Mendoza: Aconcagua, Nature and Wine Culture
Accommodation in Mendoza
Mendoza can be explored through a wide range of travel interests: the province’s defining features include Cerro Aconcagua, protected natural areas, wineries and historic sites. The province offers specific points of reference, from an easy hiking trail near Laguna de Horcones to its five major wine regions.
Aconcagua and Protected Landscapes
Cerro Aconcagua is in Mendoza Province and reaches an elevation of 6,962 metres. This makes it the highest peak in the Americas. Parque Provincial Aconcagua was designated a provincial park in 1983 and covers 71,000 hectares. These facts give the mountain and protected area a clear place in nature-focused travel planning for Mendoza.
Across the province, there are 19 accessible protected natural areas; together, they cover 12 percent of Mendoza’s area. For travellers wishing to include natural areas in their plans, this figure offers an overview of their significance within the province. One longer route that passes through several protected areas is the Sendero de Gran Recorrido de los Andes: it runs for more than 500 kilometres from north to south through Mendoza, connects the base of Cerro Aconcagua with Paso Pehuenche in Malargüe, and passes through six protected natural areas.
Hikes and Volcanic Landscapes
For a shorter hike, the Sendero Interpretativo Laguna de Horcones is a specific option. This easy hiking trail takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and is suitable for all visitor groups, weather permitting. For a longer outing, the one-day hike to Confluencia offers a different level of challenge: it is moderately difficult, is an out-and-back route, and takes 6 to 8 hours. It is offered from November to April. The stated duration and difficulty help travellers compare the two hiking options according to the time and level of challenge they are looking for.
In the Payunia area of Malargüe, more than 800 volcanic cones of different sizes and with different types of eruptions shape the landscape. Full-day excursions in Reserva Natural La Payunia follow the protected area’s internal trails and include, among other things, a short hike to the crater of Volcán Morado. This combines views of the volcanic landscape with a specific hiking destination along the excursion.
Wine Regions and Harvest Festivals
More than 200 wineries in Mendoza Province are open to tourists. Offerings include tastings, seasonal menus with wine pairings, picnics and grape-picking competitions. This means a trip’s wine focus can be explored not only through wineries, but also through the range of experiences they offer.
The province is divided into five major wine regions: Primera Zona, Valle de Uco, Oasis Este, Oasis Centro-Norte and Oasis Sur. These names offer wine enthusiasts a clear regional framework when planning a stay around this theme. Harvest season also has a regular place in the annual calendar: the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is held every year. From January to March, each of the province’s 18 departments holds its own harvest festival.
Culture and Historic Sites
The Acto Central of the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia includes performances at Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day, with more than 1,000 performers on stage. Travellers interested in the cultural programme can include this central part of the Vendimia as a distinct aspect of their trip.
Another cultural site is Parque Temático Manzano HistĂłrico. It includes Monumento Retorno a la Patria, Paseo Vida y Obra del General San MartĂn, and the Retorno a la Patria and Archaeology and Natural Sciences museums. In Reserva Natural de la Defensa Uspallata, visitors can find archaeological traces of the Qhapaq Ă‘an, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as historic evidence associated with San MartĂn. Those looking for a place to stay in Mendoza can use these different interests as a guide when planning their trip. For information about one destination within the province, see Las Lenas.
For the broader travel overview: Argentina.
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