Aconcagua short hike & Argentine BBQ – Full Day from Mendoza
Description
This is not a typical bus tour. We take you on a relaxed journey through the Andes, with scenic stops and a short, easy hike inside Aconcagua Park. You’ll visit the beautiful Horcones Lagoon and admire the south face of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas — close, not just from a distance. Along the way, our local guides share stories, knowledge, and their deep love for the mountains, making the experience feel personal and meaningful. We end the day with a traditional Argentine barbecue in a peaceful setting, perfect to relax and share the moment. ✨ Ideal for travelers looking for a genuine, comfortable, and unforgettable day in the high Andes — with real connection, not crowds.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A small tourist village known for its thermal springs and scenic setting in the Mendoza River gorge. As we drive through, you’ll get a glimpse of the hanging bridge and the old train station nestled in the foothills.
A brief stop to admire this impressive turquoise dam surrounded by mountains. Great photo opportunity and a chance to stretch your legs before continuing the drive into the high Andes.
A small Andean town where we stop for breakfast and a short break. Surrounded by poplar trees and pre-Andean hills, Uspallata offers a glimpse into local life before we continue climbing toward Aconcagua Park.
A short stop at a historical bridge linked to General San Martín’s Andean crossing. Surrounded by quiet mountain scenery, Picheuta is a lesser-known but meaningful point along the route to Aconcagua.
Inside Aconcagua Park, we’ll explore the area around Horcones Lagoon and admire stunning views of the south face of Aconcagua. This is a chance to experience the high Andes up close, surrounded by silence, wind, and breathtaking landscapes.
A natural rock formation shaped like a bridge over the Cuevas River, once used by ancient travelers and later by the Inca Trail. Its vibrant mineral colors and surrounding ruins of an old thermal spa make it one of the most iconic and photogenic stops in the Andes.
We return to Uspallata for a well-deserved lunch featuring traditional Argentine flavors. It’s the perfect moment to relax, share stories from the hike, and enjoy a homemade meal before heading back to Mendoza.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pickup from hotels and apartments located in downtown Mendoza. If you’re staying more than 15 km away, please contact us before booking. Pickup usually takes place between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. We’ll confirm the exact time the day before the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please let us know in advance about any dietary requirements or medical conditions we should be aware of.
- Please wear comfortable and warm clothing — weather in the Andes can change quickly. The tour does not get canceled due to weather conditions.
- This may be a shared tour. Groups of up to 4 travelers may travel in a car. For more space and privacy, check out our private tour option.
- This tour is subject to mountain weather conditions. It may be canceled in case of storms or if the road is closed by local authorities — even without prior notice during the tour. Minor weather changes do not affect the experience.
Reviews(21)
We really liked the tour, which was even private! The Vainilla guide was super friendly, attentive and informed us a lot about Mendoza, the Aconcagua park, Puenta del Inca etc. We made the 1h walk, with beautiful landscapes of the Aconcagua park. The lunch in Uspallata was good, well served.
Muito obrigado, Leticia! Ficamos felizes em saber que vocês aproveitaram tanto o passeio e que a experiência com a Vanina foi tão especial. A beleza do Parque Aconcágua e os sabores de Uspallata realmente tornam esse dia inesquecível, e foi um prazer compartilhar tudo isso com vocês. Esperamos recebê-los novamente para novas aventuras na montanha! Un abrazo grande, Vanina e Joaquín – Destino Montaña 🏔️
The experience in the Aconcagua park was amazing. The path, the stops at strategic points, everything perfect. The guide Almicar was incredible, very good people and driving super well. It is a long walk, where you spend plenty of time in the car, but it is super comfortable. And the landscape is so perfect that you can't feel the time passing. In the park is quite exciting to see the Aconcagua and all the colorful mountains that are around all the time. We made the walk to the bridge, because our group of 3 people is well prepared physically. On the way we had lunch a barbecue and a delicious wine. Super recommend and will definitely come back to do the camping Confluencia. And preferably with the guide Almicar, it is very very good.
Muito obrigado por compartilhar sua experiência com tanto carinho e detalhes. Ficamos felizes em saber que aproveitaram o passeio e que o dia no Parque Aconcágua foi especial para você. As paisagens realmente impressionam, e que bom que o grupo estava animado para fazer a caminhada até a ponte. Vamos repassar seus comentários ao Almicar — ele vai gostar muito de saber que fez diferença no passeio. Esperamos que possam voltar para viver a experiência de Confluência. Será um prazer recebê-los novamente! Um abraço,
We had an amazing day! It didn’t even seem like a long trip to the Aconcagua National Park, as the landscapes along the way are stunning. The tour itinerary is well organized, with stops for photos and food in excellent locations. We were very well served, since the booking with the agency. The guide Amilcar was very kind and attentive with us, gave us various information and tips during the day. We are already missing and we definitely recommend the experience for those who appreciate nature.
An amazing day out and a chance to get into the high Andes with a knowledgeable and experienced local guide. Incredible scenery all along the drive and a beautiful hike up the valley with views of Aconcagua all the way. One of the highlights of our holiday in Argentina.
This day was absolutely incredible. Vanina was so amazing, friendly and taught us so much. We made stops along the way to Aconcagua and she took photos of us in front of the amazing landscapes. She even let us try her mate! She ordered breakfast for us, gave us coffee and alfajores (traditional Argentinian snack). We had the most amazing time at lunch for our first Argentinian barbecue which was delicious! Her driving was amazing and so relaxing we were trying not to fall asleep 🤣. Her English was also so good which made it so easy to communicate with her! It really was the most incredible day and Vanina was so perfect. Can’t thank her enough.
Surreal experience! Very worth it, excellent company. The whole tour was very good, transportation, food and Guide
Perfect tour, with very skilled Guide, lots of history along the way and comfort on the journey! Thank you very much to Amílcar Amar!!
Excellent tour with Destination Montana! We liked everything, great service and instructions. Exclusive tour with great quality. The guide was great at everything. Definitely recommend.
An unforgettable experience to be able to see the highest mountain in the Americas so close. The walk from the park entrance to the Horcones lagoon is super quiet. In addition, the route (RN7) to Aconcagua and the Puente del Inca is like a movie. The guide Amilcar was a crack, very good vibes. I highly recommend!
I highly recommend it. Organized, punctual, they chose a perfect guide Amilcar. Patient and we were able to enjoy a lot of time at Aconcagua. Everything included, very perfect beyond words. If you really want to enjoy aconcagua for a long time you have to go with them
