Tupungato Department: Wine, Mountain Landscapes and Culture

At more than 6,500 meters, the Tupungato volcano is one of the highest peaks in the Americas and shapes Tupungato Department. The area also has a distinctive wine culture: its vineyards lie at elevations of more than 1,200 meters, and their wines are considered unique, intense and elegant. Visitors planning a stay will find wine tastings and regional cuisine, as well as hikes, scenic routes and insights into history and faith.

Wine and Regional Cuisine

The Tour de Vinos is a walking tour through the central streets of Tupungato. Wine tastings and food pairings are part of the experience, along with introductions to various sites of heritage interest in the Ciudad district. At Sabores de Tupungato, participants prepare their own five-course regional menu from locally produced ingredients under the guidance of a local chef. Both experiences bring wine and food together in different ways: as a guided tour or a group live-cooking experience.

The wineries also offer different experiences. Masi Tupungato in the La Arboleda district offers a visit with a tasting of three wines, or alternatively, a tasting of its wines with several types of cheese. In Gualtallary, Bodega Sophenia offers guided winery tours with a range of tasting options. Dates and availability for Tour de Vinos and Sabores de Tupungato vary; check the schedule when planning your visit.

Mountain Landscapes and Routes

Provincial Route 99 runs through the Gualtallary area and connects it eastward with National Route 40. Another way to reach Tupungato is Provincial Route 89. It connects the town with Potrerillos, Las Vegas and El Salto in Luján de Cuyo Department, passing through foothill landscapes with estancias and cultivated land.

The La Carrera–San José–El Peral Circuit follows the Camino de los Cerrillos. From Provincial Route 86, you can reach Tupungato and take in the expanse of the valley at the foot of the mountain range, with its snow-capped peaks in every season. The Camino de la Carrera is another scenic route, accessed via Provincial Route 89. Tupungato’s scenic roads can be explored by car, on foot or by bicycle, offering different perspectives on the valley.

Hikes, Moonlit Nights and Nature

The Senderismo de Montaña hike is of moderate intensity and leads to the confluence of the Las Tunas and Santa Clara rivers at an elevation of 2,250 meters. On nights with a full moon, the Camino de los Cerrillos can be experienced via Provincial Route 86; check the dates in advance. Astrotourism is open to the general public as well as astronomers, amateurs and photographers. In the El Peral district, a campsite offers the opportunity to camp and enjoy a nature experience.

Pilgrimage and History

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began around 1905 at the Capilla Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Since then, the chapel has been a center of pilgrimage and prayer for many faithful and devotees. For a different perspective on history, visit the Museo del RIM 11 Grl. Las Heras “Subof. P. Domingo Escárate”: its exhibits include photographs and historical documents, as well as displays tracing the development of weapons and uniforms of the mountain infantry regiment RIM 11 “Tnte. Grl. Gregorio de Las Heras.”

Mendoza in the Wider Context

Beyond Tupungato Department, Mendoza Province provides a broader perspective for wine trips: it is divided into five major wine regions—Primera Zona, Valle de Uco, Oasis Este, Oasis Centro-Norte and Oasis Sur. More than 200 wineries across the province are open to tourists. These figures and regions describe Mendoza as a whole; for local experiences, the wineries and activities mentioned in Tupungato Department offer a more specific guide.

More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Tupungato, Lavalle Department, Luján De Cuyo, Malargüe Department, Guaymallén, San Rafael Department, Godoy Cruz Department, Santa Rosa Department

Back to the main travel overview: Mendoza.