Mendoza pairs world-class wine with the drama of the Andes. These are the experiences worth building your trip around, from the multiple-time World's Best Vineyard in the Uco Valley to the highest peak in the Americas, with rafting, hot springs, and Argentina's best open-fire cooking in between. Save any of them to your own Mendoza itinerary.
The Best Things to Do in Mendoza
1Must visit
Other4.9
Zuccardi Valle de Uco
Taste at the multiple-time World's Best Vineyard, a modernist stone winery set directly beneath the Andes in the high Uco Valley. The terroir-driven Malbec and the architecture are both unforgettable.
Uco Valley
2Must visit
Other4.7
Catena Zapata
Tour the Mayan-pyramid winery behind Argentina's most celebrated Malbecs in Lujan de Cuyo, with a tasting room that frames the cordillera.
Lujan de Cuyo
3Must visit
Viewpoint4.8
Aconcagua Viewpoint
Gaze at the highest peak in the Americas, nearly 7,000 metres, from the viewpoint along Ruta 7. Trekkers can push on toward the Confluencia base-camp trail.
Las Heras
4
Food
Argentine BBQ (Asado) Experience
Join a countryside asado where a parrillero slow-grills ribs, chorizo, and provoleta over open flames, paired with bottomless Malbec. The quintessential Argentine meal.
Various estancias near Mendoza3-4 hours
5
Park4.5
Parque General San Martin
Wander Mendoza's 420-hectare green lung, with a boating lake, rose garden, and amphitheatre, designed by Carlos Thays as the city's central park.
City Center
6
Outdoor
Lujan de Cuyo Winery Bike Tour
Cycle between boutique bodegas in flat, quiet Lujan de Cuyo, tasting at three or four estates in Mendoza's original Malbec heartland.
Luján de CuyoHalf day
7
Outdoor
Rafting Mendoza River
Tackle class III-IV rapids on the Mendoza River as it rushes through the Potrerillos canyon, with dramatic mountain scenery and no experience required.
Mendoza River, Potrerillos areaHalf day
8
Experience
Hot Springs at Cacheuta
Soak in natural thermal pools nestled in a mountain canyon along the river, an easy half-day escape just 40 minutes from the city.
Termas de Cacheuta (40 min from Mendoza)Half day
9
Viewpoint4.3
Cerro de la Gloria
Climb to the hilltop monument honoring San Martin's Army of the Andes for a panorama over the city and the full cordillera.
City Center
10
Food
Olive Oil Tasting Tour
Visit boutique olive-oil farms in Maipu to taste premium extra-virgin varieties, an easy and delicious companion to a wine tour.
Maipú, Mendoza2-3 hours
FAQ
- What is Mendoza best known for?
- Mendoza is Argentina's wine capital, producing the country's most famous Malbec across the regions of Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley. It is also the gateway to Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, and a base for adventure activities like rafting and trekking.
- Is Mendoza only about wine?
- No. While wine is the headline, Mendoza offers high-Andes excursions toward Aconcagua, rafting on the Mendoza River, thermal hot springs at Cacheuta, horseback riding, and a lively city of leafy plazas, parks, and craft-beer streets.
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