CUYO REGION Cuyo means “desert country� in the native language. Its cities and towns give you the chance to experience their culture, traditions, excellent food and famous wines. Wonderful natural sites, amazing wildlife, stunning climate, and loads of activities are all part of the menu, but wait till you see the wine list!
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MENDOZA MENDOZA Mendoza is an oasis city filled with tree lined avenues and beautiful plazas. It is surrounded by the vast patchwork vineyards and the Andes mountain range nestled in the background. In the main square, Plaza Independencia, you can visit the small artisan market, while on the west side of the city is the huge San Martin Park and Cerro* de la Gloria, which are worth exploring. For nightlife, make sure to stop by the fantastic bar and restaurant lined street called Arístides Villanueva. The biggest event in Mendoza is “La Fiesta de la Vendimia”, an annual wine harvest festival which runs at the beginning of March. It usually consists of beauty pageants, a series of parades and events. Wine country: Wine is unarguably one of the area’s main attractions. Most of the wineries are prepared to receive visitors. Guided tours usually cover the history of the winery itself, their winemaking process and finish off with a wine tasting session. Most of the wineries are located outside the city centre, so you need to arrange transport or take a local bus. Mendoza also offers excellent conditions for winter sports. Los Penitentes is 165 km from Mendoza on the way to the Chilean border and is more economical than the world-class resort, Las Leñas, 450 km to the south of Mendoza. The main excursions are the High Mountain Circuit, an ideal way to appreciate the Andes dramatic scenery. On this tour you visit Uspallata, Penitentes, the stone bridge of Puente del Inca, the Cristo Redentor and the Aconcagua Park. Other popular tours are Villavicencio and its traditional hotel and Cacheuta with its thermal baths. The perfect way to enjoy the area’s natural beauty is by participating in outdoor activities such as: trekking, climbing, mountain biking, rock climbing, rappelling, white water rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, paragliding, skiing and snowboarding. Aconcagua: with an astonishing height of 6,959 m, Aconcagua, “stone sentinel” in the native language, is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. The park is open from October to May and is an increasingly popular destination with mountain climbers and trekkers. 51
MENDOZA ARGENTINA RAFTING EXPEDICIONES
Amigorena 86 (0261) 4296325 With more than 15 years of experience, info@argentinarafting.com Argentina Rafting offers you great www.argentinarafting.com outdoor adventures in Mendoza: rafting, canopy, trekking, rappelling, mountain biking, kayaking, horse-back riding excursions and so much more. Their base camp, located in a beautiful site overlooking Potrerillos Lake, is open year round and personally attended by the owners. Professional bilingual staff, delicious food, top-notch equipment, quality and memorable experiences are synonyms of Argentina Rafting. Ask about multiple day excursions. Remember to bring a change 10% off of clothes! with Argentina Rafting Expediciones Argentina Rafting
Get South
Nº Leg.:12592
More than an adventure…
ARGENTINA SKYDIVING
(0261) 156299717
Radio Nextel: 686*2314/0261-5273675 Break out of your travel shell skypohle@hotmail.com and fly through the skies with argentinaskydiving@live.com.ar Argentina Skydiving. In Mendoza, argentinaskydiving@live.com.ar 95% of days per year have excellent weather conditions for jumping, making it a skydiver’s utopia! You’ll board the plane after a full safety brief and equipment fitting. Then you will tandem jump with an experienced instructor at 2800 meters into a 25 to 30 second free fall at 200 km/h, followed by an 8 minute parachute flight floating toward the earth. Roundtrip transportation and a DVD of your jump, filmed with three different cameras, are included in the cost. The staff speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese, but screaming “Wahoooo!” needs no translation.
Taste wine at 1500 meters in a unique skydive experience and get 25% off with Get South!
Physical fitness and a good attitude required!
Visit the ATM before hand. Payments are in cash only! 52
MENDOZA BIKES AND WINES Do you want to see the beautiful Mendoza scenery while wine tasting at some of the finest wineries in the country? Then you should contact Bikes and Wines.
Urquiza 1606 - Maipú Downtown - Chacras de Coria (0261) 152018915 Nextel: 54*589*1790 info@bikesandwines.com www.bikesandwines.com
You can rent a bike from these trend setters and follow the wine trails in the Maipú or Luján de Cuyo areas, which are home to a large number of wineries open to tourists. They are strategically situated with a rental shop on the main street in bodega* heavy Maipú, and in downtown trendy Chacras de Coria (Luján de Cuyo). Bikes and Wines
AYMARA TURISMO Aymara is a prize-winning company that has cornered the market in providing the ultimate experience and are true experts in Mendoza tourism.
9 de julio 1023 (0261) 4202064 info@aymara.com.ar www.aymara.com.ar www.losvinosdelosandes.com
+ Wine Tours – Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you 10% off can enjoy the best of malbec in the finest wineries. with cash! + High Mountains – A spectacular trip to the Chilean border, taking in Aconcagua and the Inca Bridge. + Gourmet Tours – Enjoy Mendoza cuisine with the finest wines. + Adventure Tours – Have fun going horseback riding, rafting, trekking, mountain biking, parachuting, or a taking a multi-day horse trek over the Andes to Chile. N° Leg.: 7639
Aymara Expeditions
The office is in the city centre and their staff friendly, well informed and bilingual. 53
MENDOZA ALL IN MENDOZA MONKEY HOSTEL
Sarmiento 681 (0261) 4231148 This hostel has recently been taken over by info@mendozamonkeyhostel.com new owners, a Belgian and an Argentine who www.monkeyhostel.com renovated the whole hostel to make sure everything looks great! It’s two blocks from the main square (Plaza Independencia), a half block from Hyatt hotel and in a restaurant 10% off with area. Their location is excellent, just 5 minutes by taxi or a 15-minute walk from the bus station. Accommodation options include private Get South rooms for 2 to 5 people and dorms. Private rooms include your choice of a double bed, 2 twins or bunk beds (some with ensuite bath). Dorms start at 4 beds and range up to 6, all with shared bath. Enjoy their swimming pool and their Monkey Bar (open until midnight), or make like a monkey and swing between the pool table, TV, board games, full guest kitchen and BBQ area. Their multilingual international staff is great and helpful. They will make you feel right at home. All in Mendoza Monkey Hostel
HOTEL PETIT
@MonkeyHostel1
PerĂş 1459 (0261) 4232099/ 4290848/ 4299718 petit@petit-hoteles.com.ar www.petit-hoteles.com.ar
This surprisingly affordable hotel is right in downtown Mendoza, within walking distance to countless restaurants, bars, Plaza* Independencia and Las Heras street, full of regional gift stores. Choose from double (with matrimonial or twin beds), triple and cuadruple rooms or a five-person apartment with a private Jacuzzi. No dorms. All rooms have ensuite bathroom with towels, cable television, air conditioning and heaters.
Their yummy buffet breakfast includes coffee, tea, milk, fruit, yogurt, cereal and toast with jam. Hotel Petit also offers an on-site bar, a microwave to heat up food, a multi-lingual book exchange, parking, laundry service and luggage storage.
10% off with Get South! 54
MENDOZA DAMAJUANA HOSTEL
Arístides Villanueva 282 (0261) 4255858 Damajuana Hostel is ideally located reservas@damajuanahostel.com.ar in the middle of Arístides Villanueva, www.damajuanahostel.com.ar a street crowded with bars and restaurants, and is THE fun place to be for tourists and trendy 10% off locals alike for alfresco dinners and drinks with friends. with The hostel is within walking distance from the town center and from Get South San Martín Park. Room options vary from private doubles to dorms. Bring your swimming suit if you come in the summer because they have a big, green back yard with sun loungers and a large swimming pool to cool off in. Hostel Damajuana
• • • • • •
Swimming pool 24 hour reception Individual lockers Medic assistance Maid service Laundry
• BBQ grill & Guest kitchen • Central heating & Fans • Laundry service • PH bar • Living room with satellite TV • Table tennis
ITAKA HOSTEL
Arístides Villanueva 480 (0261) 4239793 Itaka Hostel is placed in a large 2-floor itakahostel@gmail.com traditional house which preserves most of www.itakahostel.com.ar its original architecture. Located only 2 block from San Martín Park and at easy walking distance from the city centre, here you’ll find the comfort and services you are looking for. You will be right on Arístides Villanueva, a lively, tree lined street crowded with outdoor bars and restaurants. They offer private rooms and dorms plus plenty of amenities to explore: beautiful garden with a huge swimming pool to cool down, gaming room with free pool, ping pong and foosball tables to make friends, guest kitchen and asado* area to show off the chef in you. Spoil yourself with a luscious cocktail from their bar or grab one of their mouth-watering meals from their restaurant. Itaka Hostel
10% off accommodation with Get South! 55
MENDOZA HOSTEL ALAMO
Necochea 740 (0261) 4295565 info@hostelalamo.com www.hostelalamo.com
This gorgeous hostel is located in a safe area in downtown Mendoza city, across the road from a huge supermarket and close to bars and restaurants. It has 14 rooms, 7 of them with double beds, ensuite bathrooms, TV and A/C. This lovely two storey Spanish style house has plenty of airy spaces (all with Wi-Fi) to have a blast during your visit.
Enjoy the garden and small swimming pool while you make new friends, try your skills in the communal kitchen or relax in the TV/DVD room. Their free yummy breakfasts include coffee, tea, cereals, fruits and fruit juices, toast and much more. The helpful owner and bilingual staff are there to inform you on everything there is to do in this awesome land, so don’t hesitate to ask!
10% off with Get South ONLY with full payment at check-in!
Hostel Alamo
HOSTEL SUITES MENDOZA The popular Hostel Suites chain has arrived in Mendoza! Visit their new location to experience the same quality as their sister hostels in Buenos Aires. Hostel Suites Mendoza is in a great downtown location. They have dorms and private rooms available, all with en-suite bath, heat and air conditioning. Other amenities include ample common spaces, 24 hour check-in, bilingual staff,
Stay 3 nights and get 1 Free with Get South!
Patricias Mendocinas 1532 (0261) 4237018 mendoza@hostelsuites.com www.hostelsuites.com continental breakfast, bar and on-site travel agency ready to help you book tours. The hostel occupies an entire 4-story building, complete with rooftop patio and a BBQ area where they hold barbeques on Thursdays. At Hostel Suites you’ll get hostel fun with hotel comfort!
Hostel Suites Mendoza
Hostel Travel EVT. Nº Leg.:12.903
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MENDOZA NILS FONTENLA - Mountain Guide
Malvinas Argentinas 1710 Luján de Cuyo - Mendoza The Andes are enormous. To navigate (0261) 156174654 these magnificent mountains you really nilsfontenla@gmail.com need someone who knows their stuff, fontenlanils@hotmail.com and Nils Fontenla will find you the nils.fontenla perfect guide for where you want to go. Organizing one day or longer treks, the experienced guides can take you trekking through the Andes range in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru as well as helping you get to the top of the world’s biggest summit outside of the Himalayas - Aconcagua. Nils also specialises in rock and ice climbing, for which the Andes has some of the best climbs in the planet, and he can organize treks in the stunning woodlands of Patagonia. Always contracting the highest standard guides and using faultless equipment, you 10% off can trust you are in good hands! with English, German, French, Italian, Get South Spanish and Portuguese spoken! Guía de Montaña EPGAMT REG 251
POTRERILLOS Potrerillos village is a popular weekend spot and stopover for locals and tourists for its stunning nature setting and being the hub where all of Mendoza’s adventure sports meet. Located 65km south of Mendoza city on the way to Chile, it has a sparkling blue dam which is a haven for sports, outdoor activities and relaxing in the never ending Mendoza sunshine. The large dam, which stretches 12km wide, sets the scene for this small settlement as its milky blue waters reflect the rugged mountains all around, desert like landscape and the endless blue sky. Try your hand at rafting, kayaking or river boarding in the gushing Mendoza river; do kitesurfing, windsurfing or rowing in the lake (although motor boats are banned); get an adrenaline rush from rock climbing, mountain biking, or whizzing down canopy lines; or take a trek or horseride through the beautiful mountain landscapes. There are many beautiful trekking routes, the best known being “Cascada El Salto” (really nice falls), and there are some rumbling rivers to do a spot of fly fishing. A handful of cabins, campsites and hotels make it an ideal spot to stay a few nights and star gaze in this peaceful part of the world. A couple restaurants, cafes and an artisanal brewery will keep you fed and watered during your stay! Get there by bus from Mendoza Bus Terminal with Turismo Upsallata which leaves every day at 8.30, 13. and 19.30. The journey takes an hour and a half. 57
POTRERILLOS EL PUESTO HOSTEL
Villa Manantiales - Potrerillos (02624) 483066 Cel: (0261) 154674356 / 156559937 reservas@elpuestopotrerillos.com.ar www.elpuestopotrerillos.com.ar
In the heart of Mendoza’s adventure capital, Potrerillos, El Puesto Hostel is the perfect spot to take advantage of all that the Andes has to offer. With dorm rooms sleeping four or six people (shared bathroom) and a double room ensuite, the hostel also boasts large shared spaces including a well equipped kitchen, a bar/restaurant with local wine and beer tasting and a huge garden to sit out in the sun or make a BBQ. Filled with community spirit, the staff are on hand to play music with you, light a bonfire in the evening or help you organize all your outdoor activities while staying here. Ask about their half board and breakfast rates, or if you want to cook make sure to bring food from Mendoza as there aren’t many shops. Get your third night free
with Get South!
How to get there: Take the Expreso Uspallata bus to Villa Manantiales from the Mendoza bus station (platforms 47 - 49, at 8.30am, 1pm and 7.30pm) and get off at the final stop. The hostel is 30 metres away.
SAN RAFAEL Located 236 km south of Mendoza city, San Rafael is in the middle of Mendoza province, making it easy to reach the other touristy places from here. San Rafael is considered a capital of adventure tourism, both for its wide range of options and affordable prices. In Valle Grande you will probably find the cheapest white water rafting in the world!! Horseback riding, 4x4 expeditions (Nihuil’s Dunes), kayaking, boating, canoeing, rappelling, canopy, trekking and climbing are also offered in this great natural setting. :: Cañón* del Atuel: don’t miss this gorgeous natural canyon with highly eroded rocky walls, carved by the Atuel River. There are guided tours that take you there or you can go with your own car. Some interesting rock formations are The Wax Museum, The Castle, The Ghost, Rivadavia’s Chair, The Suspension Gardens, etc. :: Valle Grande: a huge, man-made lake in an impressive natural setting, surrounded by mountains and green fertile vegetation. It attracts visitors seeking outdoor adventures. :: Wine Tours: there are around 80 wineries around San Rafael, some within walking or biking distance from town, while others require a car. They range from small family businesses to big producers of all types of quality wines supplying local and international markets. Guided tours and tastings are available in most. :: Nightlife: San Rafael is also a fun town after dark, with 2 casinos, movie theatre, bowling, tango bar, karaoke bar, dance clubs and many pubs and restaurants. 58
SAN RAFAEL RAFFEISH
Ruta Prov. 173 Km34 Valle Grande - San Rafael (0260) 4436996 / 15409089 raffeish@infovia.com.ar www.raffeish.com.ar
These guys aren’t messing about in the water; they are very serious about safety. Raffeish was the first adventure company in the area and they are proud of their reputation. Their base is a serious affair too, with a mini-market, a fast food joint, a crafts stall and a little riverside beach with great music to hang out! There is plenty of high-carb food to power you up through the day and their multi-discipline staff is on hand to Activities provided: guide you every step of the way. Rafting + CD & Rappelling + service to DVD memories take your Canopy + with you! Trekking + 10% off Kayaking + with Canoeing + Get South Doky (2 person canoe) + Col River (a kind of body boarding) + Catamaran trips + Raffeish Turismo Aventura
MALARGÜE Malargüe is located 186 km south of San Rafael. It’s a small town and serves as a good base for exploring some of the least known, but spectacular landscapes in Argentina. :: Malargüe Planetarium: has interesting guided visits and interactive daily sky shows (some in English). Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory, studies ultra high energy cosmic rays (free daily visits except weekends). Both are located in Malargüe town. :: Caverna de Las Brujas: Literally translates into “The Witches’ Cave”. It is a marvellous cave that plunges deep into the earth at a depth of almost 2000 m. :: The Payunia: It is recognized as being one of the most densely covered volcanic regions in the world. Trails of lava debris can be seen at various points throughout the park, and enormous boulders of igneous rocks are scattered over the dark plains. :: Laguna* Llancanelo: It is vast shallow lagoon, great spot for bird watchers since pink flamingos, swans and some other 73 different bird species are commonly seen here. :: Cascadas* de Manqui-Malal: An ideal spot for hiking and rappelling. Keep your eyes alert for commonly seen fossils and for the condors soaring above the high walls. :: Castillos* de Pincheira: It is a naturally formed structure sculpted throughout the many years by glacier erosion. It’s shaped like a giant castle, hence the name. :: Las Leñas: Located 70 km from Malargüe, this internationally renowned ski resort is ideal for winter sport enthusiasts of all levels. Summer activities are also offered. 59
MALARGÜE ECO HOSTEL
Internacional Malargüe
Finca 65-Colonia Pehuenche - info@hostelmalargue.com (0260) 4232312/ 4470391 - www.hostelmalargue.com
CHOIQUE
San Martín 200 corner Torres - info@choique.com (0260) 4483604/ 4470391 - www.choique.com Turismo Alternativo In a 5 hectare farm, EcoHostel sits in an incredible landscape with beautiful views of the Andes. Built with an original design, they have dorms or doubles with ensuite bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, an organic vegetable garden and a farm. Home-made meals can also be made for you. Hostelcity, located in downtown Malargüe: Rufino Ortega 158. Tel: (0260) 4232324/ 4471151 They also have a travel agency in town, Choique, which has bi/multi-lingual staff. They offer all sorts of adventure tours, such as rafting, trekking, skiing, fishing, rappelling 10% off if you and also visits to the beauties of Malargüe: stay more than 3 Payunia, Witches’ Cave, Manqui Malal waterfall, nights + 10% off Llancanelo Lagoon, Las Leñas & surroundings, Payunia tour! Thermal pools and Pincheira Castles.
Choique Turismo Alternativo Nº Leg.:12997
SAN JUAN San Juan is a great jumping off point to visit Ischigualasto and Talampaya Parks (World Heritage Site). Ischigualasto, also known as Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), lies 330 km away and it is a large valley filled with fantastic eroded formations, plants and animal fossils, and dinosaur findings dating from 230 million years ago. Get great views of the city’s layout climbing the Cathedral’s bell tower, located next to the 25 de Mayo Square. Other places worth visiting in town are Domingo Sarmiento’s birthplace/historic museum, the Natural Science Museum, the park and the Juan Victoria Concert Hall, considered to be one of the most important halls in South America. Visit Ullúm Lake 20 km from town (bus Nº 29) to relax, practice some water sports, swim, go for a walk or even dive from cliffs!! San Juan also stands out for its renowned world class wines, so a wine tour is a must! Santiago Graffigna has a wine museum which is free and near downtown. Another interesting option is the Cavas de Zonda (24 km from town on bus Nº 23), the only champagne cellar in South America whose ceiling is the mountain itself. 60