Potrerillos.

What to do in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

Life in Potrerillos clusters in scattered settlements around the perimeter of the reservoir and into the valleys of El Salto and Las Vegas. Days revolve around the water before the midday wind rises, followed by unhurried lunches at simple mountain parrillas. It suits hikers, paddlers, and independent drivers who prefer wood smoke, silence, and gravel tracks to manicured vineyard lawns.

24 hours in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

Arrive by 9:00 to kayak the calm morning waters off the eastern shore. Head up Ruta 89 to El Salto by 13:00 for clay-oven empanadas and grilled ribs at a local parador. Finish with an afternoon hike up Cerro Cocodrilo, allowing two hours for the return walk before sunset. Select 1 Day above to see it.

2 days in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

A second day lets you explore the higher hamlets of Valle del Sol and Las Vegas. Hire a Criollo horse for a morning ride into the foothills, then seek out fresh trout and house-brewed amber ale along Avenida del Sol, where afternoon shade under the poplars comes easy. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.

3 days in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

Three days unlocks the scenic gravel route over the Carrera Pass toward Tupungato and the Uco Valley, or a detour down to the thermal mineral pools of Cacheuta. You gain time to fish the quiet stretches of the Mendoza River without feeling rushed by the clock.

Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina itineraries by interest

• Paddling & Kayaking in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Rent sea kayaks or stand-up boards at the northern shore near Bahia de Potrerillos before afternoon Andean gusts pick up across the reservoir.

• White-Water Rafting in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Run class III and IV rapids along the glacial Rio Mendoza, launching from base camps near Ruta 7 with wetsuits provided against icy meltwater.

• Mountain Hiking in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Climb Cerro Cocodrilo or trek the dry ravines of Quebrada del Salto for wide views over the water and the grey granite of the Cordon del Plata.

• Open-Fire Cooking in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Order slow-grilled vacio, charred chorizo, and clay-oven baked empanadas mendocinas stuffed with beef, cumin, and hard-boiled egg in El Salto.

• High-Altitude Wine in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Drink earthy, cool-climate Malbec and crisp Criolla Chica poured into sturdy tumblers at unassuming roadside parrillas along Avenida Los Condores.

• Craft Beer in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Stop at small mountain brewpubs along Route 89 in Las Vegas for unfiltered red ales brewed with pure, mineral-heavy glacial runoff.

• Horseback Riding in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Ride steady Criollo horses through the poplars and scree slopes of Valle del Sol with local gauchos who know every contour of the Andean front.

• Rock Climbing in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Clip bolts on the volcanic limestone and sandstone crags scattered along Quebrada de las Lajas, best tackled during cool autumn mornings.

• Thermal Baths in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Drive fifteen minutes east to Cacheuta for mineral soak pools stepped into the canyon wall above the roaring river gorge.

• Fly Fishing in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Cast dry flies for rainbow and brown trout in the clear, turbulent upper bends of Rio Mendoza and mountain feeder creeks below the dam.

• Scenic Drives in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Follow Ruta 89 through the tiny hamlets of El Salto and Las Vegas into Tupungato along the dramatic, winding Carretera de la Carrera.

• Stargazing in Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina

  Step outside anywhere past El Salto after dark to view the southern constellations and Milky Way undiluted by urban glare.