Mendoza, Argentina, Overview

Cerro Plata (19,574′). Above Mendoza, Argentina, 2014

It occurs to me that I ought to give a brief overview of Mendoza highlights for anyone who may be traveling down that way.

Well, here ya go…

Travel Tips and Highlights, Mendoza, Argentina

(As of April, 2015, anyway…)

–I liken Mendoza to Tucson, Arizona in terms of population of the metro area, climate and average temperatures, topographic “look”, and elevation.

–From here, by internal combuster, you are about 13 hours from Buenos Aires and six hours from Santiago, Chile (watch snow conditions in winter in the latter case, as you do sort of a Latin American version of the I-70 Eisenhower Tunnel drive to get there).

–Mendoza is famous for…its bodegas (wines, wineries, vineyards)…its “acequias” or small ditches that irrigate the city’s many beautiful trees…its five main plazas…its fall “Vendimia” celebration and many music events…its location for outdoor sports–paragliding, mountain and road cycling, white water trips, wind surf and kite boarding, skiing, and mountaineering (the principal Aconcagua trailhead is about 3 hours away by car).

–You can eat VERY well here. Try the asado at most any established restaurant (Don Mario is our favorite), but also try the home-made pasta–the Italian influence is huge throughout Argentina. For dessert, stop by Soppelsa or Perin at the Emilio Civit and Belgrano intersection for an ice cream–I swear it’s the best anywhere.

–Education. The Universidad Nacional de Cuyo is located here as well as several other good post-secondary schools. Don’t let the less-than-ivy-league-look of the buildings fool you as their professors are often quite knowledgeable and well-traveled. Despite the rise and fall of the economy in Argentina, learning and education–especially at the university level–are valued and standards compare very well with just about any country in the world. (Maybe oral final exams is the key???!!!)

–Soccer. This year it is Godoy Cruz (“El Tomba”) who is struggling to hang in there with the big Buenos Aires teams like River Plate and Boca Juniors in the National “A” League. So, you can see some pretty high level foot and headwork on the field in the Gran Mendoza area if you are so inclined. Maybe steer clear of what we would call the end zone seats for your first time, though, as the fans there can be pretty, well…FAN-atical!

–Common tourist sites: the five main plazas, a vineyard and bodega bike or car tour, Cerro de la Gloria, the Zoo, a soccer game (Estadio Malvinas Argentinas), a symphony or folklore music concert, stroll the peatonal and dine out, jog or explore the very large Parque San Martín (with lake for rowing!), take a city tour from Plaza Independencia on one of the open-top buses, take longer tours up to Villavicencio, Cacheuta, Uspallata, Dique Potrerillos, Puente del Inca, Cristo Redentor (12,572′), or to the viewpoint of Aconcagua…

–The viento Zonda (foehn wind) phenomena is worth experiencing…once. This winter wind comes over the Andes from the west and as it drops down the eastern slope into Argentina it gathers speed and also warms up and dries out considerably. Sometimes the gradient between the cold air held down in the Mendoza valleys and the warm, dry Zonda air above can be quite sharp–a few hundred yards walking uphill can take you from one to the other (I have actually done that). The dust flies and folks complain of headaches and foul moods. Some people literally tape up the cracks in their doors and windows when this wind is forecast. Colorado sort of has these kinds of winds, but the temperature differential isn’t nearly as dramatic.

–For those wanting to climb something really high…22,837-foot Aconcagua is here, of course. You’ll need a permit, but chances are you are already going with a guided group that has taken care of the details. You might want to consider, though, a warm-up ascent of Cerro Plata, which is the big landmark mountain above Mendoza and measures just a few feet shy of 20,000′ (above image). If you are in good shape, 3-5 days is plenty for that one. Another picturesque summit that doesn’t get a lot of traffic (the approach can be complicated), is the sleeping volcano Tupungato, at 21,555′–you’ll notice its obvious cone right away once you see the Andes from the Mendoza side.

–Finally, be as careful as you would be in any other city. Travel in pairs, avoid the bad places (locals can help identify these locales if common sense isn’t working for you), keep physical possession of your wallet, camera, backpack, bicycle, etc. at all times when in public. Most crime is crime of opportunity, not the violent stuff we specialize in up in the 2nd Amendment States of America.

Views from our short-term apartment…