Family activities in Mendoza

Termas de Cacheuta is a must-visit destination. An hour from the center, this thermal water park is nestled against the precordillera, and from its terraces with heated pools, you can see the suspension bridge over the Mendoza River. On a sunny winter day, it's just a matter of daring to swim in pools with waters ranging from 28°C to 35°C. Indoors, some pools reach 43°C and have bubbles or hydro-massage jets.

It’s a program to take advantage of early in the day. For those who enjoy making their own barbecue, there are grills, and no need to bring firewood as the store is very well-stocked. There's also a restaurant and one of the best craft beers. The entrance coincides with a town, an old station, and small shops selling crafts, olive oils, chocolates. There are also several restaurants and chocolate shops. For sports lovers, hiking is available.

Tip: Transfers can be hired with the ticket from Plaza Independencia. There are promotions for family groups. Children pay admission from 3 years old.

Where: Ruta Provincial 82, Kilometer 39, Cacheuta.

It is the only Argentine sparkling wine winery that still produces using traditional methods and was among the first to consider family activities during visits. Located in Perdriel, about 40 minutes from the city, the visit to Cruzat begins with a tour of the vineyards, continues in the production area where you can learn about the champenoise method (a second fermentation in the bottle). Finally, there is a creative space where children can design and paint the labels of a sparkling wine to take home as a souvenir.

The "Cruzat Familiar" visit includes a tasting of four sparkling wines, a bottle per two people, appetizers, and a snack. There is also an option for "Picnic and Relax" with a menu specially designed for the little ones.

Tip: Always remember to bring warm clothes because the activity is outdoors and sunscreen.

Where: Costa Flores 3950, Perdriel, M5509 Luján de Cuyo.

In the late 60s, these monumental wavy slides were erected as a major attraction in various parts of the country, during the boom of amusement parks with mechanical rides. Today, only three magic carpets remain. The iconic structure in Mendoza is 27 meters high and 62 meters long, forming part of the local folklore, a ride grandparents who visited in the early years now share with their grandchildren. It is ten minutes from kilometer 0, with a panoramic view of the city, in an area surrounded by campsites and nature.

Since you can only ride from the age of four on this Alfombra Mágika, the program is completed with a patio of inflatables, foosball tables, and bungee jumping. Meanwhile, adults can share mate, sandwiches, pizzas at the tables, and occasionally dare to slide as well.

Tip: During the week, it only hosts private events or birthdays, and on Sundays (from 3 p.m. in winter), it opens to the public.

Where: Av. Champagnat 3162, El Challao, Las Heras.

For families who share music with their children, there is a double proposal at the Ángel Bustelo Auditorium. For teenagers or adults with an otaku heart, the Anime Symphonic concert performed by the Mendoza Baroque Orchestra, recreating classic Studio Ghibli films like "My Neighbor Totoro" or "Princess Mononoke," to "Dragon Ball Z". They have previously sold out tickets with their interpretations of music from "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Star Wars."

And for families with younger children, the Youtube sensation turned global theater hit: La Granja de Zenón show, with Bartolito and all the animals in a song-filled adventure.

Where: Ángel Bustelo Auditorium, City.

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López is one of the century-old wineries in the province and the only one still belonging to the founding family. Its tour is quite educational: it begins in a museum displaying plows, wagons, manual presses, tractors, and vats reflecting the 126 years of the establishment. While the winery is in full production, you can tour its sheds where fermentation tanks or a room with giant barrels for the desired aging process are located. The tour is accompanied by a guide providing precise information. It generally ends with a tasting and a visit to the gift shop. You can also have lunch on the terrace of its restaurant.

From the city center, you can reach it by Metrotranvía. It is also on the bike & wine route that covers the main wineries of Maipú.

Tip: The classic tour can be done on weekends. Reservations are required on the winery’s website.

Where: Ozamis Norte 375, Maipú.

Located in Vistalba, about 20 minutes from the city, Kaiken is among the first wineries to include children in their activities. One of its main attractions is “Ramos Generales,” one of the restaurants with Francis Mallman's seal, located under pergolas and vines, offering a proposal inspired by the mystique of pulperías and bodegones. You can have lunch there with a view of a grove crowned by the mountain.

“It’s a divine family-friendly plan, the family arrives at Kaiken to create their own wine blend, where they design not only the combination of varietals but also the label and its name. The bottle can be taken as a souvenir or enjoyed at lunch,” explains Mariana Cerutti, head of Hospitality at Kaiken.

Tip: All visits and tastings require prior reservation.

Where: Roque Sáenz Peña 5516, Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo.

If you prefer indoor activities, head towards Godoy Cruz. The iconic Arizu winery, founded in 1888, welcomes Jumpy this winter, an indoor park with the favorite attraction for the little ones and their endless energy: it looks like a neighborhood of giant inflatables, unfolding like a fantasy world in the form of a castle, pirate ship, and more, in a climbing and obstacle course plan, for children up to 12 years old.

There is much more to do: microtheater functions, puppets, drawing area, face painting, princess world, and even paintball. The offer is completed with a food truck area and a café. During weekends of vacation, they extend the hours until 11 p.m.

Tip: The Arizu Space is undergoing a recovery plan. Its building, declared a National Historic Landmark, will soon house the Wine Museum and features an important cultural agenda, from concerts to local producers' exhibitions.

Where: Belgrano 1322, Godoy Cruz, Mendoza.

Climbing sports, trekking, or activities requiring some physical skill are very in tune with the omnipresent nature. Arborism is also a highlight, and there are several routes with varying difficulty levels in the province. EUCA (which has a “sister” park in San Rafael and another in Tigre, Buenos Aires) opened in 2022 and wonderfully combines adventure and nature. There are more than 71 aerial games, wooden bridges, and ropes, up to 10 meters high, with about 26 zip lines, in an environment with a significant variety of trees.

Safety is a priority: kids receive a prior briefing and then are equipped with a harness, helmet, gloves, and a carabiner connecting them to a "lifeline." Instructors are attentive but allow autonomy. Some requirements: be over one meter tall and wear sports shoes.

From the hostel in the center of the premises, another building declared a provincial heritage site, you can watch the players in the heights while enjoying a menu created by Anna Bistró and the pastry from Brillat Savarin. The tour can be completed with a visit to CICA: the Water Culture Interpretation Center, an educational experience next to the Dam, offering a unique opportunity to teach children about the importance of natural resource conservation.

Tip: If you take your phone up, ensure it is in a pocket with a zipper.

Where: Calle Ingeniero César Cipolletti, Luján de Cuyo.

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Dragon Bowling is a plan everyone agrees on: it’s enjoyed by both adults and children. There are 20 automated lanes, with sofas and screens to follow the games. Some lanes have launchers and rails for the little ones. The offer includes pool tables, shuffleboard, a luxury foosball table with realistic players, and even some arcade games.

Tip: They open at 2 p.m., and tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis because it’s very popular. Open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. More information via WhatsApp.

Where: Lateral Sur del Acceso Este, esquina Rondeau, Guaymallén.

The mecca of trampolines in Godoy Cruz. It's an ideal park for physical activity, with many diverse games: high circuits, gladiator fights, soft pools, trampoline circuits, basketball, dodgeball, and climbing walls combined with vertical nets. Although ideal for children over 5 years old, it also attracts teenagers... and occasionally some adults are seen bouncing around!

Tip: It is necessary to buy non-slip socks.

Where: Alsina 1787, Godoy Cruz.

Besides wine, another connection between Mendoza and California, USA, is their cinematic heritage. Mendoza once was a kind of Hollywood of South America, where many high-quality films were shot. Currently, near San Martín Park, District 33 functions as an innovation and technology zone. There, Filmandes studios, an active production company, houses the Interactive Audiovisual Museum: a dedicated effort to recover and narrate the history of world cinema, from the first shadow plays, film projectors to the use of green screens and new filming techniques. The experience includes augmented reality to reconstruct the province’s cinematic tradition.

Tip: Open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are required.

Where: District 33, City.