Getting Here & Around

Getting Here & Around

Mendoza, San Juan, and San Rafael all have bus stations, car-rental agencies, cheap taxis, and remises (hired car with driver). If you're combining a ski vacation in Las Leñas with wine tours, fly from Buenos Aires to San Rafael, then travel north through the Valle de Uco to Mendoza. If you're skiing in Chile, fly from Santiago (or take a bus) to Mendoza.

Hiring a remise for an hour or a day is a good use of money, as frequent detours, road construction or washed-out roads, and misleading (or nonexistent) signs can make driving yourself around frustrating and time consuming. Further, finding wineries on your own requires not only a good map but also a working knowledge of Spanish. That said, if you have the time and the temperament for it, exploring on your own—stopping for photos and to chat with locals—has its rewards. Driving to small Andean villages and the border with Chile is a particularly remarkable experience.