Manzano Historico 1-day Hike in Valle de Uco, Mendoza

This was truly a wonderful two days, I had one objective which was to experience altitude prior to beginning a long high altitude expedition in the coming days. Joaquin curated the two days around this objective and we headed to an area off the beaten track. I just loved this and feel so fortunate to have experienced this area, the Guanaco\'s were fascinating and I just loved watching them and spotting them in the mountains. Joaquin provided me with so much knowledge and useful tips to help me during my expedition. The two days ended in an unexpected storm which just added to the fun and really rounded out what was one of the most memorable hikes I have done to date. Next time I\'m back in Mendoza I will definitely call on Joaquin again.

Overall, this was a fantastic hike. You get some astonishing views and can take different routes according to your fitness level and interest. Personally, I enjoyed our quick stay at the high camp where we got to meet several people who were acclimatising for their ascends to the higher peaks. Also, we really enjoyed the time with Joaquin. Thanks to his fun personality and intersting conversations (also fluent in English which helped in my case) the time together went by way too quickly. Even before the beginning of the trip he gave us a lot of proactive advise when we wanted to choose a route that suited our demands and later he helped us with finding places to get some extra gear. During the trip and thanks to Joaquins deep knowledge of the region, he was able to adapt the route we were taking when my friend suffered from some altitude sickness. Also, a big plus was the great food that we had during the trip, including some (fantastic!) homemade carrot mayo and the asado we prepared on the first evening which was the best meal we had in Argentina.

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Destino Montana was a superb guiding service. I would highly recommend them!

The hike and location were great, but what made it a super experience was Joaquin, our guide. He shared a lot of his knowledge about the nature and the country. He really took his time and let you enjoy all the surroundings have to offer. On top of that we had an amazing lunch (you have to try the carrot mayonaise) with an incredible view. If we ever go back to Argentina we’ll definitely book another day with him. Thanks for making mendoza unforgettable!

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone. Joaquin is an excellent guide, and will not only take you to you destination, but also teach you a lot about the geography and history around Aconcagua and the area around. The view of Aconcagua is better by the entrance to the park, but the trip up to Confluencia is worth the trouble if you are staying in Mendoza (or nearby, I travelled from Chile just for this hike). Depending on your fitness level, Joaquin can find a hike that will suit you and give you an experience of the Andes mountains that you wont get anywhere else.

I did a four days mountaineering tour with Joaquin and it was great. Joaquin understands to put the foucs on the needs of the customers and his knowledges about the region in the Andes is quite extensive. It was especially great beacuse the nice personality of Jaoquin allowed us to have good talks and insights about the Argentinian culture and life. Can only recommend him!