6 best day trips from Mendoza

Day trips compared

The day trips

100 km (62 mi) · About 1.5 hours by car

1.Uco Valley

The high vineyards of Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos grow wine at up to about 1,500 metres beneath the Andes. A day trip usually takes in two wineries and a long lunch; the scenery and architecture of the bodegas are part of the appeal.

Getting there

Car, private driver or organised wine tour

Best for

Couples, Food lovers, Luxury

185 km (115 mi) · About 3–3.5 hours each way

2.Aconcagua and the High Andes

The road west follows the Mendoza River through Uspallata to the viewpoint at Aconcagua Provincial Park, where a short trail looks up at the 6,961-metre peak. Stops include the Puente del Inca natural stone bridge and mountain villages. Altitude reaches about 2,700–3,000 metres.

Getting there

Organised Alta Montaña tour or car on Ruta 7

Best for

First-timers, Families

65 km (40 mi) · About 1 hour by car

3.Potrerillos

A turquoise reservoir in the foothills on the Ruta 7 towards the Andes, with whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Mendoza River, horse riding and mountain-view lunches. Rafting is at its best when snowmelt raises the river in late spring and summer.

Getting there

Car, bus or rafting tour

Best for

Families, Solo travellers

40 km (25 mi) · About 45 minutes by car

4.Termas de Cacheuta

Thermal pools beside the Mendoza River in a rocky canyon, with a public water park of pools and a separate spa hotel. It is a relaxing half-day, often combined with Potrerillos.

Getting there

Car, bus or tour

Best for

Families, Couples

50 km (31 mi) · About 1 hour by car

5.Villavicencio Nature Reserve

A protected reserve in the foothills around the historic Villavicencio hotel building, known from the mineral-water label. A winding mountain road with dozens of hairpin bends climbs beyond it to high viewpoints over the Andes.

Getting there

Car or tour

Best for

Quiet stays, Families

230 km (143 mi) · About 3 hours each way

6.San Rafael and the Atuel Canyon

San Rafael is a southern wine town, and the Atuel Canyon nearby has red-rock formations, reservoirs and rafting on the Atuel River. It is a long day from Mendoza, so many visitors stay a night.

Getting there

Long-distance bus or car; overnight recommended

Best for

Families, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• City buses cover the metropolitan area, including Chacras de Coria and Luján de Cuyo; long-distance buses leave from the main terminal east of the centre for the Andes and other cities.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask