza
#1
Cacheuta Thermal Spa (Termas Cacheuta)
On the banks of the Mendoza River and surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains, the Cacheuta Thermal Spa (Termas Cacheuta) offers a picturesque setting for a spa retreat. Fed by natural hot springs, the spa features various thermal baths and hydrotherapy pools, along with mud baths, saunas, and spa treatments.More
#2
Potrerillos
Potrerillos is a town with an artificial lake outside of Menzoa that is a destination for rafting, kayaking, hiking, and fly-fishing. Visitors can also opt to go horseback riding or do some mountain biking. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and cypress forests, Potrerillos is a particularly scenic location for an outdoor adventure.More
#3
Uco Valley
Argentina’s answer to Napa Valley, Mendoza ranks as the largest winemaking region in Latin America, with more than 800 wineries. Some of the best wines come from Uco Valley, an area with 250 annual days of sun, little rain, and a cool microclimate that's known for malbec, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and tempranillo grape varieties.More
#4
Atuel Canyon (Canon del Atuel)
Wild whitewater-rafting at its best surges along the Atuel Canyon (Canon del Atuel), a gorge stretching from the Nihuil hydroelectric reservoir in Mendoza Province.Kayakers, windsurfers, jetskiers, river-rafters, cyclists and all kinds of adventurers head to the canyon to take on the rapids and rugged landscapes, carved over the centuries by wind and water.The river is bordered by steep cliffs, and natural rock sculptures formed by the elements have whimsical names like the Hanging Gardens, Monsters, Toad and Enchanted City.A huge magnet for visitors, the Atuel region has a great range of hotels, country clubs and outdoor adventure facilities to choose from.Follow Ruta Provincial 144 to the Nihuil reservoir for expansive valley views, or travel to the neighboring Valle Grande reservoir for more whitewater rafting on the River Atuel.More
#5
Aconcagua Provincial Park
Watched over by the mighty peak of Aconcagua Mountain—among the highest peaks in the world outside of the Himalayas at 22,837 feet (6,961 meters)—Aconcagua Provincial Park is a dream for hikers, with remote valleys, glacial lagoons, and towering peaks, all with sweeping views of the Andes Mountains.More
#6
Puente del Inca (Inca Bridge)
This natural stone bridge, once used by local Inca communities to cross the Río de las Cuevas in Mendoza, stands above the ruins of an old hot springs spa. It was formed by glacial melt, with sediments from the ice creating bright orange and yellow hues that make it a photogenic pit stop on the way to Aconcagua Park.More
#7
Lujan de Cuyo
Luján de Cuyo is another part of the Mendoza wine-producing region (in addition to Maipú), and was the first Argentine wine-producing region to establish its own appellation of origin. It has a long history of wine production, and is best recognized for Malbec, which is made from a grape that is originally from Bordeaux. In Luján de Cuyo, they also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, San Giovese, Barbera and other red wines including Pinot Noir. Among whites, there are several for which they are well known, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.In the area of Luján de Cuyo, there is also cultivation of olives and almonds, and there is some adventure tourism, including rafting, rappelling, horseback riding, parasailing and hiking, though of course some of the main activities here is visiting wineries and enjoying the local foods. Luján de Cuyo has a high concentration of vineyards, and has more than 35 wineries that are open to the public.Most wine tourism to Luján de Cuyo starts in Chacras de Coria, a town popular with wine and food lovers, which maintains its traditional character, including wide boulevards overhung with old trees.More
#8
Villavicencio Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural Villavicencio)
In the foothills of the Andes and just an hour’s drive from Mendoza, the wild landscapes of Villavicencio Natural Reserve(Reserva Natural Villavicencio) offer scenic hikes through ravines and mountain valleys. A wildlife hot spot, the reserve is also known for its natural springs, the source of much of Argentina’s bottled mineral water.More
#9
Bodegas Salentein
The Bodegas Salentein, located in Mendoza’s Valle del Uco (Uco Valley) has the largest “cool climate estate” in Mendoza. The estate covers almost five thousand acres, over 1,000 of which are planted with grapes in three different plantations, ranging in altitude from 3,000 to about 5,500 feet. They plant 80 percent red and 20 percent white grapes, and are well-known for their malbec, merlot, chardonnay and pinot noir wines.In addition to wine tours through the cellars with more than 5,000 barrels, and tastings, the winery also has a restaurant and wine bar serving Argentine food beside their award-winning wines. There is also an exhibition space called Killka which houses paintings by Argentine and Dutch masters. Finally, there is a chapel on the grounds, inspired by Andean architecture, with earthen walls, which features lead and granite sculpture and benches carved from old olive trees. The chapel is shaded by carob trees.More
#10
General San Martin Park (Parque General San Martin)
Mendoza’s expansive General San Martin Park(Parque General San Martin) is a landscaped oasis in the formal European style in the city’s west.With ornamental fountains and classical statues, a lake and monuments, the park was created in the 1890s following English and French landscaping traditions.Grand entry gates lead to pathways winding through the park, passing 34 sculptures along the way. Boats play at regattas on the lake, and the rose garden is traced with walkways.Take in views from atop Cerro de la Gloria with its statues to the Andean Army, and stroll past more than 300 species of exotic trees.The park also has a zoo inside its 307-hectares (758 acres), home to lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and monkeys.More
