All activities / Horse Riding / Equestrian / Mendoza
Horse Riding / Equestrian in MendozaAR
Argentina's wine capital at 750m in the Andean foothills. Base city for Aconcagua expeditions and one of South America's best cities for food and wine.
Why here
Mendoza's geography gives horse riding a quality you don't find at most wine destinations: you can leave the vineyard floor and climb into genuine Andean terrain above 2,500m within a few hours, with Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, visible on the horizon. Several estancias and specialist operators run full-day and multi-day riding circuits that move through malbec vineyard country, then climb into the foothills through poplars and irrigation canals, and eventually into the raw Andes. Argentine criollo horses are built for altitude and rocky terrain. The combination of wine culture and mountain riding is unusual and genuinely well-executed here.
Best months
November through April is the Southern Hemisphere spring and summer, with warm days, clear skies, and full access to all altitude routes. The high Andes routes above 2,500m are accessible in this window; winter snow closes the upper circuits. Mendoza is very dry (300mm annual rainfall) and sunny year-round; UV is intense at altitude. Temperatures can swing significantly between afternoon heat and cool evenings.
Getting there & around
Fly into Governor Francisco Gabrielli International (MDZ) with connections via Buenos Aires. Most Western nationals do not need a visa for Argentina. Estancias offering riding programs are bookable online; operators in Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu mix wine tastings with rides. For the Andean altitude circuits, one acclimatization day in Mendoza at 750m is a sensible precaution before riding at 2,500m+. Helmets are provided; riding boots or sturdy footwear is all you need. The best estancias combine the riding with an asado lunch and wine included in the day program.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Andes Vertical
GuideA family-owned mountain guide company and adventure operator based in Mendoza with over 25 years of experience in the Argentine Andes. Registered with the Ministry of Tourism of Mendoza as a licensed adventure company. Specializes in Aconcagua guided ascents on the Normal Route and technical routes including the Polish Direct, as well as day hiking and multi-day trekking programs through Aconcagua Provincial Park.