Things to do in  Mendoza

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.

Potrerillos is a town with an artificial lake outside of Mendoza 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.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the humble mountain town of Uspallata had its 15 minutes of fame back in 1997—the area’s similarity to the Himalaya saw it used as the filming location for Seven Years in Tibet. Lying along the road to the Chilean border, the oasis town also makes a strategic spot from which to explore the Andes.

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.

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.

With over 12,400 acres (5,000 hectares of vineyards reaching altitudes of up to 5,500 feet (1676 meters; Bodegas Salentein is one of Mendoza’s largest wine estates. At the heart of the Uco Valley, the modern Bodega is known for its pioneering wine-growing methods and a range of fine Argentinian wines that are exported around the globe.

With a history dating back to 1883, Trapiche Winery(Bodega Trapiche) is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the Mendoza wine region. Along with its award-winning malbecs—exported to more than 40 countries around the world—the winery produces a wide variety of wines including sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, syrah, and chardonnay.

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.

Rising up from San Martin Park, the Hill of Glory (Cerro de la Gloria) is one of Mendoza’s most recognizable landmarks. Perched on a small hill, the 14-ton bronze monument was designed by Juan Manual Ferrari to honor the Army of the Andres, who fought during the 19th-century Battle of Independence.

Created in the 1890s following English and French landscaping traditions, the expansive setting of General San Martín Park in Mendoza is home to ornamental fountains, classical statues, a lake, and a rose garden lined with walkways. Go hiking or biking, or stroll along the winding pathways and see dozens of sculptures along the way.

In the heart of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Fair Trade and organic winery Domaine Bousquet leads the way in ethical wine production. For the past 25 years, they’ve continually sought to improve on their methods, from recycling anything they’re not able to reuse to irrigating their vineyards in the most efficient way possible. With enough room for a whopping 2.5 million liters of wine—not to mention a backdrop of the often snow-capped Andes—the winery’s diverse tastings and on-site amenities are more than worth checking out.

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.

Go white-water rafting along the Atuel Canyon (Cañón del Atuel), a 37-mile (60-kilometer) gorge in the Mendoza Province. This stretch of water attracts all kinds of adventurers, including those looking to kayak, jet-ski, raft, and cycle, and to admire the steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations along the river.

Plaza Independencia is one of Mendoza's most popular public spaces. It also happens to be the perfect place to relax, have something to eat, and spend a couple of hours people-watching, listening to live music, or browsing through craft stalls. Locals gather here to soak up the sun, go skateboarding, or watch live street theater performances.

In 1959, the French Champagne house Moet & Chandon established its first overseas subsidiary, Bodega Chandon. Learn how it pioneered the production of sparkling wines in Argentina by combining traditional French savoir-faire with the diversity of Argentine high altitude terroirs on a visit and tasting.