Mendoza and the Andes

Mendoza is the capital of the eponymous wine province and lies like an oasis in a dry valley at the foot of the Andes. After the devastating earthquake of March 20, 1861, it was rebuilt a short distance from the old colonial city: with wide streets, low-rise houses, shady avenues, and open irrigation channels, the Acequias, along the sidewalks. The heart of the city is the Plaza Independencia, surrounded by four smaller squares, including the tile-decorated Plaza España.To the west lies the extensive Parque General San Martín with a lake and rose garden; on the Cerro de la Gloria, a bronze monument commemorates the Army of the Andes, with which General San Martín marched from here to Chile in 1817. Surrounding the city are the wine regions: Maipú, which is easily explored by bike, Luján de Cuyo with many well-known Malbec wineries, and, about an hour and a half's drive south, the high-altitude Valle de Uco. Every year in early March, the city celebrates the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, the grand Grape Harvest Festival.

Aconcagua, at 6,961 meters, is the highest mountain in the Americas. The provincial park protecting it is located about 180 kilometers west of Mendoza on Ruta Nacional 7 towards Chile, just past Puente del Inca and approximately 15 kilometers before the border. The drive there passes the Potrerillos reservoir and through the Andean village of Uspallata.Even without summit ambitions, a visit is worthwhile: A short circular trail leads to Laguna de Horcones with views of the massive south face; those with more time can hike in a day to the first base camp, Confluencia. For all trails, you need a permit, which you acquire in advance. The main season for trekking and ascents runs from mid-November to mid-March. Just before the park, a stop at Puente del Inca, a natural rock bridge over the river, is recommended.

Providencia is an independent commune east of the city center and one of Santiago's most pleasant residential and commercial districts. Tree-lined streets, parks along the Mapocho, numerous restaurants and excellent Metro connections make it a practical base for visitors.

The district at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal, north of the Río Mapocho, is known for colorful house facades, murals, and a bustling bar and restaurant scene. Here are Pablo Neruda's house La Chascona and the lower station of the funicular up the city hill.

This small historic district between Cerro Santa Lucía and Parque Forestal is one of Santiago's most popular going-out neighborhoods. The streets around the cobblestone Calle José Victorino Lastarria are lined with cafés, wine bars, bookstores, and cultural institutions such as GAM and MAVI.