My business takes me each year to Argentina and I always add leisure time. This time in October 2015 I decided to visit Mendoza to do a wine tour and to visit Cordoba for its Jesuit estancias. Mendoza is a great place for a day trip to the high Andes. Only is October, especially when it’s snowing heavily up there, it’s not the best time to go. But I was there and I wanted to go. So I went on a tour arranged by Ketek Tours.
Puente del Inca
The main reason for me to visit the high Andes even during the heavy snow was to see the Puente Del Inca. In English it’s called the Inca’s Bridge. It’s a natural bridge formed over the Vacas River. In ancient times water froze and sand with minerals covered the ice. This substance formed a hard layer which after melting of the ice resulted in the bridge. Over time it got thicker and it allowed people to walk over it. Today it’s all fenced off to protect this natural wonder. The area is also rich of hot springs with various resorts a bit more down the mountain.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes and other places of interest
The next stop would have been Christ the Redeemer which is located at the border of Argentina and Chile. The statue was built over a century ago and finished and put in place in 1904. Unfortunately the road after the Punte Del Inca was closed due to bad weather. You will find also the highest mountain of the southern hemisphere in the area. It’s called the Aconcagua and there are two trails for a nice hike. For the hike also summer time is highly recommended. If you are into skiing it’s possible just down the road at the ski resort. Not my thing though but a short photo stop for other passengers who hadn’t seen snow their entire life was planned in the tour.
As there was no way further up the mountain we had to go down the mountain. It was lunch time and we stopped at the Parrillada El Rancho. I love meat so this was the perfect place. The menu had an option to take 1000 grams of the finest lomo beef. Its price was just 9 euro so I did not hesitate and ordered a kilo of lomo medium rare and a bottle of Merlot. A perfect combination!
The other participants were surprised that I finished my beef 🙂 Ok; I did cut out the rims of fat. No veggies and other side dishes for me. I was happy with the beef. After lunch we continued down the mountain for a small stop at Tiger Rock. Do you see the tiger lying in the photo below? From there it was just over an hour drive back to Mendoza where I would stay at the Huentala Hotel; the finest boutique hotel in Mendoza (read my review). I didn’t see the Christ Redeemer but maybe another time in summer. The area is beautiful and it deserves a second visit, so do the wines. I flew the next day to Cordoba to see the remains of the Jesuits.
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Did you visit Argentinian Andes too or do you have questions? Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Love to hear from you!
Gallery High Andes
Click an image for a full screen gallery of more photos taken during this trip. If you like to use any photo for commercial, private or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.
