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Mendoza - The Home of Melbac

Argentina Health Guide

Come to Argentina

 Mendoza is in northwestern Argentina and is the gateway to the high Andes and the Chilean border. Argentina's wines have come to the world stage only recently, but are quickly growing in popularity, and most of the vineyards and the wine industry is located in the Mendoza province. Mendoza is also a major destination for sports enthusiast where many outdoor sports can be enjoyed in beautiful surroundings.

But whenever you go to Mendoza, don't forget to take your appetite. Regional foods and wines are sure to add pleasure to your trip.


Things To Do in Mendoza:

Wine Tours:
One of the most popular activities in Mendoza is to take a wine tour. Either visit a few wineries in one day or explore Argentine Wine further by touring multiple days.

Parque General San Martin:
The General San Martin park, with the Cerro de la Gloria monument honoring San Martin and his army, is a very big park with a zoo and an amphitheater where many of the Vendimia festival events take place.

Vendimia Festival

The annual wine harvest festival falls on the first Saturday every March. The celebrations include folkloric festivals, religious ceremonies to bless the grapes, crowning of the queen, Reina Nacional de la Vendimia, sports events and a lot of wine and merriment for some weeks before and a few after the main festivities.

Sights just outside Mendoza

Parque Provincial Aconcagua:
Where the great mountain Cerro Aconcagua, at 22974 ft (6962 m), is the highest peak in South America. Climbers need at least two weeks, including acclimatization, to make the ascent. You can take great photos of the mountain from the Laguna Horcones.

Puente del Inca:
Puente del Inca is a hot water spring that is at the site of an old natural stone bridge over the Rio Mendoza and happens to be one of Argentina's natural wonders. The coppery-gold color of the rocks comes from minerals in the water and makes this a beautiful stop-over on your

Cristo Redentor:
Erected to mark the border dispute between Argentina and Chile, the statue of Christ the Redeemer at 13200 ft (4000 m) is open only when the road is open. Cannons used in the wars of liberation were melted down to provide the metal for the statue

San Rafael
A few hours South of Mendoza City, you'll find San Rafael. This city is known for it's wine culture, outdoor sports, and for being the gateway to the Canon del Atuel.

Las Lenas Ski Resort
Las Lenas is one of the biggest mountains in Argentina and offers unforgettable skiing and activities.

Where to Stay
The central and very luxurious hotel in Mendoza is the Park Hyatt Mendoza. Enjoy all the perks of a 5 star hotel including a spa and a small casino.

Other hotels include the small Reina Victoria, and the bigger Aconcagua Hotel.

Sports Activities in and around Mendoza
The city of Mendoza is located near the two great rivers, Mendoza and Diamante. The high volume of water and exciting rapids are sure to give you an excellent whitewater rafting trip. There are also excellent hiking trails, numerous opportunities for mountain biking, climbing and a number of chances to participate in aerial sports.

Map of Mendoza

The constant sunshine in Mendoza invites tourists from all over the world and Argentina into wine country. Originally not a tourist a site, wine became the draw for many. The view of the Andes, along with the small chance for rainfall, makes this region an ideal spot for vacation as well as tasting the essence of Argentina.

 Introduction

As Mendoza has awakened as a wine destination, numerous vineyards, over fifty hotels, impeccable restaurants have emerged. Many of the wineries even offer wine tasting for free. Wineries or bodegas, as they are called in Mendoza, are all shapes and sizes. Some reflect the traditional styles of architecture while others have taken on a modern spin. All want to share the beauty of wine-making which is evident in the tours and open door policies.

Geography and Weather
The best time to visit Mendoza is all year round! Sun is part of everyday life, shinning over 300 days a year. Even in the winter time, sunshine is ever present (the temperature fluctuates between 35 degrees to about 60 degrees). Seasons are opposite than the United States, so spring arrives in September while summer begins in December. Summer temperatures can reach over 90 degrees but the heat is dry with low humidity. Rain is a rarity; average rainfall is just over eight inches. This weather not only benefits the visitors but also the wine-making. The climate in Mendoza, from the sunshine to the rainfall to the low humidity, all contribute to the successful harvest of grapes and delicious production of various vinos.

Celebrating Wine-Making
If one loves wine then March is the time to plan your trip to Mendoza. The Vendimia Festival takes place for week, commemorating the gathering of grape crop. Music and events at the various wineries fill the seven days with revelry and enjoyment. This is a popular week to visit Mendoza so make sure to make reservations well in advance to ensure a place to stay.

 Wine-Making through the Seasons

The beauty of fall in Mendoza can be experienced in both April and May. With low crowds and the hues of trees, this can be a wonderful time to for a holiday. The bodegas are alive with wine-making as well as the harvesting the various varieties of grapes. Other times of the year offer observation of the many activities surrounding a vineyard. Throughout June, July, August (winter) the vines are cut back to guarantee future growth. The following months, September and October, are a time of preparation, when the grounds are tidied and vines are groomed. The medley of sprouts is decided November while nurturing of the vines continues throughout the next few months.

Beyond Wine
The region of Mendoza is full of rich vineyards yet the environment offers even more for traveler. With close proximity to the Andes Mountains, sightseeing as well as hiking and horse-back riding are a must. Further, nearby Chile is the perfect local for more sights, adventures, and of course, wine-tasting.

Visas: Most foreigners do not need visas and receive free renewable 90-day tourist stamps upon arrival.

Time: Eastern Standard Time (EST) plus one or two hours; Argentina does not observe daylight-saving time.

Weights & Measures: Distances and measures are usually metric, but rural areas may use the "legua" (league, about 5 km).
Weights are measured in kilograms (1kg = 2.2 pounds).

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz. Argentina uses the European two prong and the Australian slanted plugs on most wall electrical outlets.

Taxes: The sales tax, known as IVA, is 21%. When reserving a hotel, that tax is sometimes not mentioned, so double-check the final price before you book.

Telephones: The country code for Argentina is 54. Every region has its own area code with Buenos Aires mainly using the '11' area code, and sometimes the '15' area code for cell phones.

Cellular Telephones: Many locals have mobile phones in Argentina and a few companies rent out cell phones for short-term use. If you have a tri-band world phone it will work in Buenos Aires and most parts of Argentina.

Holidays observed in Argentina
January 1: New Year's Day
March or April: Good Friday, Easter
May 1: Labor Day
May 25: Anniversary of the First National Government
June 20: Day of the Flag
July 9: Independence Day
August 17: Anniversary of the Death of General Jose de San Martin
October 12: Christopher Columbus Day
December 25: Christmas Day

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