Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mendoza & the Central
Andes
Why Go?
A long, narrow sliver of desert landscape, the Mendoza region is home to two of Argen-
tina's claims to fame - the Andes and wine. The city itself is lively and cosmopolitan and
the surrounding area boasts hundreds of wineries offering tours - an educational (and oc-
casionally intoxicating) way to spend an afternoon or a month.
If you can put your glass down for a minute, there's plenty more to keep you busy. Just
down the road is Aconcagua, the Americas' highest peak and a favorite for mountain
climbers the world over. A couple of ski resorts give you the chance to drop into fresh
powder while Mendoza's tour operators offer up a bewildering array of rafting, mountain
biking and paragliding options.
To the north, often-overlooked San Juan province is well worth a visit, as much for its
small but important selection of wineries as for the surreal desert landscape of the Parque
Provincial Ischigualasto.
When to Go
