Discover Villavicencio Natural Reserve: Half-Day Adventure
Description
Take a 5-hour guided tour to the Villavicencio Natural Reserve, which is known for its beauty and its mineral springs. Home to eagles, condors, pumas, guanacos and ostriches as well as flowering cacti and many other animals and plants, the reserve covers 172,974 acres (70,000 hectares). Tour the foothills of the Andes and visit the Monument of Canota and the hauntingly beautiful old resort spa of Villavicencio, where there will be plenty of time to relax. You’ll have plenty of opportunities and vantage points to take in the splendor of the eye-pleasing natural reserve.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour starts at 8 AM with us picking you up from your hostel in Mendoza to begin the excursion.
You'll journey through the foothills of the Andes and pause for a while at the Monument of Canota, erected in 1935 to honor General José de San Martín. This region played a pivotal role in San Martín's fights, as it served as the route for the army during the liberation campaigns for Chile and Peru's independence.
Once in the old Villavicencio Thermal Hotel Complex, enjoy the lavish, verdant gardens, visiting the charming chapel on the grounds. The resort, once the stomping grounds for the powerful and wealthy, hasn’t been used in decades, but there’s still plenty of interest here, including natural springs. Here we will take a walking tour of its gardens and visit the interpretation center.
You'll also have the opportunity to explore the Caracoles viewpoint, nestled amidst the rugged terrain, offering breathtaking vistas of the encompassing mountains and the natural reserve.
After enjoying this morning we will be returning to our hotels in the city.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The pick up transfer is only from selected centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the geographic area, we will confirm you the closest meeting point. Indicate the name and address of your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is recommended that you bring sunblock and wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- During the winter months (June through September), it is recommended that you wear warm clothes and bring a jacket or sweater
- You may bring your own snacks
Reviews(19)
I chose the walk through the history of this place, and I was able to understand the magnitude that it had at the time, the effort that should have meant its implementation, the conception with which it was created and the greatness of the final result. A thermal hotel IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE that must have been a luxury for its time. An oasis of civilization in the middle of the mountain desert.
We visit the reserve as part of the excursion to the area and the old way of snails via ripio that takes you to Uspallata and that continues to be used as an alternative way. We decided not to go in our car because it's road is ripe and ledge, you can travel but I recommend to go on an excursion unless you have a van. The reserve where the hotel is located is very wooded so in summer it is very refreshing. A local guide tells us the history of the hotel and it was extremely interesting. Admission must be paid in advance or when entering on the route there is a cabin, because as in any national or provincial reserve or park there are costs of care and park rangers. In the hotel area you can walk and tour the gardens and surrounding hills, do ziplining and other activities in the trees all with additional payment.
The best part of the experience was seeing several guanaco, even a small baby. The hotel is interesting on the outside but you can't go inside and that was a disappointment. The trip is overpriced for this reason and it didn't include the entrance fee to the hotel grounds. The guide was really great but I would have liked more history about the hotel itself and was really interested in seeing inside.
Dear Julie, We sincerely regret that your experience did not fully live up to your expectations and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Regarding access to the hotel, we understand your disappointment that you were unable to enter the interior. However, we would like to clarify that due to the restrictions of the venue itself, access to the interior of the hotel is not included in the tour itinerary, which is clearly detailed in the description of the service prior to purchase. As for the cost, this covers transportation, the expert guide and the visit to the points of interest within the established limits. We are pleased that you enjoyed seeing the guanacos and that the guide fulfilled his role in an outstanding manner. The guides on our tours are trained to offer an educational and enriching experience, focusing on the cultural and natural aspects of each destination. Once again, we appreciate your feedback and are pleased that you enjoyed the local wildlife. We remain at your disposal for any further questions or clarification. Best regards, Tangol Tours.
Beautiful reservation!! A spectacular landscape! Mixed with nature!! Pure air, above all very pure water!! There is an impressive peace! Very well explained by the guide, you pay 1km before the entrance at the 1st stop. You cannot enter the hotel but you can visit its surroundings, including the chapel and the hot springs. It has a very rich and accessible buffet.
Incredible experience that I would repeat a thousand times more! Without a doubt, Mendoza, one of the most beautiful provinces of our Argentina
It is a short excursion, if you go to Mendoza for more than 5 days, you can include it. It's not a big deal, other than visiting an old hotel that is closed to the public. Very few animals are seen among the mountains. It has a walking circuit with some heights but you won't get a great photo. I didn't dislike the experience but it is not a must in Mendoza.
Estimado Agradecemos sinceramente sus comentarios sobre su experiencia en nuestra excursión. Valoramos su opinión y sus observaciones detalladas. Entendemos que cada persona tiene diferentes expectativas y preferencias cuando se trata de actividades turísticas. Lamentamos que la excursión no haya cumplido completamente con sus expectativas y que no haya encontrado la experiencia tan impresionante como esperaba. Si tiene alguna pregunta adicional o necesita más asistencia, no dude en comunicarse con nosotros directamente. Estamos aquí para ayudarle en cualquier momento. Atentamente
It's a shame that the route is short... We didn't see any animals...but it's quiet, suitable for a picnic
We went on our own and it was worth it. You pay an entrance fee (we as retirees $2,500) and you can visit the grounds of the famous Villavicencio hotel, every 2 hours there are guides who tell the history (very interesting) of the hotel to the present day. You can visit the chapel and the different parks that make up the property, it is worth going. The landscapes are spectacular
We were 4 adults and a 2 year old bb. Beyond a small mishap when it comes to looking for us (very badly organized the search for passengers by hotels), I point out emphatically that it is the worst excursion of the five we made in Mendoza. It is very expensive ($11,300 including admission to the Hotel/Museum of Villavicencio) It is not a pleasant journey, except the snail road and it is not right that you should waste time buying a ticket in almost 1.30 hs stop. It is unnecessary, I could consider it the Enterprise as prior management. We went with Cepas Enterprise as a subcontractor to Be Experience Enterprise. The Hugo guide knew a lot about the whole area but I reiterate fondness for the cost benefit ratio. Apart from that, it deserves the terrible attention at the Hotel Museo. We knew nothing practically. Only the front of the hotel and the chapel. Nothing inside and the attention to drink something is unfortunate. Lousy. We wanted breakfast and it was not possible. In short, a tour that I recommend doing in your own vehicle or avoiding contracting with agency because it is wasted time and money.
We went on our own with a group of friends. It is a beautiful place to visit! There are different activities to perform, walks, zip line, tour the hotel outside, chapel, sit down for drinks in the hotel bar. The road to the hotel is very picturesque. It's worth this ride.
