Hiking the Pre-Andes around Mendoza

The trip below was a short 3-4 days trip we did in September 2015 around Mendoza, Argentina. This region allows you easily to chose amongst plenty of different possibilities to plan your own trips / routes in the amazing pre-Andes environment of Argentina.
Tour Information
- Date: mid of September 2015 – 3 people
- We started in Mendoza and hired a taxi to bring us out of town to the starting point of the trail: -32.86059, -68.93973
- We used a part of a circuit trail which follows several mountain ranges close to Mendoza – the part we walked was pretty amazing so I can definitively recommend it. Further information can be found on wikiloc.com here.
- We followed the trail anticlockwise until we descended down to the gravel road 13 close to those ruins: -32.81588, -69.00184
- From there, follow the routa 13 towards north – you will pass a farm where you can ask for water: -32.78947, -69.02105
- Further up the road turn left into the the mountains – basically here: -32.7932, -69.03319
- From here we headed south-west towards the lake close to Potrerillos: -32.95319, -69.16084
- This is a nice area with several possibilities in terms of finding a suitable way – I used Google Maps to prepare the right track beforehand.
Difficulties & Challenges
- We wanted to extend the trip originally but we ran out of water – this is the biggest issue you will face there. So bring plenty of it and don’t count on any real possibilities to refill.
Tour Alternatives & Ideas
- Following the gravel road 13 starting in Mendoza and ending near Uspallata in the north would be a nice little trip with probably pretty amazing views.
- Wikiloc.com should be considered as a great source of information that could contribute to creating your own trips in this area.
- If you bring your packraft: Rafting the Rio Mendoza with a packraft after crossing the Andes from Santiago de Chile towards Mendoza would be a great adventure I assume – be prepared for some white-water.
Getting There & Away
- In Potrerillos you can find a tourist information – additionally there are buses coming down from the north on the routa 7 going to Mendoza. You need to ask locals for further information / timetables.
- Hitch-Hiking should be possible as well – however, we didn’t try it.