Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
274
Club de Regattas. There's even a golf course (see belo w). The best hike leads to the top
of Cerro de la Gloria, which, at 960m (3,149 ft.) above sea level, offers a panoramic view
of the city and surrounding valley, as well as a bronze monument to the men who liber-
ated Argentina, Chile, and Peru. You can hang glide from the top of the other hill, Cerro
Arco.
Main entrance at Av. Emilio Civit and Bologne sur Mer. Free admission. Daily 24 hr.
Plaza Independencia
The plaza marks the city center, a beautiful square with
pergolas, fountains, frequent artisan fairs, and cultural events. Following the 1861 earth-
quake, the ne w city was r ebuilt ar ound this ar ea. F rom Tuesday thr ough S unday, an
extensive craft fair gets going about 4pm. O n weekend evenings free live concerts and
puppet sho ws take place her e. Four additional plazas—S an M artín, Chile, I talia, and
España—are located 2 blocks off each corner of I ndependence Square. Each has its own
charms, and they're all worth getting to know. Surrounding the square you will find the
Julio Quintanilla Theater, the National School, the I ndependencia Theater, the Provin-
cial Legislature, the Park Hyatt Hotel, and the small M odern Art Museum. During the
annual Vendimia Wine Harvest Festival, all major events are staged here.
Squared in b y Patricias Mendocinas, Espejo, Chile, and R ivadavia, and int ersected by Av. Mitre y Sarm-
iento. Modern Art Museum: Under ground level of plaza.
&
261/425-7279.
Free admission. M on-Sat
9am-1pm and 4-9pm; Sun 5-9pm.
TOUR OPERATORS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Turismo U spallata,
Las H eras 699 (
&
261/438-1092;
www .turismouspallata.com),
runs trips to rural
estancias
and sells bus transfers to all the surr ounding areas, including
San Rafael and Valle de Uco.
Art lovers can spend the day with local ar t guide
Cecilia Romera
(
&
261/15-541-
88800;
www.mendozaarttours.com.ar), who has an insider 's access to the top galleries,
workshops, studios, and unique exhibits. It's a chance to meet artists face to face, and to
explore a blossoming visual ar ts culture. Customized tours r un between $30 and $50
(£20-£34), depending on length.
GOLF
There are three golf courses in the M endoza area and a fe w more in the out-
skirts. The
Club de Campo,
considered the best, has great views of the Andes and opens
to the public from Tuesday through Friday. Fees are a bargain at $18 (£9.90) for 18 holes.
Club Andino is a course in the middle of the P arque San Martín.
HIKING
Serious hikers will want to head into the hills with a priv ate local mountain
guide like
Pedro R ossell
fr om D iscover the Andes E xpeditions (
&
261/424-5142;
www.discovertheandes.com). Two-hour tr eks offer ed b y
Argentina R afting E xpedi-
ciones,
Primitivo de la R eta 992, Office 4 (
&
261/429-6325
), extend from Potrerillos
to the water fall at la Q uebrada del S alto, where rappelling is possible. The 2-hour tr ek
costs $25 (£17), including transfer fr om Mendoza, which adds another 2 to 3 hours to
the outing. A full-day hike, with transfer and lunch included, is $40 (£27).
HORSEBACK RIDING
For those looking to r elease their inner gaucho,
Cabalgata
Mendoza
(
&
261/15-536-2033
[cell]; www .cabalgatamendoza.com.ar) specializ es in
trips from 2 hours to a 12-day cr ossing of the Andes.
Argentina Rafting Expediciones
(see above) and
Ríos Andinos,
RN 7, Km 64, 5549 Potrerillos (
&
261/431-6074
), offer
2-hour horseback rides ($23/£16) and full-day rides ($40/£27) fr
10
om their bases on
Potrerillos.
