Argentina's sunny wine country, with Malbec vineyards beneath the snowy Andes, long lunches, horse riding and hot springs. Here's what Mendoza is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
March and April are the best months, with the grape harvest, golden vines and the Vendimia wine festival in early March. October and November are warm and bright as the vines come back to life. Summer is hot but dry, and winter brings snow and skiing high in the Andes.
Visit Malbec bodegas close to the city, by bike, car or guided tour.
High-altitude vineyards with dramatic Andes views and long lunches, about 1 hour 30 minutes away.
See the highest mountain outside Asia from the park's viewpoints, on a scenic drive into the Andes.
Hot spring pools in a mountain gorge.
Ride with gauchos in the foothills, often with an asado barbecue afterwards.
A huge city park with a lake and a hilltop monument.
White-water rafting on the Mendoza River, for ages 8 and up on easy stretches.
Four to six days lets you visit several wineries, the Uco Valley and the Andes. Add Buenos Aires or Santiago for a longer trip.
March and April for the harvest and autumn colour, or October and November for spring. Summer is hot and winter is for skiing.
Fly from Buenos Aires in under 2 hours, or from Santiago in Chile in under an hour over the Andes. The scenic bus from Santiago takes about 7 hours.
Yes. There's rafting, horse riding, hot springs, hiking and the Andes, and wineries are lovely places for lunch.
Usually, yes, though prices in Argentina change fast. Ask about paying by card in pesos, as the exchange rate can be better than cash.
Put Mendoza on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.