Sports and Recreation

Adventure sports such as hiking, climbing, rappelling, and even paragliding are possible at Mirador de los Cóndores (tel. 02656/478208-9257 or cell 02652/15-576799, www.tierrakuntur31-8964, orejarodriguez [at] hotmail [dot] com [dot] ar). At 2,100 meters in the Comenchingones immediately east of town by a steep road that’s paved until the last three kilometers, it also operates a comfortably scenic confitería with a short-order menu and particularly choice desserts.

Accommodations

Space prohibits mention of more than a handful of Merlo’s countless accommodations. Prices are highest in summer and during Semana Santa and winter holidays, when singles are few; at other times rates may be as much as 30 percent lower.

On woodsy grounds, Hotel Aguada del Zorro (Avenida Dos Venados 1277, tel. 02656/47-5740, aguadadelzorro@merlo–sl.com.ar, US$21 pp) is a friendly motel-style place with flaky management and slightly dark but well-kept rooms. Amenities include a pool, parking, and Wi-Fi in common areas that reaches some of the rooms.

In a quiet location just off Avenida del Sol, the only frills at the handsome, nearly new Hostería Cerro Azul (Saturno y Jupiter, tel. 02656/47-8648, www.hosteriacerroazul.com.ar, US$50 s or d) are cable TV and a good-sized swimming pool.

The rooms are good but the management a little grumpy at Hostería Argentina (Los Almendros 102, tel. 02656/47-5825, www.hosteriargentina.com.ar, US$30 s, US$53 d).

Posada del Valle (Poeta Lugones and Neptuno, tel./fax 02656/47-6103, posadadelvalle [at] merlo-sl [dot] com [dot] ar, US$58 s or d) is a fine place with six double rooms in a recycled older house; rates include a large homemade breakfast. It does not accept children younger than 14.

In a quiet neighborhood, the new and immaculately kept Hostería Sueños Dorados (Avenida del Deporte Sur and El Trapiche, tel. 02656/47-4440, www.sueniosdorados.com.ar, US$58–63) has comfortable if slightly dark rooms, a pool, and friendly ownership. The Windows-friendly Wi-Fi, though, doesn’t work with Macs or iPods.

Hotel Parque y Sol (Avenida del Sol 715, tel. 02656/47-5150, www.parqueysol.com.ar, US$69 s or d) has motel-style units on spacious grounds.

Hotel Mirasierras (Avenida del Sol and Pedernera, tel. 02656/47-5045, www.hotelmirasierras.com.ar, US$71 s or d) has good but plain and decent-sized rooms, as well as a pool.

Apart Hotel Piscú Yaco (Pasaje los Teros 235, tel. 02656/47-5127, www.aparthotelpiscuyaco.com.ar, US$50–84 s or d) enjoys a great location on a quiet alleyway, with ample grounds and a pool. The midsized rooms are simply furnished.

Food

The Montana Café (Avenida del Sol 25) is a good breakfast spot with exceptionally succulent croissants. Heladería Michelangelo (Avenida del Sol 100, tel. 02656/47-7418) has outstanding ice cream.

Cirano (Avenida del Sol 280, tel. 02656/47-5638, www.ciranomerlo.com.ar) is a large but cheerful and efficient parrillada and pasta place, with reasonable prices and above-average desserts. The wine list is conventional, from Mendoza’s biggest bodegas only.

Giorgio (Avenida del Sol 558, tel. 02656/47-6555) and Reina Mora (Avenida Dos Venados 740, tel. 02656/47-6637) have more sophisticated menus, including both Argentine and international dishes.

Getting to Villa de Merlo

Merlo’s Terminal de Ómnibus (RP 1 and Independencia) is about 500 meters south of the Rotonda junction. Typical destinations, times, and fares include Buenos Aires (11 hours, US$32–40), San Luis (3 hours, US$6), and Mendoza (6 hours, US$20). There are also services northeast across the Sierras to the city of Córdoba (5 hours, US$12–14).

© Wayne Bernhardson from Moon Argentina, 3rd edition