High Andes

City of Mendoza
You can use this city as a base to visit to Cacheuta and its hot springs, the Potrerillos dam and reservoir, the Cordón del Plata Provincial Park and the High Mountain Route, passing by the Puente del Inca and the Aconcagua Provincial Park.

San Rafael
Starting point to visit the Las Leñas Valley and enjoy its ski runs in winter, or its lakes, streams and trails in summer. You can also connect with the Deserts and Volcanoes Road to reach the Atuel Canyon, and to the south, from Malargüe, La Payunia.

City of San Juan and Barreal
From these cities, you can reach the El Leoncito National Park (one of the main astro tourism destinations in the country with two observatories to gaze at the sky and the stars), the Ansilta Mountain Range and the Mercedario Mountain (a little known destination for trekking and mountaineering).

Villa Unión
This city of La Rioja is the starting point of a road filled with amazing and colourful landscapes that will lead you to the Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve, which serves as home to vicunas and Andean flamingoes.

Tinogasta and Fiambalá
From any of these two towns in Catamarca, you can visit the Seismiles Route, one of the most stunning roads in the region, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes that are over 6000 metres high.

How to get there and move around

The capital cities of the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja and Catamarca have airports. Mendoza in particular has a good flight connection to different national and international destinations. These cities also have good bus frequency.

The best way to visit these attractions is by car or with a tour.

Throughout the region you will drive along paved and gravel roads with different conditions. There are routes offering regular bus services, and some other routes that you can only take with 4WD vehicles.

Where to stay

The capital cities of the provinces and the cities close to the must-see attractions have good accommodation and cuisine options. Other destinations have wild camping sites.

When to go

All year round.

If you want to go hiking, horseback riding and adventure activities, go from September through April. If you like winter sports, it is best to go in June, July and August.

Remember

Given the current health context, it is recommended to find out beforehand what are the entry requirements of the province you are visiting. Some attractions may have capacity limits and require prior reservation.

If you are travelling by car, always respect the speed limits, especially on mountain roads. In general, mountain roads have lots of hairpin turns over the edge of slopes, and sometimes there are no berms.

Some gravel roads are only for 4WD vehicles. Check the requirements before starting the trip. In most parts, there is no cell phone signal, so before you start your trip, let someone know where you are heading.

Remember that you may experience altitude sickness in elevations above 2500 metres above sea level, like shortness of breath, fatigue and headaches. At high altitude, temperatures tend to drop at night to d below 0 degrees Celsius, even in summer. Remember to always take a coat with you as well as calorie-dense food.

Some attractions are in remote places without services. In these cases, it is important to plan your trip and take supplies with you.

The Zonda usually blows through this area. It is a very hot and dry wind that may lead to general illness symptoms, so it is important to stay hydrated. When it blows in the high mountains, it usually generates the so-called "white wind", which may lead to hypothermia.

If you want to go trekking, there are several options to hike crossing over 4000 metres of elevation gain, but if you have no experience hiking in the mountain, it is recommended to hire a guide.