Things to do in  Mendoza Province

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.

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.

Separating the country from neighboring Chile, the Andes Mountains are Argentina’s backbone. The chain stretches some 4,300 miles (7,000 kilometers, from Venezuela to the southern tip of Argentina, and encompasses the continent’s tallest peak—Mt. Aconcagua.

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.