Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
60
60
pool! If you are at Finca Adalgisa, stroll into
the charming heart of the village of Chacras
de Coria and follo w y our nose. A t Cav as,
just stay put. E ither way, nighttime amid
the vines is romantic and relaxing.
Day
4
: Alta Montaña
Eat breakfast, pack a sw eater, and pick up
supplies for a picnic (local oliv es, local
jam, local cheese, local bread—it's all right
here!), and drive west into the Andes. The
road first heads south out of to wn and
then west on RN 7 to Potrerillos and on to
the Chilean bor der. After U spallata, it's a
wild and winding mountain r oad that
takes you to the base of the highest moun-
tain in the world outside the H imalayas,
the mighty
Mt. A concagua.
Don't miss
the photo oppor tunity at the mystical
Puente de I nca.
If y ou're a confident
driver, return via the winding spiral, cliff-
hanging Ruta 52 past the thermal springs
at Villavicencio. When you're back in the
Mendoza area, it's worth the effort to dine
at
La Bourgogne
(p. 284). Take a
taxi so you can enjoy the excellent wines at
the Vistalba vineyard.
Day
5
: Day Off
You'll be tir ed, perhaps, fr om driving and
indulging. If you're still raring to go, head
out for horseback riding or white-water
1884
(p . 271)—another ex cellent
reason to call a taxi.
Day
6
: Wines of the Valle de Uco
It may be the most scenic ar ea of M en-
doza, and w ell wor th the 2-hour driv e
south of town. After breakfast at your inn,
follow the Pan-American Highway RN 40
toward the to wn of Tunuyán. I t's a land
of r olling hills, poplar-lined countr
y
roads, and in-y our-face close-ups of the
high Andes. Your first stop should be
the impr essive
Bodegas S alentein
(p. 292), which includes an interesting art
gallery and one of the spookiest and most
fascinating cellars in the countr y. E ither
their vineyar d cafe or the nearb y Posada
Salentein makes a good stop for lunch.
Drop in at another “it ” vineyar d such as
Andeluna
or
O. F ournier
in the after-
noon. A light dinner may be in or der:
How about a
tabla de picadas
—a sampling
of local cheeses and meats, ser ved with a
glass of Malbec on a patio at y our inn?
Day
7
: Shopping & Home
If this is y our only stop in Argentina, it 's
worth checking out the shops in to wn for
leather goods and other souv enirs. After
eating breakfast and checking out of y our
hotel, stop b y the
Palmares O pen M all
(p. 275) and then park in downtown Men-
doza for one mor e stroll down the shop-
lined pedestrian mall. Then head to the
airport to drop off your car and catch your
flight home.
4
rafting on the M endoza Riv er. O r r ent a
bike and explore the rural roads. Be sure to
save room for a spectacular dinner at celeb-
rity chef F rancis M allman's outstanding
5
PATAGONIA WILDLIFE: PENINSULA
VALDES & LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK
by Christie Pashby
Patagonia is for natur e lo vers, par ticularly in N ovember—the one month of the y ear
when you can see whales and penguins on the A tlantic Coast and still see the peaks and
glaciers of southern P atagonia without fr eezing. Start your trip on the coast at P uerto
Madryn, and spend a full day exploring the P enínsula Valdés. This time should include
a whale-watching trip and a visit to sea lion colonies. You will need a second day to see
the penguin colony at the northern tip of the peninsula, making it worthwhile to stay on
