Looking for the best things to do in Mendoza and El Cuyo? Start with the landscape – bone-dry desert, lava fields, snow-dusted peaks, and pockets of green farmland. This vast region encompasses Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, and San Luis, stretching from La Payunia in the south to the high plains of Las Vicuñas in the north. Mendoza leads the way with world-class wine and a buzzing city vibe. San Juan and La Rioja offer quieter roads and raw, wide-open country that feels like nowhere else in Argentina.
San Juan’s Ischigualasto Provincial Park – better known as Valle de la Luna – is like stepping onto another planet. This UNESCO-listed site is renowned for its unique rock formations, deep red canyons, and ancient fossils, including some of the earliest known dinosaur remains.
You can’t explore on your own – all visits are in guided convoys. But that keeps the fragile terrain protected. The standout formations include El Submarino, El Hongo, and the Cancha de Bolas – a desert strewn with cannonball-like stones. Go for the late afternoon tour – the light at sunset makes the whole place glow.
There’s also a paleontology museum at the entrance with excellent fossil exhibits (Spanish only). Bring water, sun protection, and something to cover your face – windstorms are common.
If you’re compiling the ultimate list of things to do in Mendoza and El Cuyo, this place belongs near the top – it’s strange, stark, and unforgettable.
Talampaya is La Rioja’s answer to a cathedral – only this one’s made of red sandstone and carved by wind, not hands. Its 180 m-high cliffs form a canyon that’s home to condors, petroglyphs, and echoes that bounce back like thunder.
You’ll need to book a tour – there’s no free roaming here. Options include bus rides, hikes, and bike tours through the canyon floor. Go early for the best light and avoid the brutal midday heat.
Look out for ancient rock art near the entrance – carvings of pumas, llamas, and a strange seahorse-like figure – and the jardín botánico, a natural grove of desert flora right in the canyon. The Chimenea – a vertical chute in the rock – has one of the loudest echoes you’ll ever hear.
Talampaya is best known for its red cliffs, but there's more here than sandstone. If you slow down, you’ll see traces of a culture that’s over a thousand years old.
Near the canyon entrance, a jumble of boulders hides rock carvings – pumas, hunters, and stepped pyramids etched into the stone. The nearby grinding basins were once used to mix pigments. One enormous carob tree is thought to be over 1000 years old – somehow still standing in the middle of the desert.
Further inside the canyon is the jardín botánico – not a manicured garden but a natural cluster of native plants like jarilla, chañar, and pencil-thin cactus. Look for grey foxes or armadillos in the undergrowth, and listen for condors circling overhead.
Talampaya National Park, Argentina @ Shutterstock
If remote is what you're after, this is it. The Reserva Provincial Las Vicuñas is wild, windswept, and wonderfully empty – no shops, no services, no one else around. Just mountains, flamingos, and the blinding-blue waters of Laguna Brava.
Set at over 4000m altitude in western La Rioja, the reserve is best explored by 4WD. The main attraction – Laguna Brava – is a massive salt lake often dotted with Andean geese and pink flamingos. When there’s no wind, the glassy surface reflects a ring of snowcapped volcanoes, including the hulking Cerro Pissis.
Other lakes like Laguna Verde and Laguna Mulas Muertas are smaller but equally atmospheric. This is high-altitude wilderness, so take it slow and pack for all conditions. There’s no accommodation, so it’s best done as a long day trip from Villa Unión.
If you're after raw nature, without a railing or tourist sign in sight, this is one of the top things to do in Mendoza and El Cuyo.
Aconcagua towers at 6961m – the highest peak outside the Himalayas. It’s not technically difficult, but altitude, cold, and exhaustion take their toll. The most popular route starts from Horcones, just outside Mendoza. You’ll need a permit, a guide, and a serious level of fitness.
Want something more remote? Try Cerro Mercedario in San Juan. At 6770m, it’s almost as high but gets a fraction of the climbers. Treks usually begin from Las Hornillas near Barreal – a rugged place with sweeping views and no crowds.
Even if you’re not aiming for the summit, you can day hike in Aconcagua Provincial Park or explore glacier trails with local guides.
Summit season runs from November to March. Expect snow, fierce sun, and very thin air. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re building a bucket list of things to do in Mendoza and El Cuyo, climbing one of these giants earns you serious bragging rights.
Aconcagua, Argentina @ Shutterstock
Mendoza isn’t just a wine region – it’s the wine region in Argentina. You’ll find rows of vines backed by snowcapped peaks, historic bodegas, and tasting rooms where you’ll want to linger all afternoon.
Start in Luján de Cuyo – close to Mendoza city and packed with well-known wineries offering tastings, cellar tours, and multi-course lunches. The Uco Valley, about 90 minutes south, has more altitude and fewer crowds, and some of the most photogenic vineyard views in the country.
Further south, San Rafael is more relaxed and off the radar. And if you want to try something new, head north to San Juan or La Rioja – both have growing wine scenes with a more rustic edge.
Malbec is king here – but don’t skip the crisp Torrontés, juicy Bonarda, or spicy Syrah. Skip the driving and book a wine tour.
Barreal is where the Andes feel close enough to touch – a sleepy town with serious adventure potential. Located in the lush Calingasta Valley, it’s an ideal base for exploring San Juan’s wilder west.
One of the highlights is Barreal del Leoncito, a cracked clay flat where wind-powered carts race across the plain – think land-sailing, with mountain views. On calm nights, head to El Leoncito Observatory, one of the top stargazing spots in South America.
Hikers will love the painted hills east of town and the quiet trails up to the Cima del Tontal – a 4000m viewpoint with panoramas across the Cordillera. You can also fish, bike, or just take in the silence.
Mendoza winery, Argentina
If you’ve got a 4WD and a sense of direction, head east from Barreal into the Cerros Pintados – a kaleidoscope of ochre, pink, violet, and rust-colored hills. In spring, flowering cacti and golden brea bushes light up the slopes.
The track winds past goat farms and scattered homesteads before climbing to Cima del Tontal, a summit just over 4000m high. The views stretch in every direction – across the Mendoza plains, the San Juan Valley, and west to the jagged Andes, including Mercedario and even Aconcagua on a clear day.
The road’s not technical, but it’s steep and exposed – not a drive to rush. Bring water, layers, and a camera.
This isn’t a tourist trail – you’re unlikely to meet another soul. But if you want to see what makes this region special – high desert, wide skies, and total quiet – this drive sums it up.
El Cuyo isn’t just about deserts and vineyards – it’s got adrenaline, too. Come in summer and hit the Mendoza River for white-water rafting. The river cuts through steep canyons just outside the city, with rapids ranging from splashy to serious. Local outfitters provide gear, transport, and guides.
In winter, swap boats for skis. Las Leñas, south of Mendoza, is one of Argentina’s top ski resorts – steep slopes, reliable snow, and dramatic scenery. For something more low-key, try Vallecitos or Los Penitentes – both smaller but more accessible.
No matter the season, you’ll find ways to burn energy – rock climbing, horseback riding, and high-altitude trekking are always in season somewhere.
If you’re after active things to do in Mendoza and El Cuyo, with fewer crowds than Patagonia or Bariloche, this region hits the sweet spot between wild and welcoming.
Mendoza: skiers on Las Leñas, Argentina's biggest ski resort
Mendoza is the main gateway to the region, and getting there is easy. You can fly in from Buenos Aires (2 hrs), Santiago de Chile (1 hr), or other Argentine cities. Long-distance buses are also available, though travel times can be brutal – expect 12+ hours from Buenos Aires.
Once in Mendoza, you’ll need a car to reach more remote areas like Barreal, Valle de la Luna, or Talampaya. Public transport between provinces is patchy and often unreliable. For serious exploring – especially in San Juan or La Rioja – a 4WD is your best bet.
Getting around Argentina in general can be slow going outside major hubs. Distances are vast, and rural roads aren’t always in great shape. In El Cuyo, it’s all about self-driving – the freedom to roam is worth the extra planning.
written by
Olga Sitnitsa
updated 23.06.2025
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