Wine And Landscapes Of Argentina'S Northwest

Arrive in Mendoza, the heart of Argentina's wine country, located in the shadow of the mighty Andes. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Mendoza at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (airport code MDZ), a 20 minute drive from our hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could explore this lively city by strolling the leafy streets or taking a coffee in one of the many charming plazas and people-watching.

30 minutes outside of Mendoza city we find Lujan de Cuyo - a wine growing region where row upon row of vines grow in neatly ordered lines under the shadow of the Andes mountains. Drinking wine in this landscape is an unforgettable experience, and today we will be visiting two of the region's wineries. Although this area is home to many varieties of white, it is mainly known for its reds, particularly the ubiquitous malbec. We will have the chance to taste the multiple varieties of grape found in the area during our tour, before returning to Mendoza. The late afternoon is free to explore the city, and on our first full day in Argentina it's a good idea to try some of the local delicacies - alfajores are an Argentinian staple, a cakey biscuit filled with 'dulce de leche', perfect with an afternoon tea or coffee. We may even try mate - a bitter green tea drink that takes centre stage in most Argentinian social gatherings. Throughout our trip we may often see people walking around the towns and cities, flask in hand, as they go about their daily business. If you are offered some take note - mate is served in a communal cup, with a 'bombilla' (straw) to drink through, and is passed around the circle, each drinker enjoying the mate before passing it back to the server to be re-brewed. Be careful not to say thank you, as this signifies that you have had enough!

Today we have a full day trip to Aconcagua Provincial Park, home to the magnificent Aconcagua - standing at 6961m it is the tallest peak in the Americas. At the bottom of the permanently snow-covered peaks we find lush meadows and some forested valleys, and our Explore Leader will take us on a short 1.5hr hike to the Horcones Lagoon, a glacier fed lagoon with outstanding views of the mountains. The trail is relatively flat and rocky, with mountains looking at either side of us and the peak of Aconcagua rising before us in the distance. Before returning to Mendoza, we also make a stop at the Puente del Inca, a geologically formed bridge once allegedly used by Incas to cross the river. The reddish oranges of the formation are caused by the minerals in the waters running beneath the bridge, and the remains of a slightly curious-looking stone chapel are still found built into the rock. We drive back to Mendoza after our visit.