Villavicencio Natural Reserve Tour

Home to eagles, condors, pumas, guanacos and ostriches as well as flowering cactus and many other animals and plants, the reserve covers 172,974 acres (70,000 hectares). Tour the foothills of the Andes and visit the Monument of Canota and the hauntingly beautiful old resort spa of Villavicencio, where there will be plenty of time to relax. You'll have plenty of opportunities and vantage points to take in the splendor of the eye-pleasing natural reserve.

After hotel pickup in Mendoza, you'll be driven 43 miles (70 km) to the Villavicencio Natural Reserve. The reserve is famous for its mineral springs — the water is enjoyed throughout Argentina. You'll travel through the foothills of the Andes and spend some time at the Monument of Canota, erected in 1935 in honor of General José de San Martín. This area was instrumental in San Martín's fight for independence for Chile and Peru.

Next, stop by the old resort spa Villavicencio, where you'll have some free time to walk the grounds and relax. Enjoy the lavish, verdant gardens, visiting the charming chapel on the grounds. The resort, once the stomping grounds for the powerful and wealthy, hasn't been used in decades, but there's still plenty of interest here, including natural springs.

You'll also spend some time at the Caracoles viewpoint, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the natural reserve.

At the end of the 5-hour trip, you'll be dropped off at your hotel in Mendoza.