Southern Mendoza province

The southern half of the province is wilder and less visited by tourists than the area around Mendoza city, and it's well worth taking a few days to explore. There are two main centres, the closest of which and most appealing, is the charming town of San Rafael, the centre of its own wine-growing region, with tree-lined streets and excellent bodegas. Near here, there's rafting heaven in the extraordinary Cañón del Atuel, a canyon of weird rock formations with a wonderful fast-flowing river running through it. The other centre, much further south, is the fledgling tourist town of Malargüe, which you could use as a base for skiing at Las Leñas, or for visiting remote areas of natural beauty at La Payunia and Llancanelo.