Aconcagua Provincial Park, Puente del Inca and Las Cuevas

Mendoza

With almost 7000 MSL, the Aconcagua Mountain is the highest peak in the Americas. It attracts climbers, mountaineers and hikers worldwide, as well as travellers who visit the mountain to admire its immensity. Very close to the mountain, you will find the Puente del Inca, and in Las Cuevas, the famous Cristo Redentor Viewpoint.

The entrance to the Aconcagua Provincial Park is paid and you have to get a ticket in advance. The Horcones lagoon (the only trail suitable for all public) is open all year, depending on weather conditions. For opening dates of high mountain trekking circuits, check on the park's website. Puente del Inca and Las Cuevas can be visited all year round.

What to see

Aconcagua Provincial Park

The Aconcagua Provincial Park protects the highest mountain in America: the Aconcagua, with 6962 meters above sea level. For the Incas it was a ceremonial site that is part of the Andean road system "Qhapaq Ñan", World Heritage by UNESCO. It is also one of the top mountaineering destinations in the world. It is very accessible because it is located on National Route 7, in an international corridor that connects Argentina and Chile.

Laguna de Horcones is a trail suitable for all public, with a duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes, which allows you to see the southern wall of Aconcagua hill with its hanging glaciers. You can also access the Quebrada de Matienzo from Las Cuevas (see section below), another great place for hiking.

There are also more demanding treks intended only for climbers. If you want to make a journey to ascend to the summit of Aconcagua by the normal route or by the so-called "Glaciar de los Polacos", you need good planning and to hire qualified guides.

Puente del Inca

Just 2 km from the Aconcagua Provincial Park you can visit the Puente del Inca, a spectacular natural bridge over the Cuevas River formed millions of years ago by the effect of hot springs, giving it orange, yellow and ocher tones. It is part of the Andean road system "Qhapaq Ñan", and is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Las Cuevas

11 km from the entrance to the Aconcagua Provincial Park, you reach the Las Cuevas area, considered an "Authentic Town". From there, it is possible to ascend an 8 km vehicular road to the Christ the Redeemer, a famous panoramic point on the border with Chile, at 3850 meters.

In Las Cuevas you can see the old facilities of the Trans-Andean Railroad and the "Casuchas del Rey", eighteenth-century buildings that served as posts for the Royal Mail and a refuge for travelers.

Also from here you can access the Quebrada de Matienzo, a paradise in the middle of the mountain, where you can see glaciers, rivers, wetlands, archaeological sites and 100 species of birds. It is an ideal area for hiking and mountain biking.

How to get there and move around

Both the Aconcagua Provincial Park and the other attractions can be reached by national route 7 from the city of Mendoza (185 km away, by asphalt road). In the city, different agencies offer the High Mountain excursion that reaches Las Cuevas passing through Puente del Inca and Laguna de Horcones. Public transport services reach up to Horcones, where the Aconcagua park ranger station is located.

Where to stay

In Las Cuevas there are some lodgings, restaurants and a grocery store. In Los Penitentes (21 km) and Uspallata (83 km) there are inns, hostels, gastronomy, supermarkets and service stations. City of Mendoza (193 km) is a good base for exploring the area and offers a wide variety of services, campsites and accommodation of all categories.