Mendoza City is the capital of the province and it’s the most important and richest oasis of the country. It’s located at the bottom of the beginning of the Andes. It’s known for being a very clean city, with a lot of forest.
General San Martin started his trip with all the troops to free South America and still is a very strategic position because is very well connected with Santiago de Chile and the Pacific Ocean.
Here you can go to International Hostel or Campo Base Hostel. Mendoza is a very active city, with a big population. It has good connections by plane and also by bus, but the best way to really get to know the place is by car. You can also find tours with local agencies.
There some places in the city where you must go. For example Plaza Independencia, the most important of the 5 parks in town, and also Plaza España, with a lot of artisans, where you can buy typical things. Another great touristic spots that you can visit are the Civic Center, San Ignacio Ruins and the O´Higgins Park.
You definitely should go to General San Martin Park, with 600 hectares of woods and gardens, an artificial lake and a Zoo. Also in that Park you can see Mendoza University, and Malvinas Argentinas stadium, that was used during 1978 soccer world cup. In the west side of the park you can find “Cerro de la Gloria”, where a great monument is placed in San Martin honor. In the city surroundings you can visit “Chacras de Coria” and “Luján de Cuyo”.
For the wine lovers Maipú vineyards are the perfect place, where they can visit wine cellars and learn about the elaboration process.
Another very interesting tour in the city, especially in summer, is the “Embalse El Carrizal”. The road goes through cultivated areas, where the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers get together creating a great environment to fish and do aquatic sports.
Mendoza is known to be the starting point for many activities and mountain sports, such as ski, rafting or climbing. There a lot of great circuits that you can do from the city, by car or hiring a tour in your hostel or on a local agency.
