Car Hire Mendoza Airport

Mendoza Airport Mini Guide

What Attracts People to Mendoza?
Mendoza is the Argentinian equivalent of Bordeaux as it produces many of the fine wines that the country is known for and has several top class vineyards in the vicinity of the city. It’s an unusual city for it is built in the middle of an arid desert which should mean nothing grows there but it’s the centre of a major irrigation scheme that waters the city and the surrounding countryside. Still, the temperatures top 40C for much of January but thankfully, humidity is low making the climate bearable. Not far away from the city are the foothills or pre-cordillera of the Andes which provide a magnificent backdrop for the city.

What’s the Easiest way to get to Mendoza?
Mendoza Airport is the easiest way to access the city and is five miles northeast of the centre. Although it’s an international airport, the only flights from outside Argentina come across the Andes from Chile. Be aware that as a foreigner arriving on a domestic flight you must pay a surcharge but you would avoid this flying in from Santiago. The means of transport into the centre are plentiful and it’s up to you to choose between often packed buses, the more expensive taxis – 34 pesos, or to collect a hire car at Mendoza Airport for use during your stay.

What is the Airport Like?
At most times the airport is like a ghost town with few domestic or international flights using the airport. Even when flights arrive, the airport has an eerie quietness as people make their way out of the terminal. The airport is quite big, adding to the feeling of abandonment and is on two levels. There are only four gates but even that is plenty for the flights it receives. Despite all this, it receives nearly a million passengers a year who are quickly and efficiently processed. Collection of pre-booked hire cars at Mendoza Airport is simple and the desks of the companies found easily.

What are the Facilities Like?
The facilities are surprisingly good. There’s a post office of sorts, an ATM as well as currency exchange facilities and Wi-Fi availability. If you need food, there’s a restaurant before security and a café bar afterwards serving good hearty meals. If you need help you’ll find an airport information desk as well as a small tourist office so you won’t be at a loss for filling your time at the airport.

Mendoza has been the centre of Argentina’s wine industry for decades and is acknowledged to produce the finest wine in the country. Many bodegas offer wine tastings and it’s possible to plan routes of various length taking in as many bodegas as you wish.

The longer routes will require a hire car whilst some can be arranged as a bicycle tour. Whichever you choose, the quality of the wine is legendary and you’ll learn more about how vines came to be grown in this arid region, one of the hottest and driest on the continent.