Planning Your Time

For wine lovers, Mendoza [1] alone merits at least a week; even those with only a passing interest in the vine should spend a few days, ideally during the March Vendimia (harvest festival, when reservations are almost obligatory).

The upper Río Mendoza valley [2], en route to Chile, is close enough for recreational activities like white-water rafting and even winter skiing, though there are also accommodations at the slopes of Los Penitentes [3]. Wine aficionados can extend their stay to Uco vineyards [4] and San Rafael wineries [5], to the south.

Whether hiking or climbing, Aconcagua [6] is a trip in its own right. A three-day hike is possible, but the trek to and from base camp is a 10-day commitment, and climbers should budget three weeks for a summit assault—whether successful or not.

Visiting the desert parks of San Juan [7] and San Luis [8], plus La Rioja’s Talampaya [9], would ideally require a week because of the distances between them, even given only a day at each unit (plus a recommended detour to the Difunta Correa shrine [10]). It’s best to avoid these areas in summer’s heat, when rare storms can cause flash floods.

Córdoba [11]’s urban attractions are independent of the seasons, and its Sierras [12] are popular throughout the year (but crowded in summer). Many visitors cross back and forth between Córdoba and the Sierras of San Luis.