Secrets of the Andes

Day 1 Mendoza. D

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the selected hotel. In the afternoon, we go horseback riding through places of outstanding beauty.  After an hour and a half, we return to the base, where we enjoy a Creole dinner accompanied by Mendoza wine. At the end, we return to the city.

Day 2 Mendoza / San Rafael. B L D

Departure on Route 40 towards the south, passing through the wine regions of Tunuyan and San Carlos. On the way we stop for lunch at the Piedra infinita winery, awarded as one of the best in the world. We continue to San Rafael to stay in a hotel surrounded by vineyards with a winery at 800 meters above sea level.

Travelled distance: 250 km (155 miles)

Travel time: 5 hours

Day 3 San Rafael. B L D

Today we explore the Atuel Canyon, a true geological marvel millions of years old where the wind and waters of the Atuel River carved different figures. During the tour it is possible to observe areas where you can do activities such as mountain biking, condor watching, mountaineering, hiking, trekking, among others.

Travelled distance: 172 km (107 miles)

Travel time: 6 hours

Day 4 San Rafael / Malargue. B L

Taking Route 140 we join Route 40 to continue to El Sosneado and through a provincial route we reach the Sosneado Lagoon, located at 2100 meters above sea level. As we continue, we observe Cerro Sosneado, an extinct “volcano” from the Cenozoic Era and one of the highest peaks located in the Southern Hemisphere.

A few kms further on and at 2,176 m above sea level, we find the ruins of a Hotel, where we can appreciate the remains of the building and the thermal water pools. We return to Route 40 to continue to Malargue City located at the foothills of the mountain range.

Travelled distance: 305 km (190 miles)

Travel time : 7 hours

Day 5 Malargue. B L

Today we explore the Payunia Reserve, a vast volcanic region located at the foothills of the Mendoza mountain range, which geology makes it unique in the world.  La Payunia is an area that had an intense volcanic activity in remote times. Volcanoes, fragmented lava, black sand (of basaltic origin), fields of “bombs” (material in liquid or creamy state, ejected by the volcano and then hardened, with curious shapes), bushes and pastures give us the possibility to imagine how the land was in its beginnings.

During the tour, on board the 4×4, we will discover Malacara Volcano, Campo de Bombas Pyroclasticas, Pampas Negras, Horseshoe Volcano and El Morado Volcano where we will walk to its aportillado crater.

The Payunia area is not only relevant from a vulcanologist point of view but also for the conservation of the flora and fauna of the place. Due to its importance, it was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Travelled distance: 420 km (261 miles)

Travel time: 10/2 hours

Day 6 Malargue. B L

The adventure today takes us through two attractions of the area: the Malacara Volcano, which owes its name to a type of horse with a spot on its forehead, named this way by the country people, and the Llancanelo lagoon. We set off to explore the volcano in a different way than the day before. We arrive at its base and from there we start a 2-hours walk of moderate intensity, to the bowels of this natural wonder. The erosion and wear caused by the wind and water gave rise to passages, gullies (cavities produced by water in the form of rain) and chimneys that reach 30 metres in height. After a tour of two of its gullies, we go to a viewpoint from where we can see the Llancanelo lagoon, the impressive Andes Mountains, and the largest concentration of volcanoes in the world.

In the afternoon we visit the Llancanelo Lagoon, a Ramsar wetland, considered important due to its biological richness and because it serves as a refuge for a significant number of birds.  If the weather conditions allow it and the road is enabled, we visit the “Trapal Volcano”, and after a 60-minute ascension, we reach a place from where we will get an impressive panoramic view of the Reserve.

Travelled distance: 190 km (118 miles)

Travel time: 7 hours

Day 7 Malargue / Valle de Uco. B D

Taking Route 40 northwards, we reach the area of Valle de Uco, one of the most important wine producing areas of the province. The accommodation will be in a wine lodge in a luxury dome (glamping) where you can enjoy a stay with all the comfort, designed to relax while admiring the impressive surroundings and all within walking distance of the main lodge.

Travelled distance: 257 km (160 miles)

Travel time : 3/4 hours

Day 8 Uco Valley. B D

Day at disposal to enjoy the wine lodge, visiting the winery to taste an excellent variety of wines from the region, enjoying a glass at sunset with excellent views of the impressive Andes Mountains.

Day 9 Valle de Uco /Mendoza. B

Morning at disposal and at the appointed time, transfer to Mendoza airport.

Travelled distance: 110 km (68 miles)

Travel time : 2 hours