Description
Day 1:
Transfer from airport to hotel in Mendoza in the morning. Accommodation. Later, we’ll pick you up for the Sightseeing Mendoza: If you have just arrived in Mendoza, capital city, this excursion is just what you need, since it provides a general view of this city, which has earned the title of being one of the neatest and with the most trees in the country.
Sightseeing starts with a tour of the foundation district. You go along Av. San Martín through the Paseo de las Alamedas, which stands out for having a dense vegetation, water fountains, and wide sidewalks. A few blocks from there, there is Plaza Pedro de Castillo, around which the civic, religious, and social center of Cuyo was once established, until the area was fatally devastated by an earthquake in 1861.
In the middle of the square there is an important museum which keeps archaeological treasures. It was built over the foundations of the building that was once the Cabildo (City Hall) of the city. Next to the square, there is a Jesuit temple known as San Francisco Ruins (declared a historical monument), where the first vows were given to the flag of the Andes Army led by General San Martín.
This tour continues with a visit to Plaza Independencia and other neighboring squares: España, Chile, Italia, and San Martín. From there, you move on to Av. Mitre up to the Civic Neighborhood, where there is the Center for Congresses and Exhibitions Governor Emilio Civit, the Judicial Power, the City Hall, and Mendoza Government House. It is in the latter that the famous Flag Room is located, where you can find the emblem carried by San Martín's troops when they liberated Chile.
The following spot visited is Parque General San Martín, a wonderful park of 420 hectares (1037.4 acres). After visiting different establishments located in the park, you access Cerro de la Gloria, where a monument stands paying homage to the Andes Army. It is a beautiful sculpture of the Uruguayan artist Juan Ferrari. From there, an amazing panoramic view of the city can be enjoyed.
Note:
This tour takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 3 PM, and it lasts around three hours. It includes a Spanish-speaking guide. Hiring a bilingual guide is optional.
Day 2:
Departure for excursion High mountain: It is a full day excursion in which you will enjoy an ample variety of landscapes: the river Mendoza, the plain in which the city is found, valleys between the mountains, the smaller summits of the pre-mountain range until reaching the highest summits of the Andes.
The trip begins in Mendoza, leaving the city through the National route 7, an area filled with small farms and vineyards. Soon after, following the route that skirts the winding course of the Mendoza river, and catching sight of El Cordón de Plata right ahead, you will leave the countryside behind in order to enter the pre-mountain range area. The first stop will be in Potrerillos, a small mountain town, with weekend residences belonging to the inhabitants of Mendoza.
Thence there is an unbeatable view of the Potrerillos dock which forms a breathtaking and artificial lake. The following section of the route leads to Uspallata, framed by mountainous landscapes with changing colours, filled with varied formations and many tunnels in the route. The famous film ‘Seven years in Tibet’ was filmed in this valley.
The trip continues towards several other small mountain towns, Polvaredas, Punta de Vacas, Penitentes, until reaching Puente del Inca, a place filled with natural and strange formations that has thermal waters. The ruins of the first thermal spring hotel, constructed in 1917 and destroyed by an avalanche in 1965, can be seen.
Aconcagua, the giant watcher, will become a distant companion during this part of the way while you travel towards Las Cuevas, the limiting border with Chile. If the climate and the route conditions allow it, you will continue through a secondary route until arriving at El Cristo Redentor, an imposing monument devoted to peace, found among high summits.
The return to the city of Mendoza goes, again, through the paved National route 7.
Note:
The excursion is scheduled to depart at 7.30 am. and to return approximately at 7 pm.
It is suitable for everyone no matter the age and/or physical condition.
It does not require special clothing; it is important to take into account though that, while in the high mountains, warm clothing is necessary (even in summer).
Day 3:
In the morning, free time to walk around the beautiful squares of Mendoza, the Sarmiento pedestrian street and the impressive Aristides Villanueva Avenue, with the gates of the Park as a background. In the afternoon, departure to tour the wineries through the Wine roads: In this wonderful half-day excursion you will take a glance at the complex and amazing world of fine-wine production and get to visit the Church of Carrodilla, a virgin worshiped in Mendoza.
The trip starts in the city of Mendoza in order to access the vineyards area, which is the first fine-wine producing area in the country. Once there, you will visit two of the best wineries, and there is a tour through its facilities in which a guide explains all the secrets and steps of the wine production. Finally, there is the possibility of attending a tasting. To complete the tour you will visit one olive growing also in the same area.
Near the end of the excursion, you will visit the Carrodilla Church, and you will be able to admire the image of the Lady of the Vineyards, a figure bearing much history, myths and legends.
This excursion is suitable for everyone no matter the age. The wineries visited vary according to the days.
Day 4:
Transfer to airport. End of our services.
Please contact us if you wish to extend your stay in this destination or continue your trip elsewhere in Argentina!
