Aconcagua Park tour from Mendoza: hike and barbecue lunch

Eight hours, five stops, one hour inside Aconcagua Park

This eight-hour small-group tour from Mendoza enters Aconcagua Provincial Park for a one-hour hiking circuit—something most local operators don't access—then stops at Potrerillos Lake, Uspallata, Puente del Inca and returns with an Argentine barbecue lunch and wine. Groups stay under nine people, and hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Aconcagua Park small group tour

• Pickup from hotel at 8:30am
• Visit Potrerillos Lake at 9:30am
• Coffee stop in Uspallata at 11am
• Pass through Los Penitentes ski resort
• Enter Aconcagua Park and hike 1 hour
• Visit Horcones pond and viewpoint
• Stop at Puente del Inca at 1:30pm
• Enjoy Argentine asado lunch in Uspallata
• Return to hotel by 5:30pm

The Experience

Pickup happens at 8:30am from your Mendoza hotel. The minibus climbs through Luján de Cuyo's vineyards and into the Andes via the Cacheuta mountain valley, stopping for coffee in Uspallata around 11am. From there the road continues upward past Los Penitentes ski resort toward the Chilean border, with five hours of travel time spent in the air-conditioned minibus. Your guide navigates the route and explains what you're passing through—the Cordón del Plata snow-capped range, the high-altitude terrain, the geography that makes this crossing significant.

Aconcagua Park is where this tour separates from the others. Most Mendoza agencies stop at a viewpoint outside the park boundary; this one actually enters. You hike a one-hour circuit inside the park, visit the Horcones pond and reach a viewing point where you can see Aconcagua itself—the tallest mountain outside the Himalayas—weather permitting. The walking is moderate; the access is not. On the return, you stop at Puente del Inca around 1:30pm, a naturally formed stone bridge spanning a steep ravine, where there's time for a short walk and photos.

Lunch arrives in Uspallata at 2:30pm: an Argentine asado (local-style barbecue, not gourmet) with kid goat, wine and soft drinks included. The meal is unhurried. Hotel drop-off happens around 5:30pm. The group maxes out at eight travelers, which means the minibus doesn't fill up and the guide can answer questions without shouting over a crowd.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Mendoza.
• professional guide and driver.
• transport by air-conditioned minibus.
• entry to Aconcagua Provincial Park.
• morning tea and coffee.
• Argentine asado lunch with wine and soft drinks.
• all park fees and taxes.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Trout Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to actually enter Aconcagua Park and hike inside it—most Mendoza tours stop at a viewpoint outside the boundary. The small group size (maximum eight people) and included guide, transport and meals mean you're not organizing logistics or negotiating stops; the day is built and the minibus leaves at 8:30am.

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Top questions

What's the hike like inside Aconcagua Park?

The hike is a one-hour circuit at moderate difficulty inside the park itself—not a viewpoint from outside. You walk to the Horcones pond and a viewing platform where Aconcagua is visible if weather allows. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and the altitude is high, so a moderate level of fitness helps.

How much time do we spend driving versus walking?

About five hours of the eight-hour tour is spent in the minibus traveling between Mendoza and the park. Walking happens at three stops: coffee in Uspallata, the one-hour hike inside Aconcagua Park, and a short walk at Puente del Inca. Most of the day is route and stops, not hiking.

What does the barbecue lunch include?

The asado lunch in Uspallata includes Argentine barbecue, kid goat, wine and soft drinks. It's local-style, not gourmet. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking, and you can bring your own food if you prefer.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes. The route passes through an international road toward the Chilean border, so bring your passport even though you don't cross into Chile. It's required for the journey.

What's Puente del Inca?

Puente del Inca is a naturally formed stone bridge spanning a steep ravine, located on the return route from Aconcagua Park around 1:30pm. There's time to walk around it and take photos before continuing to lunch in Uspallata.

What should I wear and bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, long pants and a light jacket are recommended. The altitude is high and the weather can shift quickly in the Andes. Bring your passport, sunscreen and water; personal food is allowed if you want to supplement the included meals.