Mendoza Itinerary: How Many Days Do You Need In Mendoza?
Nestled against the Andes Mountains and home to the best Malbec in the world, Mendoza is one amazing place to visit in Argentina. Whether you have 3 days in Mendoza or 5, our below Mendoza itinerary will cover some of the best things to do in the city center and the region.
If you want a relaxed weekend eating great food, tasting wines, or having a spa day, Mendoza has it.
Oh, and you adventure junkies? How does whitewater rafting or hiking to the base camp of the tallest mountain outside of Asia sound? Mendoza has that, too!
So whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway with your partner, a family-filled weekend, or a vacation with friends, Mendoza has something for every occasion!
Ok, so let’s get to it, shall we?!
The Ultimate Mendoza Itinerary
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How To Get To Mendoza
Before we dive into this Mendoza itinerary, we want to level set a few things with you, geographically speaking, about Mendoza beforehand.
- Mendoza is a city (Mendoza Centro)
- But it’s also a region (Province of Mendoza)
- Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, two wine regions in Mendoza, are outside the city. Luján de Cuyo is the closest to Mendoza (20 – 30 minutes), whereas Uco Valley is one hour south of the Mendoza City Center.
We don’t want you to think when you arrive in Mendoza City, you’ll be standing in front of vineyards, because that’s not the case. You’ll need to drive to reach the world-renowned vineyards that call Mendoza home.
OK, so how do you get to Mendoza? Well, you have a few options depending on where you are coming from.
Have more time in Argentina? Check out our 2-week itinerary!
Flying: Where Do You Fly Into For Mendoza?
For those looking to fly, Aerolineas Argentinas is the airline we took from Buenos Aires to Mendoza. Aerolineas Argentinas offers direct flights from around Argentina to Mendoza.
You’ll want to fly into Aeropuerto Internacional El Plumerillo (MDZ) airport for Mendoza. Once at the airport, you can pick up a rental car or order an Uber into Mendoza Centro.
Bus Travel To Mendzoa
Bus travel in Argentina is a well-oiled machine.
With many routes to choose from, hop on over to Busbud, where you can reserve bus tickets online and see what times/routes are available to Mendoza from the city you are departing from.
Do you want to visit Argentina’s other wine region? Get our travel guide to Cafayate!
Driving from Santiago, Chile To Mendoza
For those just over the Andes border to the West in Santigao, Chile, you can drive from Santigao right into Mendoza or vice versa via the Los Libertadores pass.
Now, this will take a little pre-work and planning on your end (i.e., is the border open, when does it close, paperwork, etc.), but the trip is stunning!
While we did not do this route, we drove part of it, and the part of it we did see was amazing! Definitely do your homework if you’re looking to road trip between Santiago and Mendoza.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Mendoza
Like the rest of Argentina, Mendoza can be visited year-round.
However, three seasons really shine, and we really do mean shine. Mendoza is famous for having 300 days of sunshine, with the best times to visit Mendoza being:
- Summer (December – February)
- Autumn (March – May),
- Spring (September – November)
Now, if you plan to visit during the Winter (June – August), do so! The wineries in Uco Valley will be quieter and more intimate during your visit and tastings.
Don’t miss these 15 things to know before visiting Argentina!
How Many Days Do You Need For Mendoza?
If you just want to enjoy a few wineries and do a wine tasting or two, at a minimum, you need 3 days, including your transit time.
It would look something like this:
- Day 1: Arrive (fly-in) and make your way to Uco Valley
- Day 2: Winery Day in Uco Valley
- Day 3: Drive back to Mendoza and fly out
ATL OPTION: An alternative option to Day 1 is to skip driving to Uco Valley after you arrive and, instead, stay the night in Mendoza Centro. If you are in Mendoza Centro, car services/tours will pick you up and take you to Uco Valley and then back to Mendoza Centro that evening.
However, if you are really wanting to experience Mendoza, we recommend a FULL 3 to 5 days. This means you’ll arrive before the start of your first day and depart the day after your last day.
For this Mendoza itinerary, we’re showing you how to spend 3 full days in Mendoza, along with some additional things to do in case you have more time to spend here.
Having 3 to 5 days in Mendoza will allow you time to explore Mendoza Centro, take a scenic road trip, book a horseback riding or whitewater rafting excursion, have a spa day, and of course, drink its famous Malbec wine.
Heading to Buenos Aires? Get our 3-day itinerary to Argentina’s capital city! What about Iguazu Falls? Get everything you need to plan your visit!
How Do You Get Around Mendoza? Do You Need A Car?
This is a “yes” and “no” type of answer, as it REALLY depends on you.
The short answer is no, you do not need a rental car for this Mendoza itinerary.
You can book tours/car services to a lot, if not all, of the places there are to do in this 3-day Mendoza itinerary and then some!
For instance, you can book a car service to take you from Mendoza Centro to Uco Valley and back.
The same goes for any tours you wish to partake in. The tour company will pick you up from Mendoza Centro if you want to go horseback riding, whitewater rafting, hiking, etc.
So again, a rental car is not required.
That all said, we rented a car and loved it! We did not want to be on any schedule and wanted to come and go and we pleased, stopping when we wanted to. So, it really just depends on the type of traveler you are and the comfort level you have driving internationally.
About This Mendoza Itinerary (+ Map!)
The below 3-day Mendoza itinerary assumes you have 3 FULL DAYS in Mendoza.
This means you will arrive the day before day 1 (day 0) and plan to depart the day after day 3 (day 4).
Alternatively, this itinerary also works if you arrive in Mendoza early on Day 1 – before 12 PM. If you arrive later, you’ll just need to alter day 1, pending when you arrive and get settled into your accommodation in Mendoza.
Day 1: Explore Mendoza Centro
The city of Mendoza has tree-lined streets, cozy cafes, bustling nightlife, parks, and Michelin-star restaurants.
It’s a city significantly smaller than Buenos Aires, but nonetheless, a city, making it a perfect place to spend a day before heading south to Uco Valley.
There are wonderful things to do in Mendoza Centro, and one day is enough here.
Morning/Afternoon: Breakfast & Walking The City Center
Start your first day of your 3-day Mendoza itinerary off right with a delicious breakfast and, if you’re like us, a coffee. No day can start unless we have some coffee 🙂
Depending on where you are staying in Mendoza, Paloma Bakery House, Bröd Ciudad, and Unión 777 CafeterÃa Comedor are all wonderful options for breakfast.
After breakfast, wander around the city and see its popular sights like Parque General San MartÃn, Plaza España, and Cerro de la Gloria. Additionally, stroll down Paseo Peatonal Sarmiento, a pedestrian walking street full of shops and cafes leading directly to Plaza Independencia.
Alternatively, you can opt to take a walking tour to get to know the city and its history! There are a handful of free tours operated by GuruWalk, so depending on what you want to see, one of their free tours may be perfect!
Evening/Night: Food Tour and ArÃstides Villanueva
For dinner, one of our favorite things we did during our time in Mendoza was take a food tour of some of Mendoza’s best restaurants! You’ll be whisked around and wined and dined by a local guide! We loved it.
Finally, end your night on the four-block stretch of ArÃstides Villanueva, where plenty of bars can be found! This is the liveliest street in all of Mendoza, and if you’re looking for nightlife, you’ll find it on ArÃstides Villanueva.
Day 2: Enjoy Mendoza Wineries in Uco Valley
Day 2 of your Mendoza itinerary is meant for wine tasting and visiting vineyards!
For today, you can safely assume you’ll have enough time to visit two wineries (Bodegas, as they’re called) on your own. However, if you’re on a multi-winery tour, you can visit more!
From Mendoza Centro, the drive to Uco Valley is around 1 hour south, and you have two ways to visit.
- You can book tours directly from Mendoza City to Bodegas, like Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodega DiamAndes, and other wineries in the area.
- Opt to rent a car and drive yourself to Uco Valley, and it’s amazing Bodega’s
PRO TIP: Wineries require reservations for wine tasting and lunches. Making reservations as soon as possible is an absolute must as they sell out quickly, especially at popular wineries (Bodega’s).
We wished we could have gotten a reservation at Bodega Catena Zapata as it’s one of Jesse’s favorite Malbecs, but we were too late to make our reservations. So, if there is a winery you wish to visit, don’t make our mistake and make your reservation as soon as you’re able!
Bodega Andeluna, Bodega DiamAndes, & Bodega Tierras Altas
We visited Bodega Andeluna and Bodega DiamAndes. At Andeluna, we did a formal wine tasting and tour at 11 AM. At DiamAndes, we had a several-course lunch and wine pairing in the afternoon, which was also wonderful.
PRO TIP: You can also stay at Andeluna in their vineyards, which is pretty amazing!
We enjoyed the wine at Andeluna over DiamAndes, but the view at DiamAndes is unbeatable! It’s an utterly spectacular view of mountains and vast vineyards. The view is worth the visit in itself!
If you are heading back to Mendoza this evening, you can stop at Bodega Tierras Altas, which is located about 20 minutes south of the city.
Located in Luján de Cuyo, another wine-producing region of Mendoza, Bodega Tierras Altas stays open till 11 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, staying open much later than wineries in Uco Valley.
PRO TIP: We suggest staying the night in (or near) Tupungato, a town in the Uco Valley. Staying in Tupungato, especially if you plan to do the scenic drive we discuss next, is the best place to start the route.
Day 3: Roadtrip to Potrerillos Via Scenic Drive Ruta Provincial 89
Outside of Tupungato lies Ruta Provincial 89, one of the most scenic drives in Argentina. To drive Ruta 89, a rental car is needed.
PRO TIP: We rented a truck, and it was the perfect vehicle to drive Ruta Provincial 89 as it is fairly bumpy. While a truck is not required, and probably a little overkill, do what you can to get a vehicle with a little “oompf” to it, as it will help with the bumpy ride.
For those NOT wanting to rent a car, no worries!
While you may not be able to drive Ruta 89, you can drive another scenic route via an escorted tour to Aconcagua Park. While this tour doesn’t take you along Ruta 89, it does take you along Ruta 7, which is the optional Day 3 add we discuss below!
About Mendoza’s Ruta Provincial 89
For those renting a car and driving Ruta 89, the route starts just outside of the small Uco Valley town of Tupungato, weaving on a partially gravel/partially paved road through the mountains until it reaches the town of Potrerillos.
The route is stunning, passing by scenic viewpoints like Mirador del Valle de Las Vegas and weaving you through small towns. A bumpy ride but a stunning ride!
Along the route, if you’re looking for a place for lunch, you can stop at Estancia Atamisque, which has outdoor seating against the backdrop of the Andes, wine, and tasty steaks and desserts.
Once you arrive at Potrerillos, you can continue on into the mountains (see optional stops below!) or enjoy the town and its beautiful lake. If you stay in town, do as the locals do: grab a towel, have a few Qilmes (local beer) by the lake, and enjoy the day!
NOTE: From Potrerillos, the drive back to Mendoza Centro is around 1 hour. Since you are flying out or catching a bus the next day, we recommend returning to Mendoza Centro from Potrerillos. If your departure time isn’t till later in the day, you’re, of course, welcome to stay the night in Potrerillos!
Day 3 (OPTIONAL): Mt. Aconcagua Park, Inca Bridge, Christ the Redeemer via Ruta 7
Ok, so this Day 3 option for your Mendoza itinerary is an extension of the above route or THE scenic drive route for those who do not wish to rent a car.
- For Those Renting A Car and Driving Ruta 89: Instead of spending the rest of your day in Potrerillos (via the above), carry onto Mt. Aconcagua Park, Inca Bridge, and Christ the Redeemer along Ruta 7.
- For Those Who Still Want To Do A Scenic Drive But Don’t Want To Rent A Car: An escorted tour to Aconcagua Park from Mendoza Centro will take visitors to Potrerillos, Mt. Aconcagua Park, and Inca Bridge along scenic Ruta 7.
About Mendoza’s Ruta Nacional 7
Once you reach Potrerillos, Ruta 7 is the road that takes visitors over the Andes to Santiago, Chile. However, we’re not going to Santiago, Chile … this time 🙂
Driving along Ruta 7 gets you higher into the Andes, where the views seemingly get better around every turn. Along the way, the points of interest are Mt. Aconcagua Park, Inca Bridge, and Christ the Redeemer.
- Mt. Aconcagua Park: Home to the tallest mountain outside of Asia, Aconcagua. Visit the park to see the giant mountain and if you have the time, opt to get a hike in (see more on that below!).
- Inca Bridge (Puente del Inca): Having nothing to do with the Incas (sigh), the Inca Bridge Is a natural arch that forms a bridge over the Las Cuevas River.
- Christ The Redeemer of The Andes: Standing at 12,572 ft / 3,832 meters above sea level, Christ The Redeemer of The Andes is a monument on the border between Argentina and Chile, celebrating peace between the two countries.
For planning purposes, Christ The Redeemer of The Andes is about a 3.5 – 4 hour drive away from Mendoza, and a 2.5 – 3 hours drive from Potrerillos.
So, adding these stops on Ruta 7 definitely makes for a full day of driving.
End your day with dinner in either Mendoza Centro or Potrerillos, wherever you choose to stay for the last night. We had a great meal in Mendoza at Anna Bistró, and for Potrerillos, La Sandia is highly rated.
If mountains are your thing, you can’t miss Argentina’s Rainbow Mountain in Jujuy Province!
Have More Than 3 Days In Mendoza?
If you have more than 3 days in Mendoza, there are some other great things to do around the city and in the region.
Sure, you can certainly enjoy another day getting lunch at a winery and do another wine tasting, but for those who love the outdoors, Mendoza is amazing!
You’re in the Andes Mountains, after all!
Book A Whitewater Rafting Trip
Spend a half-day whitewater rafting down the Mendoza River!
From fast drops to scenic views of the towering nearby mountains, you’ll have a fun day navigating intermediate-level rapids, which are perfect for anyone who has never experienced whitewater rafting!
Go Horseback Riding At Sunset
Are you looking to enjoy the scenic views surrounding Mendoza but don’t want to exert yourself too much? What better way to accomplish both than by the back of a horse?
Riders will saddle up for a 3-hour horseback ride where you’ll traverse over hills and plains and get up to 6,500+ feet in elevation, which offers wonderful views of the surrounding landscape and mountains.
After your ride, you’ll enjoy a meal that is, of course, served with wine. What better way to end your day after horseback riding, are we right?!
Hike to Mount Aconcagua Base Camp
For those hikers out there, how does hiking to the base camp of the highest peak outside of Asia sound? Standing tall and mighty at more than 6,706 meters (22,000 feet) high, Mount Aconcagua is massive!
While you won’t be summiting the peak, hiking to base camp is still a wonderful way to see Mount Aconcagua up close. The hike is 9 miles (round trip) to Confluencia, the first Aconcagua base camp.
The hike is rated as moderate, taking anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to complete, with an elevation gain of around 2,000 ft.
The trailhead is found off the scenic Route 7 (an extension of Route 89 discussed above), about 9 – 10 miles away from the Chilean/Argentinian border.
It’s a great hike, and how cool is it to say you hiked to the base camp of the tallest mountain outside of Asia?!?
Take A Cooking Class
For all you foodies out there, a cooking class is a wonderful way to eat the local cuisine and learn about it, too! Spend the day learning how to cook authentic Mendoza barbecue.
You’ll learn all about Argentine cuisine’s traditional flavors and techniques as you sizzle up different cuts of meat. Oh, and no Argentina cooking class is complete without empanadas, which you’ll also learn how to cook, as well as its traditional chimichurri sauce.
Relax in Cacheuta Hot Springs
Now, if you want a TOTAL chill day just to relax, how does a spa day at a Hot Spring sound? Pretty good, eh?
Your day’s hardest decision is choosing which natural thermal spa to use first: indoor, outdoor, or mud bath. Afterward, you can recline in a lounge chair and enjoy a delicious lunch.
If you want to treat yourself and relax, Cacheuta Hot Springs is it!
Go Paragliding Over Mendoza
Last but certainly not least is paragliding! Fly over the valleys and hills of Mendoza as you take in the vast views from above.
We paraglided when we were in Colombia and loved it! It’s a unique and frankly unforgettable experience! If you haven’t tried paragliding, check it out while in Mendoza!
Want More Information on Argentina?!
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls
How To Visit Argentina’s Rainbow Mountain
How To Spend 3 Days in Buenos Aires
13 Things Not To Miss in Cafayate
The Best Things To Do At Iguazu Falls
16 Things To Do In Humahuaca (Jujuy), Argentina
An Epic 2 Week Argentina Itinerary
15 Things To Know Before Visiting Argentina
Your Guide to Driving Scenic Quebrada De Las Conchas
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For more travel tips, guides, and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site and follow us on Instagram @wanderingstus, Pinterest, and Facebook. Oh, if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, leave us a positive note!
Happy Travels,
– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)