Cajón de Arenales hiking: Granite walls and high trails

Hike granite valleys and high-altitude streams in one of the Uco Valley's most remote mountain areas

A full-day hiking tour of Cajón de Arenales, a high-altitude mountain zone in Mendoza's Uco Valley known for massive granite walls and rugged Andean terrain. You hike approximately 5 hours on mountain trails with a professional guide, adjusting pace to the group's fitness level while the guide reads weather and snow conditions to choose the safest route. Pickup is available from Mendoza city or directly from the Uco Valley wineries, with round-trip transport, trail lunch, snacks and personal accident insurance included.

The experience

Cajón de Arenales sits apart from Mendoza's better-known wine-country routes: a high-altitude landscape of granite walls and steep valleys where the hiking itself is the point. After pickup in Mendoza or the Uco Valley, you travel toward the mountains and begin the trek with a professional guide who adjusts the pace to match the group's fitness level. The route follows mountain trails through granite valleys and streams, passing a lagoon as one of the main waypoints, with the guide managing the path according to weather, snow and trail conditions on the day.

The full outing takes approximately 10 hours from pickup to return, with the hike itself running about 5 hours. Trekking poles are available upon request, subject to availability. You bring your own hiking clothing and footwear. The operator provides trail lunch and snacks with dietary options available, plus personal accident insurance. The small group size means the guide can keep the experience responsive to what the mountains and the participants present.

What’s included

• Professional mountain guide in English or Spanish.
• round-trip transportation from Mendoza city or the Uco Valley.
• trail lunch and snacks with dietary options available.
• personal accident insurance.
• trekking poles upon request, subject to availability.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Destino Montaña

Is this one for you?Choose the Uco Valley pickup if you're staying among the wineries and want to spend a full day in the mountains without the extra travel into Mendoza city. The small group size and adjustable pace suit hikers with moderate fitness who want the guide to respond to the group's needs and the mountain conditions as they unfold.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I start the hike from the Uco Valley wineries instead of Mendoza city?

Yes. Pickup is available directly from the Uco Valley, making it a full-day mountain option if you're staying among the wineries and want to avoid traveling into Mendoza city first.

How difficult is the Cajón de Arenales hike?

The terrain is high-altitude mountain trails through granite valleys and streams. The guide adjusts pace to the group's fitness level, but you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to complete the trek.

What happens if weather or snow changes the route?

The guide manages the trail according to conditions in the mountains on the day, choosing the most suitable route for safety. This flexibility is part of how the experience works in a high-altitude environment.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip transportation from Mendoza or the Uco Valley; a professional mountain guide in English or Spanish; trail lunch and snacks with dietary options; trekking poles upon request; and personal accident insurance.