The city of Mendoza is located in the northern-central part of the Mendoza province, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. It was the historical starting point of the Andean Liberation Army and today is, not only is home to some of the finest wine routes in the world (an exclusive site for wine lovers!) but also, a top rate mountain climbing destination. Famed worldwide for its viticulture (with 70% of the 1.5 billion liters in Argentine wine production), The origin of vine in South America is quite related to spiritual work since missionaries needed wine to say mass. Wine importation was difficult so next to each chapel they built, conquerors settled a vine arbor and an orchard which would satisfy their food needs. There is no definite version of the origin of vine growing and wine making in Mendoza. In 1853, French grape varieties such as Malbec, Cabernet, Merlot, Semillón, Sauvignon and Chardonnay, among others has been planted, and towards 1880, Tiburcio Benegas grew 250 hectares of top vineyards and opened a model winery called El Trapiche. This was undoubtedly Mendoza’s wine industry take-off. Let’s discover all the Mendoza attractions!
Mendoza, a lively city with green avenues and trendy cafes features more than just winery trails. Its main square Independence Plaza, Museum of the Foundational Area and The Basilica of St. Francis are among the many attractions the wine capital offers.
Check out our most recommended attractions in Mendoza!
It is the main square of the city. Two blocks away from other four smaller plazas, San Martín, Chile, Italia, and España.
Juan B Alberdi S/N
Inaugurated in 1993, the museum is located in the exact same place where the Spanish captain Pedro Del Castillo founded Mendoza city. It’s located in the historical center of the Old City. It is an archeological museum which contains pictures that exhibit the historical evolution of the city. Also, on display are valuable objects pulled out In Situ after the devastating 1861 earthquake that destroyed the colonial city.
General San Martin Park is a beautiful, large, densely wooded area of the city. In order to reach The Hill of Glory, where the national monument to the Andean Army is located, visitors must enter through San Martín Park. There are signs pointing in its direction.
1426 España Ave.
The Basilica has a great architectural value. It houses the treasured remains of Merceditas, (José De San Martín´s daughter) and her husband Mariano Balcarce. The Basilica was declared a National Historic Monument in 1929. It carries the image of Nuestra Señora Del Carmen de Cuyo.
279 Las Heras Ave.
This market is the oldest shopping center in Mendoza. Its construction dates back to 1884. Aside from retail outlets, it has a nice food court with different culinary options and traditional fruits and meats.
Located in the western-central part of the province, this area is known as the home of the Malbec grape. However, it also produces very good Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontes wines. You can visit many wineries and taste their wines while looking at the beautiful Andes Mountains in the backdrop. You can also learn about the Argentine winemaking process!
Considered one of the best winemaking areas in Argentina, the Valley´s high altitude (between 850 and 1200 m) combined with a particular microclimate, make for optimal grape growing. These geographic and climatic factors provide excellent grape ripening with deep colors, intense aromas, sweet tastes and amazing textures. The valley’s sparkling wines are world renowned.
Offers an amazing experience full of adrenaline with sport activities such as rafting and trekking.
It is located in the Aconcagua Provincial Park (a Natural Protected Area) in the northwest of the province. This Mountain with its 6962 meters has the highest altitude of America. His majesty is undeniable. If you like trekking or mountain climbing this is the best place! It will be an unforgettable experience!
Check out our most recommended Restaurants & Bars in Mendoza!
2898 Guardia Vieja St. Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo. Tel: 261 4963650.
Gourmet
Mendoza is full of surprises and this chic little restaurant is one of the nicest kinds.
The decor is sleek and clean with no distractions. The focus here is on your meal: artfully prepared, impeccably plated and smartly delivered. A great culinary experience! The place is small so make a reservation and you will not be disappointed!
1028 Belgrano Ave. Tel: 261 423-9704.
Schedule: Monday – Saturday 18:30 – 23:30.
Grill
This is a lovely restaurant with a lively and fun restaurateur who speaks perfect English. The food is exceptional and some of the best service in Mendoza. The prices are quite affordable and the restaurant itself is beautiful.
7008 Videla Aranda St. – Maipú. Tel: 261 15-341-1729.
Winery / Gourmet
Alejandro Vigil, the winemaker, welcomes wine lovers from all over the world to his home in Cruz de Piedra. The chef Matías Podestá prepares lunches and dinners accompanied by the seven labels of Premium El Enemigo wine.
765 Sarmiento Ave. Mendoza. Tel: 0261 429-4200.
Schedule: Monday – Sunday 12 – 00:30.
Wine Bar
This restaurant is located in the center of Mendoza. The ambiance is cool and relaxed. Food is great! Also, you can select your own bottle of wine from the wine cellar with the sommelier who recommends something based on your preferences. It is overall a great experience!
Cobos St. Agrelo – Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. Tel: 0261 413-1124.
Founded in 1902, Bodega Catena Zapata is known for its pioneering role in resurrecting the Malbec and in discovering extreme high altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza.
Route 7 Km 1056. Tel: 0261 368-9780.
Only twenty minutes from the city of Mendoza,the Melipal Bodega is located in the heart of the prime grape growing area of Agrelo, in the Luján de Cuyo region.
Visitors can tour the vineyard’s different areas and do everything from taking outdoor cooking classes among the grape vines to going on guided hikes to seeing the vineyard’s diverse landscape. Things to see include Melipal’s aged vines, tall trellises, and the Nazarenas Vineyard, which features plantations of the highest quality grapes.
1863 Brandsen St. Luján de Cuyo. Tel: 0261 524-4416.
This winery, designed to produce premium wines, was built in 2004 in Perdriel, Mendoza – Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. It is a fusion of classic and modern architecture: Tuscan-inspired stone walls combined with well-defined modern straight lines provide a highly attractive and unique building. A blend of tradition with modernity.
1745 San Martín St. Mayor Drummond, Mendoza. Tel: 0261 498-0011.
With the first vine planted in 1897, Lagarde is one of the oldest wineries in the Mendoza region with Malbec vines over 100 years old. Lagarde was the first Latin American producer to plant non-traditional varieties such as Viognier and Moscato Bianco.
4020 H. Yrigoyen Ave. San Rafael. Tel: 0260 444-9600.
Bianchi, for history, present and future is the most visited winery in the country with more than 100,000 tourists every year. Enjoy guided tours and their exclusive premium showroom opposite the beautiful panoramic view. They offer a wide variety of gourmet options that cater to every taste, that pairs perfectly with their selection of wines.
Summers are hot and winters are cool. During summer it is recommended to drink plenty of water while you do outdoor activities.
Mendoza is located at the base of the Andes Mountains, with beautiful scenery throughout the region. Mendoza has a cold desert climate that is mild and dry.
Warm season is from November to March, with highest temperatures in January. Average high temperature during this time is 28°C (82°F). Cold season lasts from May to August, with an average high temperature of 18°C (64°F). The cold is dry with low humidity levels.
Flight: There are many direct flights per day from Buenos Aires to Mendoza and the duration is 1.55 hs. Mendoza is an international airport so you can fly directly to Santiago de Chile and the duration is 50 minutes.
Bus: There are buses from Buenos Aires to Mendoza with a premium service and the duration is 14 hours.
Self.drive: If you like this style of travel this destination is perfect for independent road travel.
We could easily say all the time. But, let’s get into the details.
Autumn: Between March and May, a 4-day trip is perfect for a quick, wine-themed escape. This time is perfect to enjoy Mendoza wine tours because it’s the beginning of the National Harvest Festival. You can visit many wineries, and enjoy plenty of wine tastings.
Winter: In winter Mendoza has a cold desert climate, bright sunny days with clear skies. During the winter months of June through August, you can enjoy a quieter city, and days will still be warm with plenty of sun, bodegas (vineyards) will still be giving tours, it’s just without the actual making of the wine.
Summer: December through February are the hot summer months in the region. Though Mendoza is still dry, the sun is strong and you’ll be glad to be under the air-conditioning away from heat.
February through May, with March being the official beginning of the harvest. Beginning in the first days of March, there is the National Grape Harvest, starting with an artistic spectacle of dance, lights and music. hundreds of performers display their art in an overwhelming show of fireworks and dance. Kicking off the season for Mendoza wine tours, this event is a must-see if you’re in the area at during the first week of March!
During summer it’s recommended to wear comfortable clothes, sunscreen and sunglasses. But always take clothing for lower temperatures. Even in the summer the temperature may drop at night. There are a variety of clothing options to keep warm in cold weather. During winter, it’s recommended to wear waterproof jackets, scarves, gloves and wool hats.
In Mendoza, as in every big city you have to be aware of pickpocketing and bag snatching. Try to be careful with your valuables.
Within the city there are various options in case you need medical assistance. Usually hotels provide you with a list of hospitals, or a doctor who can visit you at your hotel.
We recommend these two hospitals:
In Mendoza you should stay three nights so you have at least two full days to explore wineries, mountains, enjoy an adventure sport and relax in the wine foodie destination of Argentina.
There are banks and ATMs throughout downtown Mendoza. Keep in mind that ATMs often have withdrawal limits, and they may charge high withdrawal fees (in addition to any international fees your bank charges).
In restaurants, it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose. For tour guides , estimate around USD 10/15 per person, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver. In hotels, you should tip porters for handling bags:USD1.00 for every two bags, same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases, the housekeeping (between USD0.50 – 1.00 per night), and the concierge staff if the have helped you to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities. In Argentina we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.
Around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and
transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.
Credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted in main cities. But it will be more convenient for you to exchange pesos rather than using US dollars because the rate that shops or restaurants use might not be the most convenient for you. In Mendoza, the best rate is at the National Bank, but you can also go to exchange houses in the city.
Phone: +5492616005181
Email: gerbus@live.com.ar
Otro Mundo Posible association is made up of a group of people who work with the most vulnerable sectors of our society, favoring the creation of a culture of community life, based on fraternity, solidarity and autonomy, which mitigates the effects of poverty and injustice. They carry out various projects and workshops: they have a self-managed social center, their own whole milk bank, a cement block production space, a women’s space, decoration projects, educational projects, a parenting workshop, among others.
How can you help?
With donations of liquid and whole milk, non-perishable food. Clothes in good condition, shoes and school supplies. You can also add your knowledge, skills and abilities to join as a volunteer in one of our spaces and projects.
Phone: +5492615545664
Email: fundacionnuestroscimientos@gmail.com
The foundation Nuestros Cimientos is a team of 32 professionals specialized in family. Family counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psycho pedagogues, nutritionist, social worker, lawyer and teachers; whose mission is to care for, guide and strengthen families. They work betting everything on families, since they firmly believe that from these they can prevent, treat and solve all social problems sooner, better and at a lower cost.
What are they doing?
Family Guidance Center: multidisciplinary team of professionals who attend individual and group consultations. Schools and workshops for parents: free service that reaches rural and marginal urban schools in the Cuyo region.
How can you help them?
With your monthly donation so that they can work harder and better.
With your time, as a volunteer for the organization of events.
Email: mendoza@fundacionsi.org.ar
They are an ONG whose main objective is to promote the social inclusion of the most vulnerable sectors of Argentina.
The work is carried out by a large number of volunteers using a comprehensive approach that includes assistance, support, training, education, and work culture. They carry out projects throughout the country, including Mendoza, in which you will have the possibility to join as a volunteer or make donations.
Enter their page and you will find out how!
Phone: +5492615060962
Email: anadim_mza@hotmail.com
The “Mendoza Association of Children and Adolescents with Diabetes” is an organization that is dedicated to educating, containing and raising awareness among children and adolescents with diabetes and their families and surroundings. Currently they assist more than 80 families with whom they work on a daily basis, with the aim of advising and demonstrating that it is possible to live perfectly with diabetes, leading a healthy lifestyle. The association organizes gatherings regularly, share camping days and hold meetings.
How to help them?
The association has its doors open to receive volunteers who commit to carry out its activities and workshops. You can also help them by making a financial contribution, or by donating supplies necessary for the treatment of diabetes (test strips, needles, lancets, etc.)
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