What To See On A Visit To Mendoza Argentina
A visit to Mendoza Argentina is generally centered around wine tasting. But is there more to do in Mendoza? Is it worth to spend a couple of days there?
Well known for its red wines, especially the Malbec, Mendoza is a must-visit for wine lovers.
With over 1,000 wineries between the Maipu Valley, Lujan de Cuyo, and Valle del Uco, there is something for every taste and budget.
But is Mendoza worth visiting for more than a day?
The simple answer is YES. You can do more than just visit wineries.
We enjoyed exploring this city located at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Argentina for two days.
This is how we spent our time in Mendoza.
Getting to Mendoza
Many years ago Mendoza was considered a frontier city and was hard to reach.
But getting to Mendoza today is quite easy.
You can fly into Mendoza Airport, take a bus, or drive.
Fly into Mendoza
The fastest way to get to Mendoza from Buenos Aires is to fly into Mendoza’s El Plumerillo Airport (MDZ).
Aerolineas Argentinas and Jet Smart have several daily flights from Buenos Aires’ second airport Jorge Newbery (AEP) to Mendoza.
This flight will take approximately two hours and a return ticket will be $100 – 140 USD.
The easiest and fastest way to get from the airport into town is to take a 25-minute taxi ride.
Alternatively, renting a car and driving is a good option if you want to explore the wineries in the Mendoza Province, or want to visit one of the beautiful Spa’s nearby.
Take a Bus
You’ll leave Terminal de Omnibus Retiro in Buenos Aires and arrive in the center of town in Terminal Mendoza.
Several bus operators service the Buenos Aires Mendoza route twice a day including Cata Internacional, Andesmar, and Chevallier.
You can buy tickets online from all of these bus operators or at the bus terminal.
The downside of this option is that the trip takes around 14 hours.
You can then take a taxi from the bus terminal to your lodging.
Drive to the Mendoza Province
Depending on your location in Buenos Aires and the rest breaks you make, the drive to Mendoza can take about 12 hours via RN7 (Ruta Nacional 7).
Driving lets you freely explore the road from Buenos Aires to Mendoza and the area around the city.
What to see during your visit to Mendoza
Visit the Plazas
It is quite common to find towns that grow around a central plaza all over the world.
Town squares used to be the religious, political, and economic center which promoted the growth.
Mendoza is unique because, within just two blocks from the Main Plaza, you’ll find four smaller, very charming plazas.
Yes, Mendoza has not one but five Plazas in the town center.
Plaza Independencia is the main plaza and the heart of Mendoza.
The main attractions in Plaza Independencia are its dancing fountains and lights.
Surrounding Plaza Independencia you’ll find Plaza Chile, Plaza Italia, Plaza España, and Plaza San Martin.
Plaza Chile represents the friendship between the neighboring countries of Argentina and Chile.
You’ll find a statue of the country’s heroes, Jose de San Martin and Bernardo O’Higgins joining hands on a sword.
Plaza Italia is a memorial to Italian immigrants and the Italian community that contributed to the development of the surrounding areas.
Plaza España is beautiful for its Andalusian tilework and fountain.
The highlight of Plaza San Martin is the equestrian statue of the famous Independence war hero, General San Martin.
In addition to their historical significance, these plazas are filled with trees that create a much-needed oasis in Mendoza’s typically dry climate.
Walk the Town Center
While exploring the plazas, be sure to check out the town as well.
Stroll along the pedestrian area lined with traditional buildings to one side of Plaza Independencia.
You’ll find plenty of stores, restaurants, and cafés to rest and refuel as you explore the town.
If you want to add a little bit of history to your stroll you’ll find the house where General San Martin and his wife lived several years in Mendoza.
The address is Corrientes 343 and purchasing tickets through their web page is highly recommended as they do not accept cash.
Tip: We love ice cream and will take advantage of trying new flavors. In Mendoza, we came across a Malbec-flavored ice cream and couldn’t resist trying it. The taste was interesting. When you find it, give it a try and decide for yourself!
Visit Parque General San Martin
On the west side of the city, you’ll find an extensive green space called Parque General San Martin.
This 988-acre park is home to many places to visit including an artificial lake and a rose garden.
This area is perfect for cycling, kayaking, exploring the rose gardens, or enjoying a great picnic.
You can rent bicycles close to the park entrance. There are several kiosks where you can get drinks and refreshments.
Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Day Tour
Mendoza Province is famous for its excellent wine and delicious olive oil.
The region around Greater Mendoza is the largest wine-producing area in South America.
The volcanic soil, pure water from the Andes, dry weather, and sunny days make for some wonderful grapes and wines.
Best known for its red wines, Malbec is the most celebrated.
But they also have some lovely Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Bonarda.
For us, the easiest way to explore the region was using a day tour that included three winery visits and a small olive oil tasting.
Our first stop was a larger winery called Navarro Correas where we toured the warehouses, and the surroundings and ended with an excellent tasting.
We then visited a small olive oil estate, there wasn’t much to see because we were out of season.
The olive season is short, it only lasts two months, from May until June.
But it was still interesting and they had a nice selection of olive oil for purchase.
For lunch, we visited Bodegas Alta Vista which has a wonderful outdoor patio.
The lunch was so fresh and included a delicious glass of wine.
This winery is quite popular with families as they can enjoy the outdoor space while having lunch.
To end the day we visited Luigi Bosca winery.
This is a family-owned winery with many years of tradition.
Here we visited the processing tanks and the storage facilities before sitting for a tasting in the old Spanish-style main building.
If you’re interested in visiting a specific winery or want to go farther to Maipu or Lujan del Cuyo you’ll find several options.
You can find many tours online or have a local agency set it up for you like we did.
Aconcagua
Cerro Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Americas and it is just 112 km (just under 70 miles) from Mendoza.
We didn’t realize we would be so close to this breathtaking mountain and didn’t schedule time to visit.
Although you can climb the mountain it is a major trek and should be planned and performed with a proper alpine operator.
On the other hand, if you just want to get a close-up look at the mountain and the surroundings consider a day tour out of Mendoza.
These day trips can also be reserved online or through a local tour operator.
Is Mendoza worth your time?
Definitely!
If you’re a wine lover, renting a car and heading out on your own is probably a great idea.
You can visit wineries in Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and Valle del Uco according to your preferences and budget.
You can also choose to stay in the town of Mendoza or plan a stay at one of the great hotels & Spas with scenic views of the Andes.
But if you’re not a wine enthusiast and just want a taste of Mendoza then the town still has some great things to do and charming plazas to explore.
For a future visit to Mendoza Argentina, we plan to add a day tour around Cerro Aconcagua.
We’ll probably take the opportunity to spend the night at one of the wine & Spa hotels in Lujan de Cuyo.
Mendoza is definitely on our list for our next trip to Argentina!
Mendoza is a cute colonial town in a province known worldwide for its wine and its nearness to the amazing Andes.
There are many things to do here besides the wine and we think you’ll enjoy spending a couple of days in this charming region of Argentina.
If you want to research more about Mendoza, the activities in the city, and surrounding areas visit the Mendoza Argentina website for the latest information.
