On the eastern slope of the Andes, comprising the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis, the Cuyo region can claim two world-class features in abundance: mountains and wine. At 6,962 meters, Cerro Aconcagua’s soaring summit is the highest of countless peaks that, in winter, trap the snowfall whose spring thaw irrigates the sandy soils of three-quarters of Argentina’s underrated—but rapidly advancing—vineyards.

Under bright desert sun, the same snowmelt fills the rivers where rafters and kayakers battle white-water waves and rapids, and the reservoirs where windsurfers race across the surface and fishermen troll for trout.

Cuyo is a year-round destination. As the Western Hemisphere’s highest peak, Aconcagua draws climbers from around the world, but exploring the Andes on foot or saddle is not just for peak-baggers. The provincial capital of Mendoza, for its part, is one of Argentina’s most livable cities, with its numerous wineries and fine food a bonus.

In winter, skiers frequent international resorts such as Las Leñas, and others can explore fossil-filled desert parks like San Juan Province’s Ischigualasto and San Luis’s Las Quijadas, which can be deadly hot in summer.

To the east, San Luis Province shares Argentina’s central sierras with Córdoba Province. This area draws fewer international visitors, but it has a handful of rewarding off-the-beaten-track attractions.

The Best of Cuyo

• Cerro Aconcagua
• Las Leñas
• Difunta Correa Shrine
• Parque Provincial Ischigualasto
• Parque Nacional Sierra de las Quijadas