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By Air
Mendoza International Airport (MDZ) is your gateway to Mendoza, and can also be a great point of entry for Argentina itself.
MDZ airport offers direct flights from:
- • Buenos Aires (AEP, EZE): 1.5 hour flight
- • Santiago, Chile (SCL): a 0:45 minutes hop over the Andes
- • Panama City, Panama (PTY): 6:30 hours
- • São Paulo, Brazil (GRU): 3 hours
- • Lima, Peru (LIM): 3:45 hours
- • Fly from the U.S. via Panama City (PTY) in a straight line. The airline is Copa Airlines, part of Star Alliance, same as United Airlines.
- • Fly from the U.S., Europe or Australia via Santiago de Chile (SCL), an easy to navigate airport for transit, and enjoy the short flight over the Andes.
Advantages of Mendoza as your first stop in Argentina
- • Small airport size: Quick border control and luggage pickup.
- • Proximity to city center: About 8km, only $10-15 by taxi or ride share, see below.
- • Buenos Aires has 2 airports: Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP). EZE is far from the city, and transport is a mess. If you have to go from EZE to Buenos Aires city, book a taxi from a kiosk inside the airport, don't take a random taxi from the curb. The transfer between airports (sometimes necessary) is cumbersome.
- • You can always take the side trip to Buenos Aires from Mendoza, flying domestic to AEP (Aeroparque Buenos Aires), and avoid Buenos Aires International airport EZE altogether.
Mendoza Airport is 15 minutes north of the city
Mendoza Airport is well organized, and does not allow "pirate" taxi drivers to solicit passengers in the building.
Airport Remis
These have a license to operate in the airport. Talk to a person with a badge at the exit, will give you a fixed price to your destination and confirm payment options.
Taxi Line
There is a designated line of yellow taxis, that is being filmed for security. These taxis are metered. Make sure the meter is on. It costs 15000-25000 pesos (US$10-15) to the center of Mendoza.
Uber / Cabify
Rideshare is available, however Apple Pay and PayPal may not work as payment options. Make sure you have a physical credit/debit card saved in the app. Cash (pesos) is also available as an option.
A lot of yellow cabs are also on Uber, while Cabify, preferred by most locals, does not allow yellow cabs in the network.
Private Transfer
You can book a pickup and private transfer with a tour agency or hotel. These are naturally 2-3 times more expensive, because a driver has to wait at the airport for you to come out with your luggage, even if the flight is delayed.
Let's take a quick tour of Mendoza city using Google Maps
1. Click here to open the city center in Google Maps. (or search for "Plaza Independencia Mendoza")It is easy to recognize, you will see 5 squares, like the number 5 on a die, with the larger Plaza Independencia in the very center. Check out the names of the other squares.
2. From the middle of Plaza Independencia, go out 4 blocks in each direction and find San Martín Ave. (east), Colón Ave. (south), Belgrano Ave. (west), Las Heras Ave. (north). Inside these 4 streets is the commercial center of Mendoza. When looking for accommodation, try to stay in or close to this area, maximum a couple of blocks outside (with the exception of "La Quinta", see below). For example the Sheraton hotel is just outside to the east of San Martín Ave.
3. Zoom out a few times and you will see a large green park, "Parque General San Martín" in the west. The area between the city center and the park is called "La Quinta" (the 5th section). It is a nice residential neighborhood with many Airbnbs and some hotels. The park is great for walking and running around the lake area.
4. Nightlife: Remember Colón Ave., 4 blocks south of Plaza Independencia? Follow it to the west, towards the park, and it changes its name to Aristides Villanueva. This is the main street to go have a drink and people watch, with countless bars.
5. If you get lost, the Andes Mountains are always to your west, and even if you can not see them, note that the entire city is on a slight slope, higher towards the west and lower towards the east, so you can generally tell in which direction you are looking.
The Peso
Argentina's official currency is the peso, for which the symbol $ is used. So don't be confused when a coffee costs $5000 – it is 5000 pesos.
Since historically the peso has been very inflationary, the US dollar has always been very popular among the Argentine people to keep their savings. However cash US$ are not widely accepted, even if in tourist hotspots some restaurants and shops may accept them at a more or less favorable rate.
Speaking of rates: There are many dollar to peso exchange rates, which can be quite confusing. You can check them out on this website (www.ambito.com/contenidos/dolar.html).
"Dólar Blue" and "Dólar MEP"
The so-called blue dollar is the black market rate used by unofficial money changers. In the past it has often been 50%+ higher than the official rate, and foreign tourists used to show up with lots of cash and change money on the street (and sometimes get scammed). Luckily, this is no longer necessary. As a foreign tourist you now have access to a rate at or slightly below the financial market rate "Dolar MEP", when paying with a credit or debit card issued by a non-Argentine bank. You can also access this exchange rate changing cash US$ officially with your passport. The blue dollar is no longer advantageous (as of 2025).
Cash
That being said, cash discounts are frequently offered in businesses, whether you pay in pesos or US dollars. Bear in mind that stained or torn dollar bills are unpopular and will sometimes not be accepted. Larger bills (US$50 or 100) are more popular and easier to use or exchange than small bills. (The reason is that people still save in US$, and nobody wants the small bills). So taking a few new, crisp 50s and 100s to use where you get a good rate and/or discount is a good idea.
Power and Outlets
Argentina uses 220V electricity at 50Hz. The country uses Type C (European two-pin) and Type I (Australian three-pin) plugs. Many outlets are hybrid sockets that accept both types. Bring a universal adapter if your devices use different plugs.
Type C
Type I
Hybrid
Mobile Data and SIM Cards
You can buy a physical SIM card at Claro (www.claro.com.ar/personas/planes-prepago-pospago/turistas) or Movistar (www.movistar.com.ar/turistas) stores with your passport. This is recommended if you plan to use a lot of data during your stay.
However, if you just need a few GB, we recommend using a data eSIM with the Airalo app (airalo.go.link/2qrh9). While it may be a few dollars more, the convenience of not wasting time is worth it—you can set up the eSIM comfortably from home and have data available the moment you touch down at the airport. The eSIM is data-only, so you keep your primary phone line active for calls and SMS.
Airalo app example for Argentina
Language
Spanish is the official language. English is spoken at most tourist venues, but learning basic phrases is appreciated.
What to Wear
Wear comfortable clothes during wine tours – there is no formal dress code at the wineries. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended as you may walk through vineyards. Bring layers for temperature changes and sunscreen for the high altitude sun.
Dining Culture
Dinner is typically late (9-11 PM). Lunch is the main meal. Tipping 10% is standard at restaurants.
Safety
Mendoza is generally safe for tourists. Use common sense, avoid displaying valuables, and stay in well-lit areas at night.
Emergency Contacts:
- 911 — Emergency Services
- 101 — Police
- 107 — Medical Emergency
- +54 261 413-2135 — Mendoza Tourist Police