Cuyo trip planner

Cuyo Holiday Planning Guide

Mountainous Cuyo represents one of Argentina's major wine-producing regions, drawing a growing number of oenophiles from around the globe. In addition to tours of the area's fine wineries, most Cuyo vacations include visits to several major cities, characterized by narrow streets lined with charming colonial-era architecture. Among the most popular places to visit in Cuyo, the protected area of Ischigualasto contains an otherworldly landscape of wind-eroded rock formations, inscribed on the World Heritage List since 2000. Ideal for visitors interested in seeing the snowy side of Argentina, the area also boasts one of the largest ski resorts in the Andes, known for its powder snow and plenty of slopes for extreme skiers.

Places to Visit in Cuyo

Destinations in Cuyo

San Rafael: Take a leisurely stroll along tree-lined streets and pleasant parks, and explore a historic fort or an immigration railway museum in this green town, a great base for wine tours and nature trips along the moody Diamante River.

Merlo: Relatively unexplored and perched high in the mountains, Merlo offers access to great paragliding, cycling, and hiking spots.

Maipu: Enhance your knowledge of wines during your Cuyo trip with a visit to Maipu, where you can take tours of historic bodegas and family-run wine estates.

Province of Mendoza: Explore the Andes and admire the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere by basing your trip in this province, home to high-altitude towns, ski resorts, and wine estates.

Province of San Luis: Tour colonial architecture and visit pleasant parks and museums in the province's biggest town, a lively commercial center with good tourist amenities that's an ideal starting point for wider tours of Cuyo.

Popular Cuyo Tourist Attractions

Parque General San Martin: An urban oasis with a zoo and a botanical garden, this park features a hill offering sweeping views of Mendoza.

Parque Provincial Aconcagua: Located in an iconic Andean setting with snow-capped peaks and glaciers, this park provides a perfect base for trips into an intact natural area, in which condors are often seen flying overhead.

Plaza Independencia: Buy souvenirs from local craftspeople and see street performers at this Cuyo attraction, featuring plenty of interesting waterworks and sitting areas.

Canon del Atuel: Tour a canyon connecting two lakes and cutting through a gorgeous mountain range to see some of the weirdest rock formations in the world, created over time by wind and water erosion.

The Hill of Glory (Cerro de la Gloria): Climb an iconic independence-era hill to enjoy sweeping views of Mendoza and learn about military history of the area while exploring monumental statues commemorating victory over the area's 19th-century Spanish rulers.

Reserva Natural Villavicencio: Explore the rich biodiversity of the Andes at this reserve, which offers panoramic views of the surroundings and shelters endemic species that range from condors to different varieties of cacti.

Los Reyunos Dam>: This stone-and-clay dam on the Diamante River helps generate electricity and creates a scenic water reservoir ideal for canoeing, hiking, windsurfing, and fishing.

Parque Nacional Talampaya: The World Heritage-listed desert landscapes and awe-inspiring geological formations in this national park hide important archaeological sites and unique plant and animal life adapted to life in an arid environment.

Bodega Ruca Malen: Spice up your Cuyo holiday with a visit to a traditional bodega offering an array of red wines and famed five-course lunches.

Mirador del Sol: Hike up a paved mountain trail to reach an observation deck with a cafe, located 1,470 m (4,823 ft) above sea level.

Dining and Shopping on Holiday in Cuyo

Cuisine of Cuyo

Cuyo's cuisine is spiced up with rich Andean-Incan cooking traditions, with "humitas" and tamales as perhaps the most famous dishes of the region.

Common ingredients include potatoes, corn, and autochthonous quinoa cereal used in indigenous specialties. Pumpkin and potato pudding stuffed with meat is considered a local favorite.

Humitas are prepared with fresh corn, sauteed onions, various spices, and diced cheese--this filling is wrapped in cornhusks, used only during cooking and discarded before eating the dish. A similar method is used to prepare tamales, often steamed in banana leaves rather than cornhusks.

You'll likely encounter two versions of tamales during your Cuyo holiday--tamales "saltenos," made with shredded lamb or pork meat, and tamales "jujenos," prepared with minced meat, corn, and red peppers.

You can add lots of flavor to your Cuyo trip with a bowl of thick "locro" stew, hearty "pollo al disco" with chicken and vegetables, or "carbonada" beef stew with tomatoes, potatoes, and corn, sweetened slightly with dried apricots.

A whole range of empanadas stuffed with meat, potatoes, and/or cheese make great snacks, which you can eat on the move, while sightseeing or waiting to join a guided tour.

Shopping in Cuyo

With thousands of wineries scattered across the area, wines remains one of the most popular products to purchase in Cuyo, which accounts for about 80 percent of Argentine wine production.

In Mendoza, shopping is concentrated in the downtown area, but you'll also find a number of full-sized malls just outside the city--consider Palmares Open Mall for all your essential shopping needs and some light entertainment.

You can shop like a local at Mercado Central, where Mendoza natives go for all their green produce, fish, and meat. Markets are not only great places to stock up on groceries and souvenirs, but also ideal locations for observing the local way of life--you'll never feel more like a native than while trying to strike a bargain with a local vendor.

Know Before You Go on a Trip to Cuyo

Interesting Facts About Cuyo

* Cuyo boasts the highest mountain outside Asia--the peak of Aconcagua stands 6,961 m (22,838 ft) above sea level

* Famed for its vineyards, Cuyo covers 80 percent of Argentine wine production

* High-altitude Cuyo enjoys one of the sunniest climates in the world

Holidays & Festivals in Cuyo

One of the most popular festivals in the country, Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (The Grape Harvest Festival) takes place in Province of Mendoza, famed for its wine production.

The festival culminates in the first week of March, with hundreds of dancers and performers gathering in the city to select the national grape queen. Over 200,000 spectators attend the ceremonies, including a gaucho parade.

Part of the festival, the blessing of the fruit takes place on the last Sunday of February, with peasants making offerings to thank their patron saints for a good harvest.

If your tour of Cuyo takes you to Merlo in March, you'll have a chance to participate in Fiesta Nacional del Valle del Sol (National Festival of the Valley of the Sun), a kind of food fair that include the famous Carrousel del Sol (Sun Carrousel) parade.

Useful Cuyo Travel Tips

Climate of Cuyo

Northwestern Argentina as a whole enjoys a very dry and hot climate, though the rugged topography of the region causes wild variations in temperatures.

Central Argentina, which includes Cuyo, experiences hot summers and cool winters. In the highest sections of Cuyo, icy conditions persist throughout the year, with temperatures sometimes dropping to freezing -20 C (-4 F).

Perhaps the best time to plan a trip to Cuyo is autumn (March and April), the season of wine harvests and fun festivals--and pleasant 18 C (65 F) temperatures in Mendoza.

Transportation in Cuyo

Cuyo has a good railway network connecting major cities and towns. Many travelers also use the reliable bus services, which are fast and efficient.

Some towns also offer trolleybus services, and all urban centers cater to local and foreign travelers with a range of taxi operators.

Local public transport is usually covered by buses called "colectivos" or minibuses called "micros." You can flag these down and ask them to drop you off at locations outside marked bus stops.

To enjoy a high degree of independence during your Cuyo vacation, consider renting a car, or hiring a vehicle with a professional driver. You'll find reputable rental agencies in most bigger cities--many also offer guided tours, another way to visit some of the more remote sections of the region.