Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
decor, comprising leftover props from
Seven Years in Tibet,
is a must for fans of the sur-
real.
El Rancho
PARRILLA $$$
(cnr RN7 & Cerro Chacay; mains AR$80-130; 12-3pm & 7pm-1am Tue-Sun)
This is the coziest
and most reliable
parrilla
in town, serving all the usual, plus a good roasted
chivo
(goat).
Getting There & Away
Expreso Uspallata
( 0261-432-5055)
runs several buses daily to and from Mendoza
(AR$30, 2½ hours). Buses continue from Uspallata to Las Cuevas (AR$35, two hours),
near the Chilean border, and stop en route at Los Penitentes, Puente del Inca and the
turnoff to Laguna Los Horcones for Parque Provincial Aconcagua. They can be flagged
from all of these locations on their return to Uspallata from Las Cuevas.
Andesmar has daily morning departures to Santiago (AR$400, six hours) and Val-
paraíso (AR$400, seven hours) in Chile.
There's been talk for some time of a new bus service which will connect Uspallata
with Barreal in San Juan province - it may well be operating by the time you read this.
All buses leave from the Expreso Uspallata office in the little strip mall near the junc-
tion.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Los Penitentes
02624 / ELEV 2581M
So named because the pinnacles resemble a line of monks,
Los Penitentes
(
0261-429-9953;
www.lospenitentes.com
)
has both excellent scenery and snow cover (in
winter). It's 165km west of Mendoza via RN7, and offers downhill and cross-country
skiing at an altitude of 2580m. Lifts (AR$215 to AR$295 per day) and accommodations
are modern, and the vertical drop on some of its 21 runs is more than 700m. Services in-
clude a ski school (private lessons start around AR$205), equipment rentals (skis
AR$100 per day, snowboards AR$120) and several restaurants and cafeterias.
In high ski season (July and August) and during peak climbing season (December
through to March), it's recommended to make reservations up to a month in advance.
Sleeping
