Destination guide: Mendoza & Nearby, Argentina

Mendoza - Things to do

Sights

Iglesia, Convento y Basílica de San Francisco

Many mendocinos (people from Mendoza) consider the image at this church of the Virgin of Cuyo, patron of San Martín's Ejército de los Andes (Army of the Andes), miraculous because it survived Mendoza's devastating 1968 earthquake. In the Virgin's semicircular chamber, visitors leave tributes to her and to San Martín. A mausoleum within the building holds the remains of San Martín's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, which were repatriated from France in 1951.

Museo Fundacional

Mendoza’s Museo Fundacional protects excavations of the colonial cabildo (town council), destroyed by an earthquake in 1861. At that time, the city’s geographical focus shifted west and south to its present location. A series of small dioramas depicts Mendoza’s history, working through all of human evolution as if the city of Mendoza were the climax (maybe it was).

Museo Histórico General San Martín

Museo Histórico General San Martín honors José de San Martín, the general who liberated Argentina from the Spanish and whose name graces parks, squares and streets everywhere in Argentina; the Libertador is especially dear to Mendoza, where he resided with his family and recruited and trained his army to cross into Chile. The museum is in a small arcade just off Av San Martín.

Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno

Underground at the Plaza Independencia, the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno is a relatively small but well-organized facility with modern and contemporary art exhibits. Free concerts and theatrical performances are usually held here on Sunday night at 8pm – stop by for the weekly program.

Parque Provincial Aconcagua

The region's most famous park is Parque Provincial Aconcagua, home of 6962m (22841ft) Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak outside the Himalayas and a favorite climbing destination. Reaching the summit requires a commitment of at least 13 to 15 days, including acclimatization time. Potential climbers may like to acquire RJ Secor's climbing guide Aconcagua (Seattle, The Mountaineers, 1999). Non-climbers can trek to base camps and refugios (rustic shelters) beneath the permanent snow line. From December to March, permits are obligatory for both trekking and climbing in Parque Provincial Aconcagua; park rangers at Laguna Horcones will not permit visitors to proceed up the Quebrada de los Horcones without one. Fees vary according to the complex park-use season.

Eat

Azafrán

It’s hard to figure what’s the bigger draw here – the rustic-chic decor, the small but creative menu or the extensive wine list. Who cares? Enjoy them all.

Cocina Poblana

The very tasty, inexpensive Middle Eastern food (hummus, falafel, dolmas) here comes as a welcome break from all that steak. The shish kebab served with tabouleh salad is a definite winner.

Décimo

Up on the 10th floor in the middle of town, this modern restaurant/wine bar offers a good range of well-cooked dishes with distinctly un-Argentine ingredients like quinoa, alongside sushi and risotto. If the meals seem pricey, the coffee is a good enough excuse to soak up the views from the sunny terrace. Catch the elevator in the Gómez building on Garibaldi. Don't bother looking for the sign - there isn't one

Entertainment

Av Arístides Villanueva

For a great night on the town, walk down Av Arístides Villanueva, where it's bar after bar; in summer, entire blocks fill with tables and people enjoying the night.

El Punto

A sea of white vinyl upholstery and laid-back electronica make this little bar a favorite for mixed drinks and cocktails.

Fin Sin

For the nightowls, this is the best, most reliable live music venue in town. Things kick off around 23:00 with happy hour, heat up around 01:00 when the first band hits the stage and keep going 'til sunup. Stop by for the weekly program.

Shop

Av Las Heras

Av. Las Heras is lined with souvenir shops, leather shops, chocolate stores and all sorts of places to pick up cheap Argentine trinkets. Items made of carpincho (spotted tanned hide of the capybara, a large rodent) are uniquely Argentine and sold in many of the stores.

Carrefour

Unless you are looking for a very obscure top of the range bottle (or a sales assistant who knows what they’re talking about), the best place to buy wine in town, in terms of price and variety, is the supermarket Carrefour.

Mercado Artesanal

This cooperative offers provincial handicrafts, including vertical-loom weavings (Huarpe-style) from northwest Mendoza, horizontal looms (Araucanian-style) from the south, woven baskets from Lagunas del Rosario, and lots of braided, untanned leather horse gear.

Events Overview

Mendoza’s biggest annual event, the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (National Wine Harvest Festival), lasts about a week, from late February to early March. It features a parade on Av. San Martín with floats from each department of the province, numerous concerts and folkloric events, and it all culminates in the coronation of the festival’s queen in the Parque General San Martín amphitheater.

Activity Overviews

Once you’ve hadenough fine wine and tramped around the city a bit, get yourself into the Andes, Mendoza’s other claim to fame, for some of the most spectacular mountain scenery you’ll ever set eyes upon. Numerous agencies organize climbing and trekking expeditions, rafting trips, mule trips and cycling trips.

Aymará Turismo

Mule trips, trekking, rafting.
Telephone Number: +54 420-2064
Address: 9 de Julio 1023

www.aymaramendoza.com.ar

Betancourt Rafting

Rafting, mountain biking, paragliding.
Telephone Number: +54 429-9665
Address: Lavalle 35, Local 8

www.betancourt.com.ar

Cabaña La Guatana

Horseback tours through the vineyards of Maipú.
Telephone Number: +54 15-668-6801
Address: Maza 8001, Lulunta, Maipú

www.criolloslaguatana.com.ar

Campo Base Travel & Adventure

Offers all adventures imaginable from trekking to paragliding (AR$210) to more conventional day trips.
Telephone Number: +54 425-5511
Address: Av Sarmiento 229

www.campobase.com.ar

Oso Loco

Full-service ski tours and lessons in Spanish or English. Best quality ski-equipment rental in town. Also brokers a range of on-mountain accommodations, from budget to luxury. Summer activities include sandboarding in nearby Lavalle.
Telephone Number: +54 630-0026
Address: Darragueira 558, Chacras de Coria

www.argentinaskitours.com

Ríos Andinos

Based in Potrerillos, it specializes in rafting on Río Mendoza. Rafting trips cost AR$80 (35 minutes, Class I-II) to AR$230 (five hours, Class III-IV). Combined rafting and trekking AR$230 per day.
Telephone Number: +54 429-5030
Address: Sarmiento 768

www.riosandinos.com