Mendoza

Introduction

Wine Bottles

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Mendoza is a city in the western region of Cuyo in Argentina. It's the capital of the province of Mendoza and the urban area has close to 1 million inhabitants (the city itself is much smaller though). Mendoza forms the centre of the Argentinian wine industry and closeby is the highest peak of the western hemisphere: the Aconcagua.

Sights and Activities

• Wineries (bodegas)
• Nearby Aconcagua
• Parque San Martin
• Plaza Independencia
• Plaza Espana
• Trekking, horseback riding and whitewater rafting in the region
• Skiing in winter

Events and Festivals

• Vendimia Festival - This annual festival, held every March, celebrates the grape harvest. Mendoza is the premiere region for wine making, so this event is pretty spectacular. It is the largest festival of the year in Mendoza, and it includes parades, decorations, music, large stage productions, food, and of course, wine. Most popularly known, is the event's beauty pageant. Beautiful girls from the region enter this competition, they are voted upon, and in the end, one victor is crowned with the coveted title of "National Grape Harvest Queen".
• Festival Nacional de la Tornada - A festival celebrating Argentinian culture and folk music. This important event draws large crowds and many performers from all over the region. Visitors can expect to see talented musical acts on a big stage with lots of lights and visual effects. Every year's program varies slightly, but the event is always sure to satisfy those who enjoy the sound of passionate musicians. This event occurs every year in February.
• Mendoza Flamenca Festival - This annual event includes dynamic dance performances from some of the most talented flamenco dancers in the region. Visitors can expect to see incredible performances of this traditional dance, and some dance classes will be offered for those who want to learn. Performers are always dressed in beautiful dresses with flowing skirts and heels that help keep the beat as they dance. This event is held annually in May.
• Mendoza Marathon - This annual festival draws thousands of running enthusiasts each year. For those visiting Mendoza for it's beautiful wine country, and you're looking for a way to burn off the extra calories you consumed, this race may be for you! Runs of varying lengths are offered, and runners will pass by many of Mendoza's best city offerings while on the route.
• Winery Events - If you're not traveling to Mendoza during March, but you want to enjoy the festivities of this incredible wine-making city, there is almost always something going on. Just check the local winery listings on the link for upcoming wine events in the area.

Weather

Mendoze has a fantastic climate. Summers last from November to March when average daytime temperatures are around 30 °C though it can be much hotter during some days. Nights are still pleasantly warm around this time, mostly between 15 °C and 20 °C. Winters last from June to September when it's usually around 16 °C to 18 °C but nights are just a few degrees above zero during the coldest months of June and July. Occasional frost and snow are not unheard of. Most of the precipitation though comes in the form of some heavy rainshowers during the summer months. Still, in total there is only between 200 and 250mm of precipitation a year, which basically means that it is located in a desert region.

Getting There

By Plane

The international airport near Mendoza offers regular flights to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile, Cordoba and Neuquen.

By Bus

Mendoza has good bus connections with many destinations throughout Argentina as well as international connections.
Within the region, buses regularly go to Uspallata and Los Penitentes, the base for climbing the Aconcagua. At least daily connections exist with cities throughout the country, including Buenos Aires (around 15 hours), Córdoba (10 hours), Tucuman (14 hours), Puerto Iguazu (36 hours), Rio Gallegos (42 hours), and many more.
International destinations include Santiago de Chile (7 hours, across the Andes), Vina del Mar (7 hours) Valparaiso (8 hours) and even on to Lima (at least 60 hours!) and Montevideo (22 hours), with onward connections to Punta del Este (Uruguay) and several Brazilian cities.

Getting Around

By Public Transport

Buses and even trollyes ply most routes in the city and are cheap and easy (after a while) to get around.

By Foot

You can walk most of Mendoza's centre without problems, but for a visit to the vineyards, you will need other transport.

By Bike

You can hire bicycles in town for around Ar$30 - Ar$40 per day, which is a good way to visit the outlying areas including the vineyards.

Sleep

Budget

Learn

As with many cities in Argentina, there is a variety of Spanish courses and private lessons are available. There are two extablished language schools in Mendoza: Intercultural is the biggest, has a range of afternoon activities, and is slightly more expensive, Greenfields (previously COINED) is smaller and feels less well organised, but many of the teachers work at both schools. Another option for individual or very small tailor-made group lessons: Spanish in Mendoza Argentina (SIMA).

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Correos de Argentina is the national postal service of Argentina. There are also two private carriers operating nationwide (OCA and Andreani) and a number of regional ones though Correos de Argentina will be the one most likely to be used by travellers. Post offices are mostly open between 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday, though there are regional variantions with longer hours in central post offices in big cities and shorter ones in small towns. Services are pretty reliable but slow, mostly taking about two weeks to deliver a postcard or letter to the USA or Europe, but usually within a few days sending it domestically. There is also a more expensive express options. You can track a package online at the Correos de Argentino website. Parcels take at least 3-5 days domestically and weeks internationally. Otherwise try international ones like FedEx or UPS to send parcels both more reliable as well as faster.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Tourism Website