Mendoza.
Malbec country under the highest Andes
Mendoza is a desert made green. Snowmelt from the Andes runs through a network of irrigation channels that dates back centuries, feeding the plane trees of the city and the vineyards that make most of Argentina’s wine.
Stay in the vineyards rather than the city if you can. Luján de Cuyo and Maipú are close in; the Uco Valley, about an hour and a half south, is higher, cooler and more dramatic, with the Andes filling the western sky.
- Getting there
- 1 h 55 flight from Buenos Aires
- How long
- Three to five nights: split between Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
- Best time
- March and April for harvest and autumn colour; October and November for spring. Summer is hot and dry. In winter the vineyards sleep and the high road to Chile can close with snow.
What to see.(04)
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01
Luján de Cuyo and Maipú
The historic heart of Malbec, close to the city. Easy to visit by bike in Maipú.
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02
Uco Valley
High-altitude vineyards and architect-designed bodegas with the Andes behind.
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03
The high road to Aconcagua
A day trip up the valley towards Chile to see Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia.
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04
Long lunch
A bodega lunch of several courses and pairings is the local way to spend an afternoon.
From Mendoza.
Straight-line distance and typical door-to-door time to every other stop.
How we work these out| To | Distance | Door to door | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iguazú | 1,601 km | about 9 h 30 | 2 flights via Salta (not every day) |
| Salta | 960 km | about 4 h 30 | 1 flight (not every day) |
| Purmamarca | 1,067 km | about 7 h 30 | 1 flight via Salta (not every day) |
| Buenos Aires | 984 km | about 4 h 30 | 1 flight |
| Bariloche | 942 km | about 4 h 30 | 1 flight (not every day) |
| Puerto Madryn | 1,148 km | about 10 h | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
| El Chaltén | 1,859 km | about 12 h 30 | 2 flights via Bariloche, El Calafate (not every day) |
| El Calafate | 1,961 km | about 9 h 30 | 2 flights via Bariloche (not every day) |
| Ushuaia | 2,437 km | about 11 h | 2 flights via Buenos Aires |
Practical.
The things to know before you add Mendoza to a trip.
Getting there
Fly from Buenos Aires to Mendoza (MDZ), just under two hours. The bodegas are spread out, so a driver is wise if you are tasting.
When to go
March and April for harvest and autumn colour; October and November for spring. Summer is hot and dry. In winter the vineyards sleep and the high road to Chile can close with snow.
How long to stay
Three to five nights: split between Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley.
Watch out for
Most bodegas need a booking, and visits are spread across a large area. Do not plan more than two or three in a day.
Where to stay
See the 2 kinds of place we look for on our stays page.
Pairs well with.(03)
Plan a trip with Mendoza.
We will tell you what fits with it, and in which order.