The city of San Rafael, located in the province of Mendoza, being the second most important, is a tourist destination for every type of traveler and especially for families, as it combines natural beauty with activities for all ages.
From a wide variety of world-renowned vineyards and wineries to the imposing Andes Mountain Range, we will share some of the must-do activities in San Rafael along with information that nobody else tells you.
The ideal is to stay at least 2 nights in order to organize the visits.
Bodega La Abeja
You cannot pass through wine country without visiting and tasting at the best winery in San Rafael.
The Bodega La Abeja is the first estate and winery in San Rafael, built in 1883 by Rodolfo Iselin, founder of the current city of San Rafael. They produce mid-range and high-end wines. It is located in the heart of the city of San Rafael.
Opening hours are:
- From January to March: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:30hs.
- From April to December: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00hs.
Guided tours are free of charge, held every half hour by a guide, owners and/or winemakers, and for groups of more than 10 people with a reservation.
It consists of 4 steps:
- Wine production process: carried out with the original machinery from 1885.
- History of the Iselin family and Rodolfo Iselin's importance as the founder of the city of San Rafael
- Wine tasting
- You can admire the small Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard.
For tours in English, a phone reservation is required. The last tour takes place one hour before closing.
You can also purchase wines through their website https://www.bodegalaabeja.com.ar/
Borges' Labyrinth
To have fun with family and friends we recommend the Borges labyrinth, the first monument built in memory of the great Argentine writer, with an area of 8700 m2 and 7150 Buj plants, making it the largest in the Americas. It is located at La finca Los Álamos, 12 km from the city, 18 min by vehicle.
The garden of green paths symbolizes the friendship between Susana Bombal and the writer.
It features more than 2500 meters of pathways to explore its hidden symbolism, which becomes visible only from the 20-meter tower erected to appreciate it.
It offers two dining options with different budgets and quality; restrooms, parking, children's playground, a bamboo trail hidden in the forest, and a vast park surrounded by vineyards, irrigation channels, forests and plum trees that form the backdrop of this wonderful work that will forever remain in your memory.
It has a duration of 2-3 hours.
Euca Forest
For those who love adrenaline, the Euca forest is ideal because you can do various activities at great heights with different difficulty levels, suitable for both adults and children. This park is the largest arborism park in Argentina; the same company has another park in Tigre, Buenos Aires, but those are artificial platforms and are not built in trees.
The park is located 20.8 km from the city, about 27 min by vehicle.
Some of the activities include:
- Zip lines (Canopy)
- Arborism
- Ropes
- Swinging bridges, etc.
The park has 61 games divided into 5 difficulty levels. A minimum height is required to participate:
– Levels 1 and 2: minimum height of 1.25 meters.
– Levels 3 and 4: minimum height of 1.40 meters.
– Level 5: minimum height of 1.60 meters.
The activity begins after an informational talk, after which you can explore the park on your own. Guides will equip you with a harness, a safety carabiner, a pulley, a helmet, and gloves.
It is equipped with a continuous lifeline system, which means that from the start of the activity until you are back on the ground, you cannot be detached.
The activity lasts approximately 2h 30min.
Recommendations:
- Wear sports shoes to enter. Entry is not permitted with crocs, flip-flops, cleats, espadrilles, or sandals.
- Companions who do not participate do not pay admission.
- Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and can be purchased at the ticket office. No reservation is required.
- Picnics and bringing food inside are not allowed (except for mate).
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Credit/debit cards are accepted.
The Atuel Canyon
If what you're looking for is a walk through nature, the Atuel Canyon is the best option, located 38.7 km from the city.
The majestic Atuel Canyon, the result of an earth fault combined with water and wind erosion, gave rise to colorful and striking geoforms, resulting in a combination of colors and impressive rock walls. Along this stretch, the Atuel River sinks into the multicolored rock carved over millions and millions of years, offering a truly unique sight.
Various dams and hydroelectric plants complete this scenery, such as the El Nihuil and Valle Grande dams, which are connected to each other. The El Nihuil reservoir is the largest in Mendoza and a place where water activities and fishing can be enjoyed in both directions.
This route can be done in both directions along Provincial Route 173 with Rentennials.
Once past El Nihuil, the journey through the Atuel Canyon begins. It covers about 45 km in total along a gravel road, following the Atuel River toward Valle Grande.
The route takes a maximum of 3 hours, making stops and traveling at a leisurely pace.
One of the best views of the Atuel Canyon is in the second half of the road (direction El Nihuil – Valle Grande).
You will also find various signs marking the location of striking rock formations such as: "The Monks", "The Hanging Gardens" and "The Astronaut".
Activities available include:
- Rafting
- Trekking
- Canopy
- Horseback riding and more
Located next to Valle Grande at the entrance to the Canyon.
Don't forget to bring your camera to take photos, water, sunscreen, comfortable clothing suited to the weather, and a good pair of sneakers to enjoy the experience!
Diamond Circuit
In the Diamond Circuit we will tell you about all the hidden places to visit, the 4 reservoirs that make it up, the wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy, and we offer our vehicle rental services so you can reach your destination without any trouble and spend the whole day in nature.
25 km from the city, you will find Villa 25 de Mayo, a small and charming town in San Rafael, an authentic place for relaxation and silence (slow life), which emerged years after Fuerte San Rafael del Diamante, still preserving adobe farmhouses and streets lined with immense and ancient poplar trees.
The ruins of Fuerte San Rafael del Diamante are the oldest remains in the history of San Rafael, and facing it stands the Historical Museum "Narciso Morales", housing artifacts from those times.
A short distance away is the Galileo Vitali Dam, the first structure built on the Diamante River to harness its waters for artificial irrigation, distributed through a complex system of floodgates and concrete canals. This beautiful structure is just minutes from the city of San Rafael, exactly 27 kilometers away.
Another attraction of the circuit is El Tigre, 33 km from San Rafael, where you can enjoy fishing for large silverside fish and trout, a compensating dam whose water content is recovered by pumping toward the Los Reyunos power station.
Continuing along the circuit we find the Los Reyunos reservoir, 35 km away; on its western shore stands a Fishing and Nautical Club, along with an apart-hotel, restaurants, a convenience store, cabins, campsites, and various providers that rent boats for fishing or rowing across the dam. It stands 135 meters tall and features a lookout point that allows you to see everything from above.
The adventure tourism activities available on the circuit are:
- Tirobangi
- Scuba diving
- Catamaran ride
- Horseback riding
- Mountain bike
- ATVs
- Hiking
- Trekking, among others.
Finishing the circuit, we will reach the impressive Agua del Toro Dam, 90 km from the city (46 km are gravel road in very good condition), ideal for fishing enthusiasts. Located at the foot of the El Diamante Volcano, with its 118 meters in height it becomes the tallest dam in Argentina.
On this circuit you will also need to travel by vehicle, so we are at your disposal whenever you need us.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this beautiful city that can be both peaceful and full of adrenaline, to enjoy all its activities and offerings, which as you can see appeal to both young and old.
Live these and many more of the experiences that San Rafael offers with our vehicle service to travel with complete confidence and safety.
