Introducing San Juan

Living in the shadow of a world-class destination like Mendoza can’t be easy and, to its credit, San Juan doesn’t even try to compete. Life in this provincial capital moves at its own pace, and the locals are both proud and humble about their little town.

No slouch on the wine production front, San Juan’s wineries are refreshingly low-key after the Mendoza bustle, and the province’s other attractions are all within easy reach of the capital. Most come here en route to Parque Provincial Ischigualasto.

In 1944 a massive earthquake destroyed the city center, and Juan Perón’s subsequent relief efforts are what first made him a national figure. The city goes dead in summer, especially on Sunday, when all of San Juan heads to the nearby shores of Dique Ullum for relief from the sun.