High Mountain through Potrerillos.
Days: Everyday.
Time: 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
High Mountain through Villavicencio.
Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Time: 7.30a.m to 7.30p.m.
The beauty of the Andes has its maximum expression in Mendoza. Very important places, from the historic
point of view and the landscape, make this tour into unforgettable experience.
During the tour you can appreciate the Potrerilos Reservoir and Cacheuta Valley.
At 100km (62,14 miles) from the city one comes to the Uspallata Valley, scene of the Huarpes indigenous
settlement in the pre-Hispanic period and a valley that makes it possible to differentiate the end of
the Pre-Mountain range or Foothills and the beginning of the Frontal Mountain Range.
Near here we find 'Las Bóvedas' ('the Vaults'), historic adobe constructions very well preserved, where
Brother Luis Beltrán, chaplain of the Army of the Andes under the leadership of General José de San
Martín, forged the canyons and weapons with which he would free Chile.
The journey continues as we visit Picheuta, Polvaredas and Punta de Vacas Villages, from where we access
the famous village 'Los Penitentes', where we find one of the ski resorts in
Mendoza. It works from June
to August and it is a good scene for adventure tourism the rest of the year. There are chairlifts that
make it possible to appreciate a privileged panoramic view of the area.
Further on, in Puente del Inca ('The Inca's Bridge') at 2,720 meters (8,924 feet) above sea level, the
Cuevas River has bored through the mountain forming a natural bridge where on its bank, hot springs
appear on the surface. Near the area, we find the 'Cementerio de los Andinistas' (Cemetery of the
Mountaineer). Very close from the border, a magnificent natural viewpoint let us appreciate the
splendour of Mount Aconcagua. An unpaved road that starts from the International Route makes it possible
to drive a few kilometres into the beautiful Horcones lagoon and the Aconcagua Provincial Park
Continuing on the International Route we can see the customs office in Horcones and some kilometres
ahead, already in the border with Chile, we see Las Cuevas village, built in a European style, at 3,200
meters (10,498 feet) above sea level.
Between Las Cuevas and the international tunnel that takes us to Chile, there is a road that, if the
weather conditions are favourable, takes us to the Monument 'Cristo Redentor' (The Redeemer Christ),
located at a height of 4,200 meters ( 13,780 feet), which symbolizes the brotherhood between
Argentinians and Chileans. We take the same route to go back to the city.
The tour ends as we go back to Mendoza.