Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
296
Aventuras
(
&
2627/439069
). Upriver from Valle Grande are four imposing hydro-
electric dams, and beyond that a massive reservoir called El Nihuil where there are boat
rentals, restaurants, and beaches.
A new development southwest of San Rafael is
Finca Viña del Golf,
RN 144, Km 674
(
&
2627/487027;
www.vinasdelgolf.com.ar), which combines a winer y, 18-hole golf
course, and a planned lodge.
4
THE ALTA MONTANA DRIVING CIRCUIT
Climbing the mountains on the way to the Chilean bor der, this excellent driving circuit
leads past the magnificent vineyar ds of Mendoza to breathtaking vistas of the Andes. I t
is an all-day ex cursion (at least 5 hr . with no stops) that leads past the U spallata Valley
up to nearly 3,000m (9,840 ft.) at Las C uevas and the entrance of Aconcagua Park. You
can take one of two r outes: The easier driv e takes y ou past Potrerillos on the RN 7—a
small area along the Mendoza River popular for its white-water rafting. The more chal-
lenging drive (due to winding dirt roads) takes you through the gorgeous natural-springs
town of Villavicencio. (We recommend you go Villavicencio on the way and r eturn via
Potrerillos on the RN 7, since y ou don't want to be stuck abo ve Villavicencio at night.)
Whichever r oute y ou choose, the r oads come together in U spallata, where the cir cuit
continues to Las Cuevas on the RN 7. You can do this tour on your own, but it is easier
with a driver who knows the roads. Note that a 4WD is preferable, although not a neces-
sity, for the route to Villavicencio. Expect temperatures to drop significantly as you climb
the mountain; bring a sw eater! It's also a nice idea to bring a picnic. I n absence of any
lovely restaurant for lunch on a terrace with a vie w of the peaks, a roadside pullout may
be the better option.
HEADING TO USPALLATA VIA VILLAVICENCIO
Although it takes a couple hours longer than heading straight nor th on RN 7, driving
the RN 52 takes y ou to the natural springs of Villavicencio, the sour ce of Argentina 's
well-known mineral water. If you've ordered bottled water in Argentina, chances ar e it's
Villavicencio. Leaving Mendoza to the north through Las Heras, you'll be driving on the
old international r oad to Chile. After 34km (21 miles), y ou'll pass the
Monumento
Canota,
the spot where generals San Martín and Las Heras split to confront the Spanish
at different fronts in 1817. After Canota, you will begin to climb the Villavicencio Valley,
and by 40km (25 miles), the road turns to gravel and becomes winding (the road here is
known locally as the
Caracoles de Villavicencio,
or “the snails of Villavicencio”). A small
ranger station
at 50km (31 miles) offers information on the Villavicencio natural
reserve, including sources of the mineral water and the r egion's flora and fauna. Eagles,
condors, pumas, mountain cats, fo xes, ostriches, guanacos, flo wering cacti, and many
plants and trees occupy the area.
VILLAVICENCIO
45km (28 miles) N of Mendoza
French-owned Danone purchased the rights to this land and its mineral water , and it is
working hard to preserve the integrity of the springs. This explains why the
Hotel Termas
Villavicencio,
fr equented b y Argentina's high society until its closing in 1980, has not
10
reopened. The lush gardens of the Normandy-style hotel, seen on the label of Villavicencio
