Transport in Mendoza - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Getting there & away

Land
Air

Land

Bus

Mendoza is a major transport hub so you can travel to just about anywhere in the country. Mendoza’s bus terminal (431-5000, 431-3001; cnr Avs R Videla & Acceso Este, Guaymallén) has domestic and international departures.

Domestic

Several companies send buses daily to Uspallata (AR$13, two hours) and Los Penitentes (AR$15, four hours), the latter for Aconcagua.

During the ski season several companies go directly to Las Leñas (about AR$30, 6½ hours); Mendoza Viajes (461-0210; Sarmiento 129) leaves from Av Sarmiento and 9 de Julio, rather than the terminal.

A number of companies offer a morning bus service to the Difunta Correa Shrine (AR$13 roundtrip, departs 7:30am) in San Juan province; the journey’s three hours each way and the bus waits three hours before returning. Buses to Maipú leave from the stop on La Rioja between Garibaldi and Catamarca.

International

Numerous companies cross the Andes every day via RN 7 (Paso de Los Libertadores) to Santiago, Chile, (AR$45, seven hours), Viña del Mar (AR$45, seven hours) and Valparaíso (AR$50, eight hours). The pass sometimes closes due to bad winter weather; be prepared to wait (sometimes days) if weather gets extreme.

Several carriers have connections to Lima, Perú (AR$405, 60 to 70 hours), via Santiago, Chile, and there are at least two weekly departures to Montevideo, Uruguay (from AR$140, 22 hours), some with onward connections to Punta del Este and Brazil.

International buses depart from the main bus terminal. Companies are in the eastern end of the terminal.