Ski & Snow Activities in the Andes

Mendoza is the gateway to some of South America’s finest ski terrain. Three resorts serve different needs and budgets, all within a few hours of the city.
Las Lenas is the flagship, an internationally recognized resort known for its long runs, reliable snow, and vibrant apres-ski scene. It draws skiers from across the hemisphere and operates at an altitude that guarantees excellent conditions from late June through early September. The drive from Mendoza takes about four hours, and SAK arranges private transfers so you arrive relaxed.
Penitentes sits closer to the city, roughly two hours away along the famous road to Chile. It’s a favorite for families: the terrain is gentler, the ski school is well-organized, and there’s a toboggan run that children find genuinely thrilling. If it’s your first time on skis, Penitentes is the right place to start.
Los Puquios offers a more local, low-key experience at an elevation that guarantees snow when conditions are good. It’s ideal for a day trip if you want snow without the full resort infrastructure.

Wine Tours & Tastings in Winter

Something unexpected happens to the wine experience in winter. The tasting rooms are quieter. The winemakers have more time to talk. The light through the cellar windows takes on a particular golden quality that summer never quite matches.

More than 100 wineries in Mendoza’s wine regions welcome visitors year-round. In winter, the Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu valleys offer excellent conditions for full-day tours: the vineyards may be dormant, but the barrels are maturing and the hospitality is at its warmest. The Valle de Uco, at higher altitude, adds dramatic Andes backdrops made even more striking with snow on the peaks.

Our winter wine tours are private by default. We pick you up at your hotel, guide you through three to four carefully selected wineries, arrange a proper lunch, and have you back in the city before dinner. No shared buses, no rushed tastings.

Hot Springs & Relaxation near Mendoza

After a day on the slopes or among the vineyards, few things compete with sinking into naturally heated thermal water while the Andes frame the horizon. Mendoza has two main options, and they’re both worth knowing about.

Cacheuta is the classic choice, a thermal spa complex set in a dramatic canyon about 40 kilometers from the city. The pools are fed by natural hot springs and range in temperature, with the coolest ones hovering around 28°C and the hottest near 42°C. In winter, steam rises from the surface and the surrounding mountains are dusted with snow. It’s a scene that stays with you.

Villavicencio is more of a scenic journey than a thermal destination, but the mountain road there is one of the most beautiful drives in the province. The old hotel and its mineral water springs have a quiet, timeless quality that makes for a meditative half-day.

Adventure & Outdoor Activities

Winter doesn’t slow Mendoza down, it just changes the register. The Mendoza River runs strong in June and July, which makes it one of the best seasons for white-water rafting on Class III and IV rapids. You’ll get wet, the water is cold, and guides report it’s consistently the most exhilarating time of year to run the river.

The high mountain trails are accessible from late summer through early winter, before the big snows close the higher passes. Trekking to Quebrada del Durazno or riding horseback through the Andes foothills gives you an entirely different perspective on the province, one measured in altitude and silence rather than kilometers.

SAK also arranges stargazing experiences in winter. The dry, clear air and low humidity that characterize Mendoza winters create exceptional conditions for astronomy. We partner with local guides who bring proper telescopes and know the southern sky well.

Winter Gastronomy & Cultural Experiences

Mendoza’s food culture runs deep, and winter brings out a particular warmth in it. The city’s restaurants lean into the heartiest Argentine classics — a proper asado with cuts slow-cooked over wood fire, empanadas mendocinas stuffed with spiced beef and olives, and a steaming bowl of locro, the thick Andean stew of corn, beans, and pork that locals reach for the moment temperatures drop.

At the wineries, the table is set differently. Kitchens build menus around what the land produces: chivito patagónico slow-roasted over embers, house-made charcuterie with regional cured meats, and the sharp goat cheeses that Uco Valley producers do particularly well — all paired with a glass of Malbec and a view of snow-capped peaks. SAK’s Origen Mendoza experience brings it all together: a hands-on cooking class, a winery lunch built around local ingredients, and an olive oil tasting that covers the full range of the province’s flavors, from vine to table.

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