Mendoza Wineries Self-Launched Adventure
4 days · Mendoza, Argentina
G Adventures charges £520
No-markup version: ~£160 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Sip your way through Argentina's wine capital without the guided tour price tag. This self-launched version of G Adventures' Mendoza Wineries itinerary keeps all the best bits — city exploration, stunning Andes backdrops, and full-day winery tours with tastings and lunch — but swaps the private group van and package hotel for budget-friendly guesthouses and self-bookable wine tours via GetYourGuide or direct with local bodegas. Mendoza is one of the easiest cities in Argentina to navigate independently, making it ideal for solo travellers who want flexibility with their pours.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Mendoza
Mendoza
Arrive into Mendoza's El Plumerillo Airport (MDZ) or by long-distance bus from Buenos Aires (roughly £18–25 on Andesmar or Cata Internacional, ~14 hrs overnight — a great money-saver on flights). Take the local bus (Line 68 or 80) from the airport into the city centre for around £0.50, or a remis (shared taxi) for roughly £5–8. Check into your hostel or budget guesthouse in the city centre near the lively Aristides Villanueva strip. Spend your first evening exploring Mendoza's Plaza Independencia, grabbing empanadas and a glass of local Malbec at one of the many wine bars around the square. Budget dinner out: £8–12.
🚌Local bus Line 68/80 from airport ~£0.50, or remis shared taxi ~£5–8. Overnight bus from Buenos Aires ~£18–25 if arriving by land.
🛏Hostel Lao Mendoza or similar — dorm from £12/night, private room from £28/night
- →Arrive at Mendoza airport or bus terminal
- →Take local bus or remis to city centre (~£1–8)
- →Check in to hostel/budget guesthouse near Plaza Independencia
- →Evening stroll around Plaza Independencia and Aristides Villanueva
- →Dinner and first Malbec tasting at a local wine bar
Mendoza City Exploration
Mendoza
Explore Mendoza independently — the city is compact, walkable, and extremely tourist-friendly. Start at Plaza Independencia and walk through the four surrounding plazas: España, Italia, Chile, and San Martín — all connected by tree-lined pedestrian streets. Visit the Basílica de San Francisco and the Museo del Área Fundacional (entry ~£2) to learn about the city's colonial history and the 1861 earthquake that reshaped it. In the afternoon, head to Parque General San Martín — a huge urban park with lake views and Andes panoramas perfect for a picnic with local cheese, bread, and wine picked up at a nearby almacén (corner shop). In the evening, join a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£5) departing from Plaza Independencia — a great way to meet fellow travellers.
🚌Walking — the city centre is entirely walkable. City bus or remis for Parque San Martín if preferred (~£0.50–2).
🛏Hostel Lao Mendoza or similar — as Day 1
- →Self-guided walk through Mendoza's five plazas
- →Visit Basílica de San Francisco
- →Museo del Área Fundacional (~£2 entry)
- →Afternoon in Parque General San Martín with Andes views
- →Picnic with local wine, cheese, and empanadas
- →Evening tip-based free walking tour from Plaza Independencia (~£5 tip)
Full-Day Winery Tour — Maipú or Luján de Cuyo
Mendoza Wine Regions (Maipú / Luján de Cuyo)
Today is the highlight of the trip: a full day among the vines with the snow-capped Andes as your backdrop. The best self-launched option is to book a guided winery tour directly or via GetYourGuide — search 'Mendoza wine tour' for highly-rated full-day options visiting 3–4 bodegas with tastings and lunch included, typically priced around £45–65 per person (vs. the premium you'd pay bundled in a package tour). Alternatively, head to Maipú independently: take the local bus from Mendoza centre (Line 10, ~£0.50) to Maipú town, then hire a bike from Mr Hugo's or Tiempo Libre (£8–10/day) and cycle the famous 'Wine Route' between bodegas at your own pace — a legendary backpacker experience. Top stops include Bodega Tempus Alba, Familia Di Tommaso, and La Rural wine museum (£3 entry). Most bodegas offer tastings from £5–12 per person. Budget for a winery lunch: £12–18.
🚌Local bus Line 10 to Maipú from Mendoza city centre ~£0.50 each way. Bike hire in Maipú ~£8–10/day. Or join a shared minibus wine tour (~£45–65 pp including transport).
🛏Hostel Lao Mendoza or similar — as Day 1
- →Book a guided winery tour via GetYourGuide (~£45–65 pp, tastings + lunch included)
- →OR take local bus to Maipú (~£0.50) and hire a bike (~£8–10) to self-tour the Wine Route
- →Visit 3–4 bodegas including Tempus Alba, Di Tommaso, and La Rural
- →Bodega La Rural wine museum tour (~£3)
- →Wine tastings at multiple bodegas (£5–12 per winery)
- →Lunch at a winery restaurant (~£12–18)
Final Morning & Departure
Mendoza
Check out of your accommodation and enjoy a final Mendoza breakfast — grab medialunas (Argentine croissants) and coffee at a local café on Aristides Villanueva for around £3–4. If you have time before your departure, browse the Mercado Central for local produce, artisan olive oil, and wine to take home. Depending on your onward plans, take the local bus or a remis back to the airport (£0.50–8), or board an overnight bus toward Buenos Aires, Santiago, or your next destination. Consider picking up a bottle of Malbec from a local wine shop (£5–15) as a far cheaper souvenir than airport prices.
🚌Local bus to airport ~£0.50 or remis ~£5–8. Onward long-distance bus to Buenos Aires or Santiago ~£18–30.
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at a local café on Aristides Villanueva (~£3–4)
- →Browse Mercado Central for local produce and wine souvenirs
- →Purchase a bottle of Malbec to take home (~£5–15 from local shops)
- →Transfer to airport or bus terminal for onward journey
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£160 | £520 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £360 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£160
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mendoza Wineries Self-Launched Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £160 per person for 4 days in Mendoza, Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £520 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £160 — a saving of roughly £360 (69%) per person.
How long is the Mendoza, Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Mendoza, Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a foodie, culture, slow-travel trip through Mendoza, Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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