Potrerillos lies in the Andes Mountains in the Department of Luján de Cuyo. When planning your trip, the waters of the Potrerillos Dam, the Sendero Cerro Cocodrilo trail with its views, and guided activities on the water or in the surrounding area are especially relevant. If you’re looking for a hotel in Potrerillos, it helps to decide first how you want to spend your days.

Reservoir and protected area

The Área Ambiental Municipal Protegida Potrerillos is a municipal multiple-use protected area made up of three sectors. They are connected by the Río Mendoza’s biological, economic and cultural corridor. The Potrerillos Dam currently covers about 1,500 hectares. The Potrerillos Reservoir regulates the flow of the Río Mendoza and forms a large body of water. The reservoir is therefore both a landscape feature and part of the river’s water regulation; the protected area, in turn, is defined by its three sectors and the corridor.

Shoreline paths, viewpoints and hiking

You can walk along the banks of the Potrerillos Dam and take in the lake and surrounding mountains. There are also three viewpoints at the dam, with views of the lake, the dam wall and the mountains. If you’d like to include a named hiking trail in your plans, Potrerillos has the Sendero Cerro Cocodrilo. The trailhead for the Sendero Cerro Cocodrilo is 350 meters from the Plaza and Centro Cívico. The 2.5-kilometer route offers views of the Río Mendoza, the Cordón del Plata and the Potrerillos Dam. Its trailhead is 350 meters from the Plaza and Centro Cívico. Along the way, you can observe typical native plants of the Mendoza region and local birds. This means you can choose among different options in the same destination: a walk along the shore, viewpoints and a hiking route with a specific length.

Guided activities on the water and on land

Guided kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding tours are offered on the Potrerillos Dam, and both last two hours. The duration is the same; you can choose between the activities based on the type of paddling. Check the dates and availability of guided tours in advance. A guided mountain biking tour goes through Villa Potrerillos to the Perilago and on to the entrance of the tunnel connecting Potrerillos and Cacheuta. Unlike the water-based activities, it follows a land route with named points along the way. Rafting, canopy tours, trekking and horseback riding are also offered at the foot of the Cordón del Plata. The options range from guided water activities with a set duration to land-based tours and other activities.

Getting there and planning your stay

Potrerillos is also accessible by regularly scheduled public transport departing from the bus terminal. If you plan to use this option, check the schedule before your trip. You can reach Potrerillos by private vehicle via international Route 7, which connects Argentina with Chile, or via Route 82. To plan the rest of your trip, you can first decide how to get there and then choose the focus of your days: the shore and viewpoints, the Sendero Cerro Cocodrilo or a guided activity. This keeps your choice of stay grounded in the specific options available locally.

Discover more destinations: Villa Nueva, Uspallata, La Consulta, Las Leñas, Tunuyán, Los Árboles

Return to the main travel overview: Mendoza.