In this section Trips to Cuyo (Mendoza/San Juan/San Luis and La Rioja) and Central Argentina, we visit Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca and Cordoba provinces. Each one presents its different charm and attraction.

Mendoza and its wines
Mendoza province is the Argentine wine region par excellence, from Lujan de Cuyo, going through Maipu up to Tupungato Valley, where the Malbec grape predominate. We can visit the most important vineyards in Mendoza in a wine route that covers industrial business as well as little companies with small wine production, dedicated to handicraft or organic wines. The principal wineries to visit are Chandon, Familia Zuccardi, La Rural (Ruttini Wines), Catena Zapata, Posada Salentein, Andeluna Cellars, Cavas de Weinert, Finca Flichmann and in San Rafael, Bodega de la Familia Bianchi (Bianchi family winery). We visit high vineyards in the Uco Valley where handicraft wine such as Bodega Lurton is produced. But Mendoza not only is a land of good wines, it has a unique landscape as well. Its región is as an intermédiate one between Northern Patagonia with its blue lakes and its green and lush wild forests and the arid North with its color palette. We can go along the cliff road towards the Cordillera de los Andes (mountain range), go to Villavicencio, discover the Rio Atuel Canyon and optionally practise adventure tourism, especially rafting in its rapids, enter the Caverna de las Brujas (Witches´ Caverns) or practise 4-wheel-drive at El Sosneado. The most interesting places are:

Mendoza City
Wine Route
Cordillera de los Andes (mountain range) by Rio Mendoza or Villavicencio.
Villavicencio´s Caracoles.
Rio Atuel Canyon.
El Sosneado.
Caverna de las Brujas (Witches´ Cavern).
Uco Valley and High Vineyards

San Juan, accurate representation of the Triasic period, 300 million years ago
The San Juan land is not left behind in the production and manufacture of superb quality wines, differently to Mendoza, the principal grape is Syrah not Malbec. We could say that Mendoza is Malbec and San Juan is Syrah. Apart from its own wine route, the Valle de La Luna (Moon Valley) in the Ischigualasto Provincial Park with its 5 stops is worth visiting. We also visit the Difunta Correa Sanctuary, in the Vallecito. We arrive at the Calingasta Valley and the Pampa del Leoncito, less known as Barreal Blanco, up to the Astronomical Observatory. To know San Juan well, you can´t miss the North of the province, Jachal, Dique Cuesta del Viento and Rodeo. One of the most beautiful places is the San Guillermo National Park, Biospheric Reserve, located in the Northeast of the province at around 3,100 meters over sea level. The principal aim of the park is to protect vicunas, mountain suri and the gallareta cornuda, three species in danger of extinction. The San Juan attractions are:

Valle de La Luna (Moon Valley).
Calingasta Valley.
Pampa del Leoncito (Barreal Blanco)
Difunta Correa Sanctuary.
Dique Cuesta del Viento (dam).
Northern San Juan (Jachal/Rodeo...etc)
San Guillermo National Park.

La Rioja, former dinosaurs land
Talking about La Rioja one recalls the Cañon del Talampaya (Canyon), natural reserve with archaeological and paleontological sites of great value, which takes us back to the dinosaurs´ age, especially to the Mesozoic era. Its capital city is, together with Chilecito, worth visiting. We go by the Cuesta de Miranda, with the presence of the Famatina and the Sañogasta hills.

Cañón del Talampaya (Talampaya Canyon)
La Rioja, Villa Union and Chilecito cities.

Catamarca
We move along to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca to know the Cuesta del Portezuelo and this pretty Northern city where the Basílica stands out together with the San Francisco Convent and the Handicraft Market. But if we leave the city, we find the cuesta (slope) mentioned in many songs, until we reach Las Piquitas Dam. The Cuesta del Portezuelo is a beautiful winding road where we climb up to 1,700 meters high where we can see the Catamarca Valley and the Sierra de Ambato (hills).

San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
Cuesta del Portuezuelo.
Las Piquitas Dam.

Córdoba
This province should be visited during many days because it takes a long time to visit it completely. Its capital city is an important and valuable cultural, historical and touristic center. The road by the Altas Cumbres (high peaks) up to Mina Clavero and Cura Brochero go by La Cumbrecita, Villa General Belgrano, with its teutonic and Austrian influence. The Calamuchita and Punilla Valleys are destinations discovered while going through this itinerary. The Road of the Jesuit Estancias (Ranchs) is a must. The UNESCO considered the monuments in this road and the Jesuit Square in Cordoba as World Heritage. This system describes the origins and evolution of the Society of Jesus in South America.

Cordoba City
. The Cordoba Jesuit Square.
• The Society of Jesus Church.
• National University Rectorate.
• Monserrat School.

Other monuments which form the monument system
. The Jesus Maria Jesuit Museum and the Caroya Historical House.
. The Santa Catalina Estancia (Ranch)
. Candonga Chapel
. Viceroy Liniers´s House ( Ex Alta Gracia Estancia)
. La Candelaria Estancia (Ranch)

Calamuchita Valley
La Cumbrecita & Penón del Aguila
Camino de las Altas Cumbres (High Peaks Road)
Mina Clavero / Cura Brochero (San Luis)
Villa Carlos Paz
Villa General Belgrano.