Mendoza: Puentes Destination Guide

Mendoza’s slogan - “the land of good sunshine and good wine” - says it all.  Mendoza is set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and famously lodges Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas.  Also the center of the Argentine wine industry, Mendoza is an oasis of culinary and wine successes, as well as thrilling outdoors activities like rafting and horseback riding. Mendoza is great for a three or four day weekend, or even a week.

HOW TO GET THERE

A short two-hour flight from Buenos Aires, Mendoza is set against the Andes Mountains in an arid region. You can choose to fly from the in-city airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery on a traditional airline, take a low cost flight from El Palomar, or take a 12 hour bus ride from Retiro bus station.  

WHERE TO STAY

Stay in Mendoza City and then take two or three days to explore the wine region through day trips.  Or immerse yourself in the vineyards and the outdoor activities of Andes and stay in the foothills of the mountains in Valle de Uco or Luján de Cuyo.

HOW TO GET AROUND

Hire a driver for the day to be able to truly sit back, relax, and enjoy the vinos of Mendoza. An excellent driver with direct, low rates is Luis (phone: 0261 15 648 8271).  There are also local buses available throughout most of Mendoza, so ask your lodging contacts about transportation options near where you are staying. Bus Vitivinícola and Kahuak Tourism offer hop-on/hop-off service to many of the bodegas in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and Valle de Uco.

WHAT TO DO

If the focus of your visit is wine and food, spend one day wine tasting in Valle de Uco and one day wine tasting in Luján de Cuyo, and if you have an extra day go to Maipú for more wine or go rafting or hiking in the Luján de Cuyo region of the Andes mountains.  If you’d like to sample just a bit of wine, while also diving into outdoors activities, spend one day on a long hike in the Andes, another day rafting in Luján de Cuyo, and another day exploring Mendoza City’s nice parks and plazas and trying wines in nearby Maipú.  For the sake of this Puentes Guide, we have divided recommendations for what to do into the following four regions of Mendoza province:

Mendoza City

EATING in Mendoza City

  • *Azafran (Belgrano and Perú, Mendoza City): 100-year-old restaurant, with charming setting and amazing food

  • *María Antonieta (Belgrano 1069, Mendoza City): Excellent restaurant with fresh, creative foods

  • Ituzaingo (Ituzaingo 1548, Mendoza City): Closed door restaurant with tasty Argentine food and wines

  • 1884 (Belgrano 1188, Godoy Cruz): Francis Mallmann’s restaurant, with lovely garden and delicious food, pricier

  • Anna Bistro (Avenida Juan B Justo 161, Mendoza City): Restaurant with varied menu and nice outdoor seating

  • Vines of Mendoza (In the Park Hyatt Hotel, Chile 1124 and Sarmiento, Mendoza City): Wine bar with many regional wines available by the glass

  • Govinda Vegetarian (Avenida Colón 424, Mendoza City): Recognized as one of the best vegetarian spots in Argentina

STAYING in Mendoza City

AirBnb is always a great option especially if you are traveling in a group.

Hotels recommended but not tried: B&B Plaza Italia
Restaurants recommended but not tried: El Palenque, Pirca, 743 Bistro, Los Chocos

VALLE DE UCO (60 MINUTE DRIVE FROM MENDOZA CITY)

WINING and DINING in Valle de Uco

  • *Andeluna (Ruta 89 s/n, Gualtallary, Tupungato): Lunch overlooking the vineyards, wine tasting, and tour

  • *O. Fournier (Calle Los Indios s/n, La Consulta, San Carlos): Lunch at their restaurant Urban, wine tasting, tour

  • *Clos de los Siete (Calle Clodomiro Silva s/n, Vista Flores, Tunuyán): Tour and wine tasting in any or all of their five vineyards

  • *Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos (Vines Resort & Spa, Ruta Provincial 94, km 11, Tunuyan): Lunch or dinner at this stunning resort

  • *Salentein (Ruta 89 s/n, Los Arboles, Tunuyá): Tour, wine tasting, unique art gallery

  • Domaine Bousquet (Ruta 89 S/N km 7, Tupungato): Lunch with wine pairing and tour

  • La Azul (San Martin 1131, Tunuyan): Lunch with wine pairing and tour

  • Atamisque (Calle La Gloria 2054, San Jose, Tupungato): Lunch with wine pairing at their restaurant specializing in trout

STAYING in Valle de Uco

  • *Tupungato Divino (Ruta 89 y calle Los Europeos, Tupungato): Lovely boutique lodge, with pool, restaurant, and incredible view

LUJÁN DE CUYO (40 MINUTES DRIVE FROM MENDOZA CITY) 

WINING and DINING in Luján de Cuyo

  • *Ruca Malen (Ruta Nacional N°7 Km 1059, Agrelo): Lunch overlooking the vineyards, wine tasting, and tour

  • *Finca Decero (Bajo las Cumbres 9003, Agrelo): Lunch with stunning view, wine tasting, tour

  • *El Lagar Carmelo Patti (San Martin 2614, Mayor Drummond – (261) 498 1379 / 155-601020 ): Unique tasting experience, Carmelo is a one-man show

  • *Achaval Ferrer (Cobos 2601, Perdriel): Excellent wines and great tour

  • *Pulenta Estate (Ruta Provincial 86 Km 6.5, Agrelo): Tour and wine tasting

  • *Susana Balbo (Cochabamba 7801, Agrelo): Tour and tasting, nice restaurant too

  • *Bodega Benegas (Aráoz 1600, Mayor Drumond): Tour and tasting, in their historical bodega

  • *Caelum (Ruta Nacional 7 km1061, Agrelo): Tour and tasting of a family-run vineyard

  • Bodega Bressia (Cochabamba 7725, Agrelo): Tour and tasting

  • Viña Cobos (Costa Flores y Ruta Nacional 7, Perdriel): Great wines and tour

  • Clos de Chacras (Monte Líbano 1025, Chacras de Coria): Lunch in this charming setting

 STAYING in Luján de Cuyo

  • *Cavas Wine Lodge (Costaflores s/n, Alto Agrelo ): Incredible, very high-end resort, with great restaurant too

ADVENTURING in Luján de Cuyo 

  • *Rafting with Argentina Rafting: Fun rafting excursion at the foothills of the mountains. Plus canopy, rappel, kayak, SUP, mountain bike, rock climbing, paragliding, and skydiving available.

  • Los Arboles Parque de Aventura: Ruta Perilago, Potrerillos

  • Hiking: Potrerillos and Parque Provencial Aconcagua are very nice backdrops for stunning, full day or half day hikes (Puentes does not endorse the link included but provides it so you have a general overview of the trek.)

Sauna recommended but not tried: Termas Cacheuta (can visit for the day or stay in the hotel)
Bodegas recommended but not tried: Catena Zapata, Vistalba

MAIPÚ (30 MINUTES DRIVE FROM MENDOZA CITY)

WINING and DINING in Maipú

  • *Familia Zuccardi (Ruta Provincial. N 33 km 7,5, Fray Luis Beltrán): Lunch in their Casa del Visitante, wine tasting, and tour

  • *Domaine St. Diego (Franklin Villanueva 3821, Lunlunta - (261) 439-5557): Tour and tasting at this charming family vineyard

  • Vistandes (Ruta Nacional 60, Urquiza): A great guided experience at a modern bodega

ADVENTURING in Maipú

Bodegas recommended but not tried: Conalbi Grinberg, Tempus Alba, Finca Flichman

Great additional resource on all things Mendoza: experiencemendoza.com
*Note: Everything listed is a great experience, with items marked by an asterisk as particularly amazing and recommended.

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