las Leñas Valley (27 K)

The South

Valley of Uco
The valley of Uco comprises the departments of San Carlos, Tunuyán and Tupungato. They are to the south of the city of Mendoza. The following tours can be taken, Cordón del Plata (LasVegas, Potrerillos), Manantiales, (monument El Retorno a la Patria), Laguna El Diamante, (December to March, fishing of trouts, Volcán Maipo).

San Rafael
San Rafael is 235 km. away from the Capital of Mendoza
. A city of 100 000 inhabitants, San Rafael is the starting point for the following circuits, the River Atuel (Valle Grande where one can practice swimming, diving and water ski, the Canyon of the Atuel, the dam of El Nihuil), Río Diamante (dike Agua de Toro, Los Reyunos, El Tigre, Galileo Vitale), General Alvear (Vineyards). Salto Colorado: Cascade formed in the basin of the Río Salado, it is 20 meters high and its name is due to the colour of the rock.

Río Diamante
In the Basin of the Río Diamante, four dikes have been constructed, Los Reyunos, El Tigre, Galileo Vitale, and Agua del Toro.
Club Náutico Los Reyunos: At the dike Los Reyunos there is a tourist complex, apart hotel, shops, restaurants. One can practice all nautical sports, trekking and camping here.
El Tigre is the dike which compensates Los Reyunos. This dike has a special area for fishing, there is a camping site and one can swim in the dike.
Dike Galileo Vitale: First dam built on the Río Diamante. In the surroundings of the dike there is a camping site and there are good places for fishing.
Villa 25 de Mayo: With their adobe houses, this city resembles a museum, it was built in the beginning of the XIX century, after the construction of the fortress San Rafael del Diamante and the Church Nuestra Señora del Carmen. The fortress was founded by Don Miguel Telles Menesses in 1805. Its ruins show us the place where this bastion of the campaign against the Indians was located.

Río Atuel
Canyon of the Atuel: This canyon is the result of millions of years erosion., it has an excellent place to practice kayak and rafting. The canyon is full of rocks, falls and the currents change constantly, it has a degree of difficulty from 1 to 3. The rock presents natural sculptures that the tourist has baptised The Wax Museum, The Armchair of Rivadavia, The Owl, The Beggar, The Hanging Gardens. The hydroelectric complex Los Nihuiles includes the Lake El Nihuil of 9600 hectares.

Malargüe
In Malargüe one can practice all sorts of sports including fishing and hunting: Los Valles (Laguna de la Niña Encantada, Pozo de las Ánimas, Valle de los Molles, Valle de las Leñas) Caverna de las Brujas (a 5000 meter long cavern) Laguna de Llancanelo, Castillos de Pincheira, Reserva Natural de Payunia).

Ski Centre Valle de las Leñas
Las Leñas is in the Department of Malargüe, to the south of the Provincia de Mendoza, 1180 km away from the City of Buenos Aires and 400 from the City of Mendoza. It is located along the stream Las Leñas. The base of the ski centre is at 2200m above sea level and the summits that surround it are between 3500 and 4000 meters high. The complex has 3800 hectares of dry and powder snow and it has all the comforts that the skier needs: professors, skis rental, medical service, etc. This is the most expensive ski resort in Argentina.