Mendoza, an arid and very desert like region, sets at the foot of the Andes mountains on the Argentina Chile border, using the glacial waters from the mountain range to irrigate a vast network of vineyards. This unique combination of geography and climate have made Mendoza a draw to wine lovers, back packers, nature lovers, and adventurers from around the world.

Best Times To Go / Seasonal Activities
Mendoza boasts 360 days of sunshine a year with very little rain.

So, you'll likely have nice weather for what ever you're after in the city. However, if you're like most, it's the wine country that's a big draw - the harvesting, processing, and drinking of wine.

November through April is the best window if you fall into the wine-lover category. The warmer weather allows for amazing days of hiking and climbing, and coincides with the harvest, celebrated during the Vendimia festival held the first Saturday of March.

April and May visitors can see the wonderful color changes of the trees, the mountains getting snow-topped, and still enjoy winery tours.

June to September are the winter months and, obviously, are best for those winter-wonderland activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, and more. Las Leñas is a hot spot for cold weather fun.

Activities

• Wine: Mendoza is one of nine cities worldwide in the network of Great Capitals of Wine and produces 70% of Argentina's wines. So, whether you go during the pruning and harvest months of summer and spring, or the tasting months every other season - you'll be steeped in the love and lore of wine while in Mendoza. There are several tours devoted to wine. You kind find a few here: Fantastic Wine Tours in Mendoza

• Aconcagua Provincial Park: The park is situated 112 miles east of Mendoza, in the region of Las Heras, only miles east of the Chile border. The park covers 175,444 acres and is home to Aconcagua Mountain, the tallest mountain in South America, with its peak at 22,841ft (6,962 meters). Find out more here: http://www.aconcagua.mendoza.gov.ar/
• Nature and Adventure: Tall mountains, beautiful lakes, huge dams, fast flowing rivers and arid dunes bring thousands of visitors every year ready to practice climbing, hiking, wind surfing, rafting, horseback riding, cycling, and four-wheeling. Tour companies have popped up to fulfill these adventurous appetites.
• Snow Sports: Between June and September Mendoza is host to many wanting traditional skiing, snowboarding, sledging, pato, and snow polo.
• Golf: Mendoza and its surrounding areas are home to 5 different golf courses. Although it may present interesting challenges, golfers can shoot a round every season of the year in Mendoza.
• Spas and Thermal Baths: Many of the resorts in Mendoza offer traditional spa treatments. Two places to note are the Entre Cielos resort and Termas Cacheuta Thermal Water Park. The Termas Cacheuta Thermal Water Park is located just outside of Mendoza City and includes several pools filled with thermal water at different temperatures. Entre Cielos is home to the first traditional Hamam (Turkish bath circuit)in Latin America. A hamam is a circuit of 6 stages and different massage treatments.
• Culture: Mendoza has several museums, including the Museo Cornelio Moyano, a natural history museum, and the Museo del Área Fundacional (Historical Regional Foundation Museum) on Pedro del Castillo Square. In 2008 National Geographic listed Mendoza as one of the top 10 historic destinations in the world. Aside from these formal accolades, Mendoza thrives with live music, art galleries, and theater events.

Transportation
By Air: You can get to Mendoza by connecting through Buenos Aires or Santiago, Chile on most major international airlines. There are several flights a day to the Mendoza International Airport from both Buenos Aires (2 hours) and Santiago (1 hour). The airport is 7 km north of the city center. You can take a taxi or remise to downtown Mendoza from the airport for about AR$35-$40 (U$8-10).

By Bus (From Buenos Aires): Many people choose to travel to Buenos Aires first and then take an overnight bus to Mendoza, or vice versa. Buses in Argentina have comfortable seats that recline and are a great option for travelers on a budget. The trips take anywhere from 13 to 16 hours depending on the route and often leave in the evening, so you sleep most of the way. This is an English language list of buses, times, and prices of buses going from Buenos Aires to Mendoza: http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/bus/retiro/mendoza/Traveler Resources
- Official Mendoza Government Tourism Website