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Perito Moreno Glacier (3,000 km south of Mendoza)
Viewed as one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patag
the Perito Moreno glacier (located 3,000 km south of Mendoza) was named
the explorer Francisco Moreno, a pioneer who
the region in the 19th century and played a maj
in defending the territory of Argentina in the consurrounding the international border dispute wit
Chile. Due to its size and accessibility, Perito M
is one of the major tourist drawcards to souther
Patagonia. It is less than two hours by bus from
El Calafate, and many tour companies run daily
A large visitor centre at the site features a walki
circuit which allows both faces, and the surface of the glacier to be seen. T
is also a restaurant at the site.
Parque General San Martin (Mendoza)
The Parque General San Martn is a park located in the city of Mendoza,
Argentina. The park has 34 sculptures decorating the paths and roads.
El Rosedal (rose garden) is a pedestrianized walk that was inaugurated in 19
Also to be found within the park is the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, a zoo
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, a monument that commemorates the crosof the Andes by Jos de San Martn and his army, and a large lake inaug
in 1906 which has The Regatas Club on its shore. Hang-gliding is one of
activities offered at this 865-acre park which houses a zoo and national s
museum and is replete with beautiful walkways.
The Las Brujas Witches Cave (370 km south of Mendoza)
About 72 kilometers from Malargue are galleries that penetrate the living for at least 259 meters. Its galleries and passages are interconnected anddazzle with their fantastic walls carved by water ltrations and stalactites stalagmites of various forms.
The Witches Cave is home to many peculiarspeleothems (such as stalactites and stalagmites), deepunderground water galleries, and large vaulted spaces
called Sala de la Virgen (Virgin Room) and Las Flores(The Flowers). It hosts a particular fauna adapted tolive without solar radiation (spiders and springtails).The galleries closest to the entrance are occasionalshelters for bats and mice.
About 6 km of the caves passages have beenexplored. The site is one of the major tourist attractions in southern Mendbut visitors are only granted access (with a guide and proper equipment)
rst 200 m of galleries.
The Pincheira Castles (370 km south of Mendoza)
About 21 kilometers west of Malargue is a splendid natural monument pro
by glacier erosion. It looks like a group of medieval castles, and that expl
its name. History and legend claim that it was used as a shelter by the Ch
outcast Jose Antonio Pincheira and his men, at the end of the XIXth centurPincheira stream runs on its base, with its transparent waters, and on the le
there are excellent camping grounds with little beaches, tables and asado
Arrow tips and Indian ceramic remains can be found in the area. Other ac
include organized walks, horse rides, shing, mountain biking, and more.
Iguazu Falls (2,000 km northeast of Mendoza)
Located in the Iguaz Department, in the north of the
province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia, these
waterfalls of the Iguazu River are located on the border
of the Brazilian state of Paran and the Argentine
province of Misiones. The waterfall system consists of
275 falls along 2.7 kilometers of the Iguazu River.
The Devils Throat, a U-shaped, 82-meter-high, 150-meter-wide
and 700-meter-long cataract, is the most impressive of all, and marks the bo
between Argentina and Brazil. Two thirds of the falls are within Argentine teIn addition, the fall area provides opportunities for water sports and rock cli
About Mendoza
Fast Facts:
Area: 148,827 square km
Population: 110,993 (Mendoza city)
Language: SpanishCurrency: Peso
Time: (+/- GMT) ART ( UTC -3)
Climate: Semi-arid
Mendoza is the capital city of
Mendoza Province in Argentina.
Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces
of Argentina, located in the western
central part of the country on the
eastern side of the Andes. Its the
seventh biggest province of Argentina
with 5.35% of the countrys total
surface. The population estimate for
2008 is 1.7 million habitants, which
makes it the
fth largest
populated
province of
the country,
or 4.35%
of the total
national
population.
Two of the main industries of the
Mendoza area are wine making (1.2
billion liters per year!) and olive oil production. Besides wine, other
important crops (mainly for the Argentine market) are apples, pears,
tomatoes, onions, plums, olives, cherries, peaches and quince.
Apiculture, with 30,000 beehives, is another growing activity favored by
Mendozas dry weather.
Mendozas climate is semi-arid with
annual rainfall averaging 223.2 mm. Average
temperature for January (summer) is 32C
(90F) during daytime, and 18.4C (65F) at
night. In addition, hail is a signicant, and not
uncommon, problem in the region.
Sightseeing
Puente del Inca (191 km west of Mendoza)
Puente del Inca, Spanish for the Incas Bridge,
is a natural arch that forms a bridge over the
Vacas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River.
It is located in Mendoza Province, Argentina near
Las Cuevas (191 km west of Mendoza).
Puente del Inca is also the name of the nearby hot springs. Scientists
speculate that interaction of extreme elements like ice and hot springs
was involved in the origin of the formation. They suppose that in ancient
times ice covered the river and acted as support for avalanches of
snow, dust and rocks. So the dust over the ice over the river would have
served as a path for the sulfurous water and petried the surface.
Essentially, when the snow melted, the bridge remained by itself.
Charles Darwin was one of the visitors to this natural marvel, and madesome drawings of the bridge with great stalactites.
Things To Do In and Around Mendoza
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Food & WineAmpora Wine Tours (Mendoza)
Ampora Wine Tours goes out to show you the hidden
gems of the Mendoza Wine Country every day, 7 days
a week, in tours of small groups with a maximum of
only 8 people. Private wine tours are also available.
Andeluna Cellars (Mendoza)
Andeluna Cellars is a winery and vineyard rich with
history and romance. This place was chosen to
symbolize the romance and heritage of the Argentine
moon illuminating the magnicent Andes Mountains
that frame the Uco Valley near the town of Tupungato.Tastings and tours are available by appointment only.
Museums & Attractions
Molina Pico Museum (Mendoza)
Since the XVIIIth century, Guaymallen, a provincial subdivision of the
Mendoza Province, was the place elected by Mendoza landowners to
build their main family houses. This house was built in year 1785 and
was destroyed by the 1861 earthquake. It belonged to the Molina Pico
family and is made of adobe bricks with a mud and reeds roof.
It has galleries, big-sized rooms, yards and gardens. General San Martin
stayed there and it is now a museum. Guided tours are carried out
Monday to Friday.
The Casa Fader Museum (Mendoza)
The Casa de Fader is recognized by locals as being Mendozas
most important museum. This Museum is situated in the old house of
Emiliano Guiaz, who acquired it in 1889. This house was the center
of numerous Mendocinean aristocratic events between the XIX and XX
centuries. Guiaz solicited his daughters husband, Fernando Fader,
to paint the interior of the home. And he did: his original murals still
cover the walls observe some of them as you stand inside the home
(now empty) indoor swimming pool! Some rooms document Faders life
through photography, letters, and poems, while others pay tribute to
Mendozas history as well as its present. Still others exhibit National and
International artwork. Sculpture galleries line the north and east wings
of the home. Make sure to tour both museos de esculturas al aire
libre, the outdoor sculpture gardens that encircle.
The Zoological Garden (Buenos Aires)
On a 124 acre site, on the forested slopes of the Cerro de La Gloria
Hill, you nd one of the best zoos in South America. The traveler has
the possibility of choosing a short or long tour, which include a winding
course through humid and shady spots, accompanied by eucalyptus,
elm and aguaribaye trees. There are over 700 animals in a total of 110
enclosures, each one faithfully reproducing their natural habitat.
Acuario Municipal de Mendoza (Mendoza)
This municipally managed aquarium was the rst aquarium in the
country, and houses sh, amphibians, reptiles, snails and a collection o
fossils and semiprecious rocks.
This important institution lodges animals from various environments in
the world, such as coral reefs, tropical seas, lime reefs at Lake Malawi
in Africa, tropical zones in Asia and, basically, South American sh from
the Amazon and the Paran basins.
The modern facilities display 1,700 specimens in various ponds and
tanks that recreate the natural environment of each being. There are
approximately 50 ponds that show aquatic wildlife, a total volume of
65,000 liters.
The great attraction of the aquarium is its unique guest in Argentina,
which usually dwells in the pelagic tropical and subtropical waters of th
oceans, a large turtle called Jorge. This remarkable specimen belongs
to the species known as Caretta Caretta and at present, it spends its
days in a huge pond containing 20,000 liters of seawater.
Other Must-Sees/DosAttend The Annual GrapeHarvest Festival EventsMore than 70 years after its rst edition,
Harvest gathers every year more than
250,000 spectators in its various activities
like the blessing of the grapes and the parading of festival queen
hopefuls. One of the most popular holidays of Argentina grape harvest
festivals take place in all the provinces during the months of January and
February, to nally come to an end with the greatest festival taking placein March in Mendoza.
When/Where:January - March 8th in Mendoza (grand nale)
Attend the National Folklore Festival of CosqunRunning since 1961, there are displays of traditional Argentine culture,
street theater, and top Argentine tango.
When/Where: January 20th - 31st in Cosquin
(700 km northeast of Mendoza)
Attend The Dakar Rally in Buenos AiresRunning since 1977, The Dakar Rally pits over 400 drivers against each
other in a gruelling long-distance race covering a 9000 km loop between
Buenos Aires, Argentina and Antofagasta, Chile. Competitors from around
the world drive a mixture of buggies, 4x4 vehicles, motorbikes and quad-bikes.
When/Where: January 1st - 17th in Buenos Aires
(1,000 km east of Mendoza)Visit the San Telmo MarketSan Telmos caf-lined Plaza Dorrego bursts with stalls offering all
manner of antiques, trinkets and tango memorabilia at the Sunday San
Telmo Market. Find elegant gramophones, blue glass soda siphons from
Buenos Aires old cafs and more.
When/Where: Every Sunday in Buenos Aires from 10 am - 6 pm
(1,000 km east of Mendoza)
Attend the National Street Art FestivalArt will seize the streets for three running nights: magicians, musicians,
jugglers and independent theater companies, among others, invite you to
take part in this artistic event.
When/Where: January 2nd - 4th in Mina Clavero, Crdoba
(450 km northeast of Mendoza)
Attend the National Festival of the Billy Goat andProvincial Festival of the LambThere will be dance festivals, music shows and roasted lamb and billy
goat gastronomic delights, thus rendering this festival into an irresistible
meeting point during the summer break.
When/Where: January 13th - 18th in Malarge, Mendoza
(350 km south of Mendoza)
Attend the Lincoln 2010 CarnivalsCarnival fest with Chaqueo Palavecino, Marcela Morelo, Los Nocheros,
Jorge Rojas, Len Gieco, Somos Tango, Los Cafres, Los Reyes concerts.
When/Where: January 16th - 31st in Lincoln, Buenos Aires
(1,000 km east of Mendoza)
Helpful Tools:
http://www.en.argentina.ar/
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=events.location&loc_id=131000&cat_id=5926&sort=DATE
http://www.wine-republic.com/mendoza/museums/99-mendozas-museu
http://www.welcomeargentina.com/mendoza/index_i.html
http://www.mendoza.com.ar/
http://realtravel.com/da-16166-mendoza_attractions
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/mendoza/tp/
whattodoMendoza.htm