Introduction:
Mendoza is the capital city of the homonymous province, located in the central-western area of Argentina. It’s known as “the land of proper sun and proper wine”, renowned for its wine and culture – The origin of the grapevine in this area dates back 500 years, as well as the foundation of the city. From then on, the winegrowing activity was developed in many changing political, social, economical and cultural sceneries – This is how the “Culture of Wine” emerged. Mendoza’s land shows optimum conditions to the winegrowing activity.
¿What to visit?
City tour: A city tour gives you a picture of Mendoza’s history and culture. The itinerary takes you to the main squares such as Independencia Square, to the Founding Area, and to the Central Park and the General San Martín Park, including The Hill of Glory. One of Mendoza’s striking characteristics is the ditches system, used as an irrigation system for the trees of the city.
Visiting wine cellars: One of the main activities of the area, without any doubt. There are more than 1.500 wine cellars, distributed in three winegrowing areas: Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and Valle de Uco.
The tours usually visit 3 or 4 wine cellars – Olive oil tasting and lunches at ranchs with typical gastronomic products might be added to the visit too. For those who love adventures, there’s a tour you can do using a bike.
High Mountain and Bridge of the Inca: A landscape experience that passes by different touristic points such as Potrerillos Dike, Uspallata, Los Penitentes Village – Depending on the time of the year, you can approach Los Penitentes using a liftchair which gives you a panoramic view of the area. The tour continues towards the Bridge of the Inca and Las Cuevas Rives, the entrance to Aconcagua National Park and the Monument of Christ Redeemer.
Adventure sports: Those who love adventures can practice raffting, canopy, kayak, stand up paddle, trekking, mountain bike, paragliding and parachuting.
Atuel Canyon: This tour takes you to the south of the province towards San Rafael, a town that’s 260 kilometres away from the city of Mendoza. The first stop is at Valle Grande Water Reservoir, a lake that has its origin in the Atuel River – At this point you get some free time to enjoy the place and have lunch. Then, the itinerary continues towards the Atuel Canyon, a geographical accident that was originated because of the water and wind erosion that formed rocky walls of 250 metres. During the tour, the guides challenge the visitors to find the different rocky shapes: The Beggar, The Elephant, The Hanging Gardens, among others.
The tour finishes at Valle Grande, where you get a panoramic view of another rocky shape: The Submarine – This could be watched depending on the level of water in the valley. Then, you can choose between visiting the valley or doing another activity like raffting or taking a ferry.
Thermal Baths of Cacheuta: Great tour for those who want to take a relaxing day. The thermal baths offer a full-day package that enables you to use all the facilities while you enjoy the Andean landscape. You can’t miss this visit!
The weather and when to travel:
The province of Mendoza has an arid/day climate with temperatures that change depending on the season and low rainfall – Summer is hot and wet, while winter is cold and dry. Mendoza is a destination that can be visited at any time of the year.
During summer the touristic activity is mostly developed in San Rafael – However, at the end of February the city of Mendoza celebrates the Harvest Festival, attracting a lot of visitors. From Jule to September, during winter season, you can enjoy ski centers such as Penitentes Hill and Las Leñas. It is recommended to visit the city of Mendoza during Autumn and Spring, because temperatures are more enjoyable.
¿How to get there?
You can get to Mendoza by land, along National Route 7 or National Route 40 – By car or by bus from Buenos Aires. Another option is to take a flight to El Plumerillo Airport, which is 10 kilometres away from the city center of Mendoza.
¿Where to sleep?
The better area to stay at Mendoza is the historical center, between the squares Independencia, Chile, España, Italia and San Martín. The main restaurans and bars are over Sarmiento Pedestrian Street and the Arístides Villanueva Avenue – On the other hand, the major stores are over Las Heras Street and San Martín Avenue.
Gastronomy and nightlife:
Mendoza offers many gastronomical options, both gourmet and regional. The traditional dishes include regional products such as grapes, olives and fruit, adding lamb meat, calf and trout; and, of course, the flagship product: wine.
Nightlife at Mendoza takes place in the centric area, where you can find bars, clubs and casinos. Arístides Street is the most visited by young people since there are bars and restaurants all along the street. Clubs and discos are fartherst from the city center and they allow access to the place until 2 a.m.
¿How to move?
Moving at Mendoza is easy anyhow: by car, using public transport, taking a taxi or by feet. If your accommodation is located at the historical center it’s easy to move by feet. Regarding to tours, most of them start at centric hotels.
Personal riview:
Mendoza is a destination you can visit at any time of the year, no matter what season it is. There are activities for everyone and for every budget – Since cheap tours to luxury and customized tours. The city is clasical but also modern – I was personally surprised by the cleanliness of the streets and the large number of trees there is. When you walk along the city you easily get that holiday feeling you’re looking for.