Mendoza Andes day trip: Potrerillos, Aconcagua and Christ the Redeemer

The Mendoza Andes day trip, the Aconcagua day trip from Mendoza, is a full day on Route 7 (RN 7), the road that climbs to Chile: Potrerillos, Uspallata, Penitentes, Puente del Inca, the Aconcagua viewpoint, the highest mountain in the Americas, and, in summer, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes, at around 3,850 meters. Las Cuevas, the last village before the statue, is 210 km from Mendoza city. It's the longest day of the trip, and the one that changes most with the season.

It's also the outing I most often see badly placed. People leave the mountains for their last day and find out it snowed and the road is closed.

What do you see on the Andes day trip from Mendoza?

In the order they appear as you drive up Route 7:

• Potrerillos: the green reservoir in the middle of the mountains, about an hour from downtown. The Gran Hotel Potrerillos says it is 52 km from the city.
• Uspallata: the dry valley where much of Seven Years in Tibet was filmed, just under two hours from the city. I tell that story in Seven Years in Tibet in Mendoza: Brad Pitt's set in Uspallata (in Portuguese).
• Penitentes: the snow park by the road, which changes the whole day in winter.
• Puente del Inca: the natural stone bridge colored by minerals, at around 2,700 meters, with the ruins of an old spa hotel destroyed by an avalanche.
• Aconcagua and Laguna de Horcones: the entrance to Aconcagua Provincial Park, with the mountain right in front of you. It's a short walk, nothing technical.
• Christ the Redeemer of the Andes: the 1904 monument on the Chilean border. You reach it on a dirt road of just over 8 km, with a dozen bends, from Las Cuevas.

The mountain day isn't a string of stops. It's the road. If you only look at the pins on the map, you miss half the day.

Where are Potrerillos and Cacheuta, and can you just go there?

You can, and it's what I suggest to people short on time or who don't want ten hours in a car. Potrerillos and Cacheuta are each about an hour from downtown Mendoza.

Potrerillos has the reservoir with the Andes behind it. Cacheuta has the hot springs, on the way. It's a half day in the mountains, without serious altitude and without the risk of a closed road.

In summer, Potrerillos is also the setting for the electronic music sunsets, such as Las Palapas (in Portuguese). Many people combine the two.

When is the best time for a day trip to the Andes?

It depends on what you want to see:

• Summer (December to March): dry, with a light jacket at night. This is Christ the Redeemer season: at the start of every summer, the provincial roads department clears the snow and reopens the road to the monument.
• Winter (June to September): cold and heavy snow, with peak snow from June to August. The landscape is at its most beautiful, but the Cristo Redentor pass can close, and sometimes the road is only open as far as Puente del Inca, with snow chains required.

Access to the Laguna and Horcones Valley has been open all year since Decree 2322 of 2025, always subject to weather. In the 2025-2026 season, the Horcones sector received 106,575 visitors.

What I do: I put the mountains early in the trip, with a free day after. If the weather closes in, there's still room to reschedule. What changes each month is in Mendoza weather by month.

How long does the Mendoza Andes day trip take?

The whole day. Las Cuevas is 210 km from the city, on a mountain road full of bends and trucks heading to Chile. Add the stops, lunch and the drive back, and you leave early and return after dark.

Altitude matters too. You leave the city and, the same day, get close to 3,850 meters. Take the walks slowly, drink water and bring a warm layer, even in January: up there it's windy and much colder.

Do you need a permit to see Aconcagua?

For Laguna de Horcones, what you pay is access to the park's tourist circuit, which is very different from a trekking permit. The fee changes every season, so check the official site before you go.

Overnight treks and summit climbs are a different trip, with their own permit and evacuation insurance. I cover that in Mendoza hiking and treks and in Aconcagua season 2026-2027: permits, prices and deadlines (in Portuguese).

Andes day trip by rental car or with a driver?

In my experience, a driver. The road is demanding, needs chains in winter, and whoever drives doesn't see the view. A driver for the day includes private round-trip transport, a Spanish-speaking driver and water on board. The price depends on the service and is quoted to measure.

How I help you fit the mountains into your itinerary

I'm Beto, a private travel advisor in Mendoza. I don't sell tours or packages, and I take no commission. What I do is decide with you which mountain day fits your trip: the full day to the Christ statue, the half day at Potrerillos and Cacheuta, or neither, and on which day, so the weather doesn't cost you anything.

• Initial Chat (USD 89): one video call and a written PDF itinerary.
• Tu Amigo Plan (USD 297): three calls, and you book live with me alongside you.
• Premium Amigo (USD 597): I make the bookings in your name, drivers included.

See pricing or tell me about your trip in the form below.

FAQ

Is the Andes day trip from Mendoza worth it?
For most people, yes: it's the other side of Mendoza, beyond the wineries. What isn't worth it is squeezing it into a two-day trip.

Can you see snow on the trip?
In winter, definitely: June to September, with the peak from June to August. In summer, only on the peaks.

Is Christ the Redeemer open all year?
No. The dirt road to the monument opens in summer, once the snow has been cleared.

What is the highest point of the trip?
Around 3,850 meters, at Christ the Redeemer. Puente del Inca is at about 2,700.

Sources

• Government of Mendoza — The access road to the Cristo Redentor monument is open (10/12/2021)
• Argentina.travel — Puente del Inca
• Billiken — Cristo Redentor de los Andes: 122 years since its inauguration
• Diario de Cuyo — Thousands of truckers wait for the Cristo Redentor pass to reopen (17/07/2022)
• Gran Hotel Potrerillos — official site
• El Sol — The Mendoza village competing to be the prettiest in Argentina (2025)
• Los Andes — Aconcagua Park: prices and rules for the 2025-2026 season (Decree 2322)
• Diario Uno — Record season at Aconcagua, 2025-2026
• Wikipedia — Aconcagua