Itineraries for Your Trip to Mendoza
2 Days in Mendoza for First Timers
Few people I know love wine more than my mum, so I saved a visit to Mendoza, Argentina’s wine capital, for when she came to visit me in South America. After a hedonistic few days of eating steak and dancing tango in Buenos Aires, we were ready for the more muted charm of Mendoza, which offers respite from the sensory banquet of the capital.
Here, the snow-capped Andes Mountains preside over vineyards growing some of the world's finest grapes. We spent a wonderful few days sipping malbec at historic wineries and eating delicious cuisine. If you’ve got two days in Mendoza, this itinerary for first timers is sure to make your experience of the Argentine food and drink capital even tastier.
Argentines describe the summer in Mendoza as “hotter than hell,” so avoid visiting in the hottest month of February.
If you only have time for one thing, make it wine tasting in the mountains.
If it’s your first time in Mendoza, spend your first morning enjoying what the city does best—wine. Wander among vineyards and taste signature sparkling wines at Bodega Chandon, the first place licensed to make Champagne outside of France. Then, feast on a 3-course lunch accompanied by—you guessed it—more wine. Plus, door-to-door transportation means you don’t need to worry about taking the wheel after you've indulged.
This afternoon, do as the gauchos do on a horseback riding experience that takes you to the vineyards and rivers of an authentic Argentine ranch. You don’t need to be a seasoned jockey to enjoy this relaxed ride—you can explore landscapes reigned over by snow-capped mountains at a canter or a gallop, depending on your experience. Refuel after your excursion with a traditional asado (barbecue) back at the homestead.
Tango isn't just limited to the taverns of Buenos Aires—you can also experience Argentina’s signature dance in Mendoza. Enjoy a traditional dinner of empanadas and beef, complete with a tango show at a high-end hotel. Finish with a dessert containing dulce de leche (caramel sauce) for an authentically Argentine end to your day.
Indulge in some sightseeing on your second morning, when you’ll take a city tour that covers must-see Mendoza attractions. Soak up the charm of the locally loved Plaza Independencia, admire lakeside fountains in General San Martin Park (Parque General San Martin), and learn the history behind the dramatic monument on the Hill of Glory (Cerro de la Gloria).
This afternoon, it’s time to taste a different kind of wine more native to South America. Head to Bodega Tierras Altas, a boutique winery famous for producing full-bodied cabernet sauvignons and malbecs, one of the country’s most prized exports. Alternatively, skip more sipping and take to the skies for bird’s-eye views of Mendoza while paragliding over its vineyard-and-mountain-clad landscapes.
Now that you’ve had a few tastes of prime asado, it’s time for you to try and perfect your own barbecue skills. Spend your final evening on a rooftop terrace equipped with a traditional parilla (coal-fired grill), learning how to make signature barbecue dishes such as morcilla (blood sausage), choripan (sausage rolls), and bife de chorizo (a thick cut of steak), all slathered in chimichurri sauce.
