Mendoza 1-day itinerary

Start at Parque San Martín, one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in South America. The 420-hectare park was designed by French landscape architect Carlos Thays and features a lake, rose garden, zoo, and tree-lined avenues. Walk or rent a bike to explore the park with views of the Andes foothills rising dramatically to the west. The morning light on the mountains is extraordinary, with the range running like a wall along the western horizon. Continue to the city centre along the shaded boulevards lined with plane trees and acequias (irrigation channels).

Take a bus or taxi to the Maipú wine district, 15km south of central Mendoza. Rent a bicycle at one of the shops near the Maipú town square and pedal between the wineries on flat vineyard roads. Maipú is Mendoza's most accessible wine region with over 20 wineries within cycling distance. The Malbec here is Argentina's signature wine: deep, dark, and fruit-forward with a smoothness that comes from the high-altitude sunshine and dry desert air. Most wineries offer tastings for $5-10 including 4-6 wines.

End the day with an Argentine asado (barbecue) at one of the parrillas on Avenida Arístides Villanueva, Mendoza's restaurant and nightlife strip. The asado is a ritual: slow-grilled beef ribs, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), and provoleta (grilled provolone cheese) cooked over wood embers by a parrillero who treats the grill as an art form. Pair everything with a bottle of Mendoza Malbec. The avenue is lively in the evening with outdoor terraces, wine bars, and a young social atmosphere.