Holidays in Mendoza
Tours & Trips in Wine Country
RealWorld Holiday Guide to Mendoza
Mendoza lies in the foothills of the Andes, and in the heart of Argentina's wine country. With a Mediterranean climate of warm summer days and cool winter evenings, the surrounding area has proved perfect for wine cultivation and although Mendoza is one of the biggest cities in Argentina, the relaxed pace of life, based around the extensive parks, tree-lined boulevards and pavement cafes make it feel smaller and it's undeniably an extremely pleasant place to spend a few days.
As well as the city itself, Mendoza is also a great base for exploring some of Argentina's best vineyards, and the dramatic countryside with its huge red sandstone cliffs and giant cacti is just made for riding out on your own Wild West adventure...
Argentina Wine Holidays & Tours
Malbec and Mountains
- Length: 10 days
- From: £2550pp
- Highlights: Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Salta
This wine tour of Argentina takes in both the Malbec heartlands around Mendoza and the high-altitude vineyards of the Cafayate Valley near Salta ...
Book this trip nowVines and Volcanoes
- Length: 10 days
- From: £2650pp
- Highlights: Colchagua Valley, Atacama, Elqui Valley
Chile produces some of the world's best wines, and this tour of the country's best wine regions lets you find out all about them ...
Book this trip nowGaucho Grande
- Length: 16 days
- From: £3350pp
- Highlights: Salta, Lake District, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires
For a 2020/21 holiday to Argentina that has it all, try our Gaucho Grande itinerary for size and enjoy the best of Argentina ...
Book this trip now
Where to Stay in Mendoza
Most of Mendoza's better hotels are in the city centre, and it's almost certainly the best place to base yourself. Part of the charm of a trip to Mendoza is just enjoying wandering around the leafy avenues and pedestrianised streets, choosing which pavement cafe to sit in, or which restaurant to come back to later.
The other option which might appeal, however, is to stay in one of the several vineyards just outside of town in the wine-producing areas. There are some great options which give you the chance to really relax in more rural surroundings and literally drink in the tradition... You won't get the choice of facilities like restaurants out here, but many of the haciendas have their own gourmet cooks so you needn't miss out and if you're looking for some downtime after a longer tour of Argentina, then this can be the perfect place...
What to See and Do in Mendoza
Usually, the main reason that tourists visit Mendoza is to take a tour of the surrounding vineyards, but you can also visit one of the handful of wineries in the city itself. If you're pressed for time then this is better than nothing, but we'd really suggest you get out of town and into Wine Country 'proper'...
Wine Tours from Mendoza
Even if you're not a wine buff, taking a wine tour from Mendoza is a superb way to see the surrounding countryside. Many tours will also include a traditional Argentinian asado (grill/bbq) which is another good reason to do it! There's really nothing better than sitting out in the beautiful Argentinian countryside, with a nice glass of red while someone obligingly grills a nice Argentinian steak for your lunch.
As Argentina's biggest wine-producing area, there are more vineyards than you can shake a stick at, and although many people just prefer to have a day's wine experience, you could easily spend a week here in Mendoza, just visiting the leading wineries. Increasingly, Argentinian wine is moving away from the low and medium ends of the market and developing a real reputation for quality - a few days in Mendoza will give you the chance to see this process in action.
Adventure Holidays in Mendoza
If you need a day off from wine and beef, then you might like to try working some of it off with something a little more active. From June to September, Mendoza functions as one of Argentina's leading ski resort, but out of season you'll find superb whitewater rafting and trekking available just a short drive out of the city. Or, of course, you can just enjoy a stroll in Mendoza's extensive and lovely San Martin park...
And if you're experienced then you can also seize the chance to climb some of South America's highest mountains, including the mighty Aconcagua, which is just a short drive from Mendoza.
Flights To and From Mendoza
Several flights a day link Mendoza with Buenos Aires, and there are also regular flights to Salta, Cordoba and Bariloche.
At present the only international flights are the thrice-daily hop over the Andes to Santiago de Chile.
Road Links to Mendoza
Mendoza has excellent road links south into Patagonia and north up towards Salta, as well as the major Ruta 7 to Buenos Aires and excellent inter-city coaches run in all directions.
Ruta 7 also heads west over the Andes via the La Cumbre Pass into Chile and this spectacular journey, with views of Aconcagua is a great way to cross the border.
Transport Within Mendoza
Mendoza is quite a large city but the centre is fairly compact and hotels, restaurants and shops are all pleasingly walkable. Failing that, you can use the city's new tramway system, which runs north to south, linking the centre and the outlying suburbs of the Maipu valley, where several important vineyards are located.
Weather & Climate in Mendoza
Weather in Mendoza
No matter what time of year you visit Mendoza, you're pretty much guaranteed decent weather. Even in the depths of winter (June/July) it rarely drops down below about 5°C and this also tends to be the driest time of year.
As you move into summer you get a little more rain, but given that temperatures get up to around 30°C the odd shower can be no bad thing, and even then it doesn't rain a huge amount.
Tailor-made Tours of Wine Country
All our holidays in Argentina are 100% tailormade, so if you'd like to customise any of the itineraries you see above, or just start from scratch then get in touch and let us know - we'll be delighted to help you plan your perfect tour of Argentina's wine country.
Did you know?
Although most people think of Mendoza simply as the centre of Argentina's wine country, it's also at the centre of Argentina's adventure holiday sector. In winter, the area has some of Argentina's best ski resorts, and in summer you can enjoy some superb white-water rafting on the Rio Mendoza, trekking, canyoning, and horse-riding!
We're also using Mendoza as our base for viewing the Solar Eclipse in Argentina, which should be amazing...