Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
275
MOUNTAIN BIKING
In February, cyclists from around the world par ticipate in
La
Vuelta Ciclista de Mendoza,
a mini Andean Tour de France, around Mendoza province.
Argentina Rafting Expediciones
(see above) runs 2-hour mountain-bike adv entures in
the rugged Potrerillos area for $25 (£17) and full-day rides for $35 (£24).
SKIING
Perhaps the best place to ski, not just in Argentina but also in South America,
is
Las Leñas
(see “H itting the S lopes in Las Leñas, ” later in this chapter). Closer to
Mendoza, the small resort of
Los Penitentes
(see “The Alta Montaña Driving Circuit,”
later in this chapter) offers 23 downhill slopes as well as cross-country skiing.
Portillo
is
a much larger and better-equipped ski resort just on the other side of the Chilean border.
Eighty kilometers (50 miles) south,
Vallecitos
is the smallest and closest ski r esort to
Mendoza, but it can be difficult to r each in heavy snow conditions. Obtain information
on the pr ovince's ski ar eas from Mendoza's
Subsecretaría Provincial de Turismo
(see
“Essentials,” earlier in this chapter).
WHITE-WATER RAFTING
Mendoza affords some of the best white-water rafting
in Argentina. During the summer months, when the sno w melts in the Andes and fills
the Mendoza River, rafters enjoy up to Class IV and V rapids. Rafting is possible y ear-
round, but the river is colder and calmer in winter months. Potrerillos, 53km (33 miles)
west of Mendoza, has two pr ofessional tour operators offering half-day , whole-day, and
2-day trips on the M endoza River, including dir ect transfers fr om Mendoza. These are
Argentina Rafting Expediciones
(see above) and
Ríos Andinos
(see above). Be sure to
bring an extra pair of clothes and a to wel because y ou ar e guaranteed to get soaked.
Children 11 and underar e not allowed to raft. Argentina Rafting has a small r estaurant
and bar wher e you can eat and defr ost after soaking in the riv er. Rafting star ts at $35
(£24) for 1 hour, and both agencies also offer kayaking ($100/£68 for a full-day kayaking
course), horseback riding, tr ekking, and mountain biking. F arther south in S an Rafael
(see “San Rafael,” later in this chapter), there is Class II/III rafting on the Atuel River and
perhaps the most extreme rafting in all of Argentina on the wild Río D iamante.
SHOPPING
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, an outdoor
handicrafts market
takes place during the
day on Plaza Independencia, as do smaller fairs in P laza España and along Calle M itre.
Thursday through Saturday, don't miss the ex cellent outdoor
antiques market
held in
Plaza Pellegrini. Regional shops selling handicrafts, leather goods, gaucho paraphernalia,
and
mate
tea gourds line Avenida Las Heras. Two of the best are
Las Viñas,
Av. Las Heras
399 (
&
261/425-1520), and
Los Andes,
A v. Las H eras 445 (
&
261/425-6688). A
classier v ersion of the Argentine souv enir shop is
Raíces,
España 1092 (
&
261/425-
4118). For high-quality leather, visit
Alain de France,
Andrade 101 (
&
261/428-5065),
or
CuerPiel,
Rioja 601 (
&
261/423-7405). More mainstream upscale chain stor es line
Avenida Riv adavia, and Calle Arístides Villanueva is home to expensiv e fashion bou-
tiques. The city's best shopping mall is
Palmares Open Mall,
on R uta Panamericana
2650 in Godoy Cruz (
&
261/413-9100). Most shops close from 1 to 5pm each day for
siesta. You can also buy Mendocine wines at many shops. The least expensive cost a few
dollars a bottle, and pr emiums go for $25 to $80 (£17-£54). S ome of the best wine
boutiques in town include
Pura Cepa,
Sarmiento 644 (
&
261/423-8282), the stunning
new
Winery
,
Calle Chile 898 (
&
261/420-2840), and
Sol y Vino,
Sarmiento 664
(
&
261/425-6005).
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