Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, this province is the centre of Argentine wine production and a playground for adventure sports.
Mendoza Province is renowned all around the world for its superb viticulture and wine tourism. It’s also where you can climb South America’s tallest peak, ski down Andean slopes, go white-water rafting and paraglide high above breathtaking landscapes. Mendoza Province sits at the base of the Andes, in westernmost Argentina. The province’s low-lying plains and mild climate present idyllic grape growing conditions and wine has been produced here since the mid-1500s.
Start your tour in the provincial capital, Mendoza, a lively city with cultural activities pulsating from its five central plazas. People-watch from the bars and cafés that surround Independence Square. Visit the Museum of Modern Art, catch a show at Teatro Independencia and shop for handicrafts at the Feria de Artesanos. Stroll along tree-shaded pathways in Parque General San Martín. Sample the city nightlife with a glass of malbec in your hand at Calle Villanueva.
While Mendoza city itself hosts numerous bodegas (wineries), much of the wine tourism takes place at the nearby towns. Chacras de Coria, Godoy Cruz, Luján de Cuyo and Maipú are home to hundreds of bodegas. Choose a boutique winemaker or large-scale wineries such as Familia Zuccardi and Luigi Bosca. Take guided tours of the cellars, enjoy tasting sessions and dine on gourmet lunches, all with a beautiful Andean backdrop.
Travel to the Alta Montaña region for thrilling outdoor pursuits. Go sailing on Potrerillos Dam and rafting on the Cañón del Atuel river. Trek to the top of 22,841-feet (6,962-meter) high Aconcagua, in Parque Provincial Aconcagua. Experience a flying sensation on a paraglide jump from Cerro Arco Lookout.
Go to Malargue for wildlife spotting and to see otherworldly landforms. Get up close to hundreds of flamingos at Laguna de Llancanelo. Marvel at the limestone caves of Caverna de las Brujas and red desert terrain of Reserva Provincial La Payunia. Ski and snowboard at Las Leñas Ski Resort.
Reach Mendoza Province by flying to El Plumerillo International Airport from Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. Come in March and celebrate the grape harvest at the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia.
