I'm going to tell you what it was like to visit the city of Mendoza during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is my second time visiting this beautiful province. The first time was in 2008, on a trip that, as I told you in the post about Things to do in San Rafael, was very different from now.
Back then I was younger, I was traveling alone, and above all, there was no pandemic called COVID-19.
Fortunately, beyond that fateful context that is now behind us, the attractions and places to visit in the city of Mendoza that I mention in this article remain the same ones that have been visited forever.
Update 2025: It's been a long time since 2021, but the information about the most important places to visit in the city is still valid. I'll soon write a new article covering two topics in particular. One will be about my experience living and working in Mendoza for over a year, and I'll also share some more distant sites that are also worth visiting (such as the Laguna Diamante Reserve).
Table of Contents
What it was like visiting Mendoza with COVID-19 in 2021
Fortunately, the province had an excellent summer in 2021. All the providers we spoke to told us the same thing. Occupancy was almost 100 percent, and tourists arrived in droves to visit Mendoza without major restrictions.
We witnessed the large number of people who visited the city during Holy Week 2021. All the tours seemed to be at capacity.
In stores, restaurants, and other businesses, people wear masks appropriately, trying to comply (as much as possible) with the protocols. But let's be honest, not all visitors act responsibly.
During this trip to Mendoza, we took three excursions and several trips on public transportation. We traveled on buses and minibuses packed with tourists. What we noticed was that if the guide or driver didn't require passengers to wear their masks properly, many would relax and take them off when boarding. This makes no sense, given that being in a closed environment is precisely when you should be most careful.
For these reasons, and considering that in Argentina we still need to mature significantly as a society that thinks together, providers should take a more demanding approach when it comes to enforcing protocols. There's no compromise; either they're followed 100% or it's useless. Otherwise, we'll all end up harmed, with us getting infected, and providers having to close their operations for the remainder of the year (just as happened in 2020).
If you are thinking of visiting the city of Mendoza, and since you are in the province, you can also visit Malargüe, a place with volcanic landscapes that may surprise you.
Where to stay in Mendoza City
In terms of location, the best option is the downtown area and its surroundings. The downtown area is home to the main squares, shopping and dining areas, and San Martín Park, just a few blocks away.
In our case we decided to stay at the Alem colonial houseA house over 100 years old, which the family has renovated to offer as a temporary rental. It's in perfect condition and strategically located, just a few blocks from the bus terminal and the main pedestrian street.
The owners were very attentive to us at all times. Highly recommended.
What to do in Mendoza
The city of Mendoza has something for everyone. I recommend staying at least four days to explore a variety of activities and excursions.
– Take a high mountain excursion
I'd say it's the main excursion when visiting Mendoza. You can do it in your own car or, as we did, on an organized tour.
All agencies offer the same excursion. It starts around 7:30 a.m. and ends at approximately 7:00 p.m. The route consists of traveling along Route 7 to Christ the Redeemer, located on the border with Chile.
It's long, but with all the stops and the guide's explanations, it's very manageable.
First Stop: Los Potrerillos Reservoir (5 – 10 minutes)
The first stop of the tour is on a section of Route 7 where we can enjoy beautiful views of the Potrerillos Reservoir. It's just a few minutes to stretch your legs and take photos. I'll tell you more about what you can do in Potrerillos later.
Second Stop: Uspallata (15 minutes)
Uspallata is the last town on the road to Chile. It's located in a valley between the Frontal and Central Mountain Ranges.
Here, we usually make a 15-minute stop to use the bathroom and clear our heads. The village has incredible views of the surrounding mountains. We could certainly spend more time there to get to know it better, but the tour must continue.
Fun fact: Much of the film was shot in Uspallata and its surroundings. “7 Years in Tibet” Brad Pitt's. Since the director couldn't get permission to film in Tibet, they came to this town to shoot many of the mountain scenes.
Stop at Los Penitentes
There used to be a stop at the sky center The PenitentsI remember that in 2008 you could take the resort's chairlifts for a panoramic view of the area.
But the resort closed several years ago due to a lack of snow, so the tours no longer stop at this point and continue onward. This was until 2021, but I don't know if they've included it again.
Third Stop: The Bridge of the Incas (20 minutes)
Another of the classic spots that can be visited in Mendoza is the Inca BridgeIt's a natural stone bridge with striking orange, yellow, and ochre colors. This color is due to the contact between the thermal water beneath the stones and the atmosphere.
They called it “Puente del Inca” because they lived in this area The Incas together with the native peoples of the place, The Huarpes. Moreover, this entire region is part of the Andean road system that the Inca Empire had, called "Qhapaq Ñan” (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO).
There are some local legends that try to spice up the bridge's origin, but the truth is that its natural formation is due to the passage of the Cuevas River through a crack that existed in the rocks for millions of years.
Fourth Stop: Aconcagua Provincial Park (45 – 60 minutes)
Very close to the Puente del Inca, there is one of the entrances to the Aconcagua Provincial Park.
If the weather is good, you can take a 45-minute mini-trek. It's an interpretive trail that leads to a viewpoint with Mount Aconcagua in the foreground.
Aconcangua, which means Stone Sentinel in Quechua, is the highest mountain in the Americas. It measures 6,960.8 meters and is the highest peak in the entire Andes Mountains.
If you continued along this trail, you could reach the first base camp, called "Confluencia," from where expeditions depart to climb the mountain. But you won't be able to do this on a tour. However, if you're on your own, you might be able to hike further.
To the left of the viewpoint you can see the Horcones LagoonA beautiful lagoon where, depending on the angle from which you observe it, you can notice different colors in the reflection of its water.
Admission to Aconcagua Provincial Park in 2025 costs $ 5,000 pesos per person residing in Argentina. It must be purchased in advance of arriving at the park, thus speeding up the time to enter with the tour. In any case, I recommend confirming the updated price at the official website of Aconcagua Park
Fifth Stop: Christ the Redeemer (5 – 15 minutes)
The route reaches its furthest point in the Christ the Redeemer, located between the border of Argentina and Chile.
This is the highest point we'll be at on the entire excursion, about 3,854 meters above sea level. Needless to say, it's very cold and windy, so you'll need to dress warmly.
If the weather isn't good, you might not make it to this point, as the climb is steep and the road is gravel.
The origin of the statue of Christ dates back to the early 20th century, when Argentina and Chile were in constant tension over the marking of their borders. Fortunately, the conflict never escalated, and peace was finally commemorated with the construction of Christ the Redeemer.
The views of the mountain range are also beautiful, as they were throughout the entire tour.
Sixth Stop: The Caves (1 hour)
Just after getting off Christ the Redeemer there is a long stop in The Caves for lunch. You can eat at a restaurant there (cost not included in the tour) or eat whatever you've brought with you.
Seventh Stop: Uspallata (10 minutes)
Returning to the city of Mendoza, we make our last stop, again in Uspallata. It's just a few minutes, mainly to use the restroom, before starting our final return trip.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this is the longest hike, but it's also beautiful. Throughout the entire trip, we'll have incredible landscapes to admire, always with the mountains as the centerpiece. Highly recommended.
If you want to book the excursion online, you can do so from the Civitatis website, through this link -> High Mountain excursion in Mendoza.
Wine Route Excursion
Another typical excursion when visiting Mendoza is to visit wineries. There are said to be more than 1,600 wineries throughout the province (not for nothing is it called the land of wine).
The tour is a half-day tour. It starts at 2:00 PM and ends at approximately 7:00 PM.
The excursion involves traveling to the Maipu region (where the largest number of vineyards are located) and visiting two wineries with distinct characteristics (one more industrial than the other). In addition to explaining the winemaking process, we'll also taste some of their products (Malbec, whites, sparkling wines, etc.).
Both visits also include a visit to an olive grove, where they explain the process of making the various products derived from olive groves (such as vinegar, olive oil, and olives).
If you're driving or want to rent bikes to explore the area on your own, you can also do so. You just need to know the location and the schedule to visit.
They can Book the winery tour from this link from the company Civitatis.
Visit the Potrerillos Reservoir on your own
Although the High Mountain excursion includes a stop on Route 7 to view the Potrerillos Reservoir from afar, you don't get to fully enjoy it.
You can visit the Potrerillos Reservoir on your own, either by car or by taking one of the Andesmar buses that depart from the bus terminal in Mendoza. There are two lines that may be useful. One goes to Las Cuevas (it runs along Route 7 like the tour) or the other ends in Potrerillos.
In Potrerillos, in addition to being able to observe the reservoir and the containment dam that forms the lagoon, you can also book various adventure tourism activities.
The most popular activity here is Rafting on the Mendoza RiverIn the months of January and February, due to the melting of the mountain range's snow-capped peaks, the river's volume is usually quite large, while in the following months it tends to decrease.
There are many providers offering rafting, among other activities, circuits ranging from 6 to 12 kilometers along the river.
Some of the ones we asked for quotes were Argentina Rafting, Potrerillos Explorer, Kahuak and Adventure RiverThey also offer transportation from Mendoza City to Potrerillos for an additional fee (if you don't want to go on your own).
We decided to book the activity with Rio Aventura, mainly because their prices were the best we could find. We went in early April, and while the river has some rapids, the ride is quite peaceful—too peaceful, in fact. I honestly expected a little more adrenaline, a little more excitement, but hey… the whole setting is beautiful, and it's still enjoyable.
If you decide to do this activity with Río Aventura, you need to keep in mind one important detail: It's located 7 km past Potrerillos. So, if you're traveling independently, without a car, it's best to take the bus to Las Cuevas and ask the driver to let you know when to get off. Otherwise, you can walk or take a taxi from Potrerillos (but the price isn't cheap).
Cacheuta Hot Springs
Very close to Potrerillos, there are the Cacheuta Hot Springs.
The area features thermal water from melting ice, which is heated deep within the Earth and emerges in springs with temperatures between 35°C and 50°C. Due to its course, the water contains large amounts of minerals with therapeutic effects.
To get there, you can book a tour, drive, or take the Andesmar bus that ends in Potrerillos.
We didn't go but they say they are very pretty.
They can Book the Cacheuta Hot Springs excursion from this link from the company Civitatis.
Stroll through San Martín Park
Just a few blocks from Plaza Independencia, we find the city of Mendoza's largest green space. San Martín Park is immense. You can explore it by car, bus, walking, or biking. You can see many Mendoza residents running or biking through the park; it's a great way to escape the city.
As highlights that we can find in the Park, we can mention the following.
Cross the Entrance Gates
We have the old gates made in Glasgow and bought in Paris that are located at the entrance.
Enter the Malvinas World Cup Stadium in Argentina
The stadium was built to serve as one of the venues during the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina.
He currently plays for the first division team Godoy Cruz.
Climb the Hill of Glory
On the summit of the hill we have a viewpoint to the city of Mendoza, in addition to being the place where the important Monument to the Army of the Andes.
Each face of the monument depicts different moments of San Martín's feat when he crossed the Andes. The north face depicts San Martín, the grenadiers, and the figure of Liberty breaking her chains. The east face depicts carpenters, foundries, and blacksmiths working to assemble the army's equipment. The south face depicts a group of women donating their jewels to finance the expedition. The west face depicts the departure of the Army of the Andes to Chile, presided over by General San Martín.
Other places of interest
We can also find the Museum of Natural Sciences, university campuses, the Regatta Club, open-air theaters, and other sites not so relevant to tourists.
City Tour of Mendoza
There are options for taking a city tour of Mendoza, either on foot or on the tourist buses that visit the city's most iconic spots.
In general, you will visit the old town, Independence Square, the park, and some other places.
They can Book a free tour of the city of Mendoza from this link from the company Civitatis.
What time of year is best to visit Mendoza?
Mendoza can be visited year-round due to its summer and winter seasons. So, it all depends on what you're looking for.
From January to April and from October to December, the weather is pleasant or warm with very little rainfall, making it ideal for adventure tourism activities in Potrerillos.
During the winter, snowfall occurs, turning the mountains white and helping to activate the ski season.
Conclusions from the visit to Mendoza
Mendoza is a province worth visiting. It offers beautiful landscapes, delicious wines, and plenty of adventure tourism activities to do in the reservoirs and rivers.
Fortunately, COVID-19 didn't hinder our enjoyment of the trip. All excursions are operating as normal, but we must remember not to let our guard down. Always wear a mask when there are people around you in an enclosed space, try to maintain distance as much as possible, and sanitize our hands frequently. This way, we can all continue to enjoy the trip.
Update 2025As I mentioned at the beginning, I will soon write a new article about my experience living on the outskirts of Mendoza for more than a year, before arriving in Luján de Cuyo, which is, for me, the most beautiful area to live in.
And to close, as I usually say, if you'd like, you can leave your comments or questions below and I'll answer them as soon as possible.
See you next time!