Potrerillos
Mendoza, Argentina
Potrerillos is a town with an artificial lake outside of Mendoza that is a destination for rafting, kayaking, hiking, and fly-fishing. Visitors can also opt to go horseback riding or do some mountain biking. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and cypress forests, Potrerillos is a particularly scenic location for an outdoor adventure.
The Basics
Potrerillos is the perfect place to experience Mendoza Province’s natural beauty. Located in the Andean foothills, the town’s lake was created by a dam on the Mendoza River and is 7.5 miles long and 2 miles wide. Visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports, do some fly-fishing, or go trekking, zip-lining, mountain biking, horseback riding, and even paragliding. Many travelers visit on guided trips that include essential equipment like kayaks or bikes.
Things to Know Before You Go
Be prepared for the great outdoors with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water.
There are a variety of small hotels and restaurants located in Potrerillos.
Some areas, facilities, and activities are accessible to wheelchairs, but others are not; check ahead with tour providers.
How to Get There
Potrerillos is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Mendoza city, in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province. Provincial route 82 runs from Mendoza to Potrerillos. You can drive to the area or visit on a guided tour that includes round-trip transportation from Mendoza.
When to Get There
The most popular time of year to travel to Mendoza is from October–April. Travelers seeking the cooler temperatures of shoulder season often visit Potrerillos during the fall or spring.
White Water Rafting
In addition to fly-fishing and kayaking, Potrerillos is also a great place to go white water rafting. A range of rafting tours are available on the Rio Mendoza, from short floats to day-long experiences that take you through class II rapids to multi-day trips that include strong class III and IV rapids.
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