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Perito Moreno Glacier (3,000 km south of Mendoza)

Viewed as one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patag

the Perito Moreno glacier (located 3,000 km south of Mendoza) was named

the explorer Francisco Moreno, a pioneer who

the region in the 19th century and played a maj

in defending the territory of Argentina in the consurrounding the international border dispute wit

Chile. Due to its size and accessibility, Perito M

is one of the major tourist drawcards to souther

Patagonia. It is less than two hours by bus from

El Calafate, and many tour companies run daily

A large visitor centre at the site features a walki

circuit which allows both faces, and the surface of the glacier to be seen. T

is also a restaurant at the site.

Parque General San Martin (Mendoza)

The Parque General San Martn is a park located in the city of Mendoza,

Argentina. The park has 34 sculptures decorating the paths and roads.

El Rosedal (rose garden) is a pedestrianized walk that was inaugurated in 19

Also to be found within the park is the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, a zoo

Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, a monument that commemorates the crosof the Andes by Jos de San Martn and his army, and a large lake inaug

in 1906 which has The Regatas Club on its shore. Hang-gliding is one of

activities offered at this 865-acre park which houses a zoo and national s

museum and is replete with beautiful walkways.

The Las Brujas Witches Cave (370 km south of Mendoza)

About 72 kilometers from Malargue are galleries that penetrate the living for at least 259 meters. Its galleries and passages are interconnected anddazzle with their fantastic walls carved by water ltrations and stalactites stalagmites of various forms.

The Witches Cave is home to many peculiarspeleothems (such as stalactites and stalagmites), deepunderground water galleries, and large vaulted spaces

called Sala de la Virgen (Virgin Room) and Las Flores(The Flowers). It hosts a particular fauna adapted tolive without solar radiation (spiders and springtails).The galleries closest to the entrance are occasionalshelters for bats and mice.

About 6 km of the caves passages have beenexplored. The site is one of the major tourist attractions in southern Mendbut visitors are only granted access (with a guide and proper equipment)

rst 200 m of galleries.

The Pincheira Castles (370 km south of Mendoza)

About 21 kilometers west of Malargue is a splendid natural monument pro

by glacier erosion. It looks like a group of medieval castles, and that expl

its name. History and legend claim that it was used as a shelter by the Ch

outcast Jose Antonio Pincheira and his men, at the end of the XIXth centurPincheira stream runs on its base, with its transparent waters, and on the le

there are excellent camping grounds with little beaches, tables and asado

Arrow tips and Indian ceramic remains can be found in the area. Other ac

include organized walks, horse rides, shing, mountain biking, and more.

Iguazu Falls (2,000 km northeast of Mendoza)

Located in the Iguaz Department, in the north of the

province of Misiones, Argentine Mesopotamia, these

waterfalls of the Iguazu River are located on the border

of the Brazilian state of Paran and the Argentine

province of Misiones. The waterfall system consists of

275 falls along 2.7 kilometers of the Iguazu River.

The Devils Throat, a U-shaped, 82-meter-high, 150-meter-wide

and 700-meter-long cataract, is the most impressive of all, and marks the bo

between Argentina and Brazil. Two thirds of the falls are within Argentine teIn addition, the fall area provides opportunities for water sports and rock cli

About Mendoza

Fast Facts:

Area: 148,827 square km

Population: 110,993 (Mendoza city)

Language: SpanishCurrency: Peso

Time: (+/- GMT) ART ( UTC -3)

Climate: Semi-arid

Mendoza is the capital city of

Mendoza Province in Argentina.

Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces

of Argentina, located in the western

central part of the country on the

eastern side of the Andes. Its the

seventh biggest province of Argentina

with 5.35% of the countrys total

surface. The population estimate for

2008 is 1.7 million habitants, which

makes it the

fth largest

populated

province of

the country,

or 4.35%

of the total

national

population.

Two of the main industries of the

Mendoza area are wine making (1.2

billion liters per year!) and olive oil production. Besides wine, other

important crops (mainly for the Argentine market) are apples, pears,

tomatoes, onions, plums, olives, cherries, peaches and quince.

Apiculture, with 30,000 beehives, is another growing activity favored by

Mendozas dry weather.

Mendozas climate is semi-arid with

annual rainfall averaging 223.2 mm. Average

temperature for January (summer) is 32C

(90F) during daytime, and 18.4C (65F) at

night. In addition, hail is a signicant, and not

uncommon, problem in the region.

Sightseeing

Puente del Inca (191 km west of Mendoza)

Puente del Inca, Spanish for the Incas Bridge,

is a natural arch that forms a bridge over the

Vacas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River.

It is located in Mendoza Province, Argentina near

Las Cuevas (191 km west of Mendoza).

Puente del Inca is also the name of the nearby hot springs. Scientists

speculate that interaction of extreme elements like ice and hot springs

was involved in the origin of the formation. They suppose that in ancient

times ice covered the river and acted as support for avalanches of

snow, dust and rocks. So the dust over the ice over the river would have

served as a path for the sulfurous water and petried the surface.

Essentially, when the snow melted, the bridge remained by itself.

Charles Darwin was one of the visitors to this natural marvel, and madesome drawings of the bridge with great stalactites.

Things To Do In and Around Mendoza

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Food & WineAmpora Wine Tours (Mendoza)

Ampora Wine Tours goes out to show you the hidden

gems of the Mendoza Wine Country every day, 7 days

a week, in tours of small groups with a maximum of

only 8 people. Private wine tours are also available.

Andeluna Cellars (Mendoza)

Andeluna Cellars is a winery and vineyard rich with

history and romance. This place was chosen to

symbolize the romance and heritage of the Argentine

moon illuminating the magnicent Andes Mountains

that frame the Uco Valley near the town of Tupungato.Tastings and tours are available by appointment only.

Museums & Attractions

Molina Pico Museum (Mendoza)

Since the XVIIIth century, Guaymallen, a provincial subdivision of the

Mendoza Province, was the place elected by Mendoza landowners to

build their main family houses. This house was built in year 1785 and

was destroyed by the 1861 earthquake. It belonged to the Molina Pico

family and is made of adobe bricks with a mud and reeds roof.

It has galleries, big-sized rooms, yards and gardens. General San Martin

stayed there and it is now a museum. Guided tours are carried out

Monday to Friday.

The Casa Fader Museum (Mendoza)

The Casa de Fader is recognized by locals as being Mendozas

most important museum. This Museum is situated in the old house of

Emiliano Guiaz, who acquired it in 1889. This house was the center

of numerous Mendocinean aristocratic events between the XIX and XX

centuries. Guiaz solicited his daughters husband, Fernando Fader,

to paint the interior of the home. And he did: his original murals still

cover the walls observe some of them as you stand inside the home

(now empty) indoor swimming pool! Some rooms document Faders life

through photography, letters, and poems, while others pay tribute to

Mendozas history as well as its present. Still others exhibit National and

International artwork. Sculpture galleries line the north and east wings

of the home. Make sure to tour both museos de esculturas al aire

libre, the outdoor sculpture gardens that encircle.

The Zoological Garden (Buenos Aires)

On a 124 acre site, on the forested slopes of the Cerro de La Gloria

Hill, you nd one of the best zoos in South America. The traveler has

the possibility of choosing a short or long tour, which include a winding

course through humid and shady spots, accompanied by eucalyptus,

elm and aguaribaye trees. There are over 700 animals in a total of 110

enclosures, each one faithfully reproducing their natural habitat.

Acuario Municipal de Mendoza (Mendoza)

This municipally managed aquarium was the rst aquarium in the

country, and houses sh, amphibians, reptiles, snails and a collection o

fossils and semiprecious rocks.

This important institution lodges animals from various environments in

the world, such as coral reefs, tropical seas, lime reefs at Lake Malawi

in Africa, tropical zones in Asia and, basically, South American sh from

the Amazon and the Paran basins.

The modern facilities display 1,700 specimens in various ponds and

tanks that recreate the natural environment of each being. There are

approximately 50 ponds that show aquatic wildlife, a total volume of

65,000 liters.

The great attraction of the aquarium is its unique guest in Argentina,

which usually dwells in the pelagic tropical and subtropical waters of th

oceans, a large turtle called Jorge. This remarkable specimen belongs

to the species known as Caretta Caretta and at present, it spends its

days in a huge pond containing 20,000 liters of seawater.

Other Must-Sees/DosAttend The Annual GrapeHarvest Festival EventsMore than 70 years after its rst edition,

Harvest gathers every year more than

250,000 spectators in its various activities

like the blessing of the grapes and the parading of festival queen

hopefuls. One of the most popular holidays of Argentina grape harvest

festivals take place in all the provinces during the months of January and

February, to nally come to an end with the greatest festival taking placein March in Mendoza.

When/Where:January - March 8th in Mendoza (grand nale)

Attend the National Folklore Festival of CosqunRunning since 1961, there are displays of traditional Argentine culture,

street theater, and top Argentine tango.

When/Where: January 20th - 31st in Cosquin

(700 km northeast of Mendoza)

Attend The Dakar Rally in Buenos AiresRunning since 1977, The Dakar Rally pits over 400 drivers against each

other in a gruelling long-distance race covering a 9000 km loop between

Buenos Aires, Argentina and Antofagasta, Chile. Competitors from around

the world drive a mixture of buggies, 4x4 vehicles, motorbikes and quad-bikes.

When/Where: January 1st - 17th in Buenos Aires

(1,000 km east of Mendoza)Visit the San Telmo MarketSan Telmos caf-lined Plaza Dorrego bursts with stalls offering all

manner of antiques, trinkets and tango memorabilia at the Sunday San

Telmo Market. Find elegant gramophones, blue glass soda siphons from

Buenos Aires old cafs and more.

When/Where: Every Sunday in Buenos Aires from 10 am - 6 pm

(1,000 km east of Mendoza)

Attend the National Street Art FestivalArt will seize the streets for three running nights: magicians, musicians,

jugglers and independent theater companies, among others, invite you to

take part in this artistic event.

When/Where: January 2nd - 4th in Mina Clavero, Crdoba

(450 km northeast of Mendoza)

Attend the National Festival of the Billy Goat andProvincial Festival of the LambThere will be dance festivals, music shows and roasted lamb and billy

goat gastronomic delights, thus rendering this festival into an irresistible

meeting point during the summer break.

When/Where: January 13th - 18th in Malarge, Mendoza

(350 km south of Mendoza)

Attend the Lincoln 2010 CarnivalsCarnival fest with Chaqueo Palavecino, Marcela Morelo, Los Nocheros,

Jorge Rojas, Len Gieco, Somos Tango, Los Cafres, Los Reyes concerts.

When/Where: January 16th - 31st in Lincoln, Buenos Aires

(1,000 km east of Mendoza)

Helpful Tools:

http://www.en.argentina.ar/

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=events.location&loc_id=131000&cat_id=5926&sort=DATE

http://www.wine-republic.com/mendoza/museums/99-mendozas-museu

http://www.welcomeargentina.com/mendoza/index_i.html

http://www.mendoza.com.ar/

http://realtravel.com/da-16166-mendoza_attractions

http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/mendoza/tp/

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