Aconcagua Park

Your host will pick you up at 8.30am to start the very scenic drive up to Aconcagua Park, most of the route running parallel with both the Rio Mendoza and the famous narrow gauge Trans-Andean railway that used to connect Chile and Argentina. The route is know as the Seven Tunnels. On the way we pass the Potrellios dam and will stop at the one and only village - Uspallata, after which the very picturesque valley is named, for a coffee break, before the drive up to the Park, which is at an altitude of 9,300 feet and just ten miles from the frontier with Chile. On arrival at the Park we will leave the vechile and walk for an hour to Los Horcones Lake (see photo) in what is best described as "bracing air", with a good view (cloud cover permitting) of the highest mountain peak outside of the Himalayas - Aconcagua towering 13,000 feet above us. If we are lucky we might see some of the famous (and eveil looking) Condors flying over head! Next we take a short ride down to Puente del Inca one of the Worlds unique phenomenona. We can also shop here at the very artisan open-air bazaar. Into the vechile again for an eighty minute drive for a very rustic "Parrillada" (BBQ) with the odd glass of wine or two. Both the journey up and down the high mountain road visually highlight what the ice-age left behind and what regularly occurring earthquakes have done since. If you are a geology fan you will be in your element here. After lunch we will have a twenty minute ride to Seven Colours Rock, another “one-off” that deifies explanation. From there a ninety minute ride, downhill all the way, until we reach your hotel at 7pm.