Located close to the Andes Mountains, in the Department of Las Heras, Puente del Inca is an unmissable natural monument to visit in Mendoza. The attraction is ideal to visit on a day trip to the region, as the place has many other unmissable tourist attractions.
The Puente del Inca is part of the “Qhapac Ñan” (Camino del Inca). For this reason, the historic place was declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. The natural monument is located on the Río de las Cuevas and has unique characteristics with historical, cultural, architectural and social significance.
The formation of Puente del Inca occurred through a layer of colluvial sediments solidified by salts, which are present in the thermal waters that emerge at the site. However, the passage over the bridge was closed to the public in 2006, due to the detection of landslides and sinking in the thermal bath facilities.
See too: How to get to Mendoza – best routes + tips.
How to get to Puente del Inca in Mendoza
The natural monument, which attracts a lot of visitors' attention, is 193 km from the Center of Mendoza. Thus, access to Puente del Inca is via National Route 7 (the same route that connects Argentina to Chile). And you can get to know the place on your own or book a tour offered by tourism agencies, such as High Mountain Tour.
When going on your own, just rent a car (see everything about car rental in Mendoza). The roads to the bridge have beautiful landscapes and you can discover the various attractions along the way at your leisure, such as Aconcagua Provincial Park and Dique Potrerillos. I don't recommend visiting this attraction by bus, although it is possible.
See too: Best wineries in Mendoza to visit – complete guide.
What to do in the Puente del Inca region
The Department of Las Heras is a region full of incredible attractions for you to discover on your trip to Mendoza. Therefore, agencies offer several tours to the region, and most of them make a short stop at Puente del Inca and the entrance to Aconcagua Provincial Park.
See our tips on what to see when visiting Puente del Inca, in Mendoza:
- Aconcagua Provincial Park: an unmissable attraction for those who like hiking and enjoying beautiful natural landscapes.
- Potrerillos Dike: a reservoir, located between the Andes Mountains and the Pre-Cordillera. It is ideal for practicing water sports.
- Cacheuta Hot Springs: an ideal place to relax in Mendoza, the spa has good tourist infrastructure.
- Uspallata: a traditional and interesting town to visit in a short stop.
Important information for visiting Puente del Inca
- The Puente del Inca is usually full of tourists. Therefore, I recommend that you visit the place during the week, to have a chance of finding it more empty (but this is no guarantee of anything).
- In the Puente del Inca area, there are some establishments for a quick snack. We didn't really like the snack options and they even tried to charge us more than the product was worth, the old scam that everything is more expensive for tourists. However, the most disappointing thing was that the store had been recommended by the guide. So, be careful when buying snacks or take something from home.
- To see all the attractions in the region, I recommend that you rent a vehicle (see everything about car rental in Mendoza). This way, you can visit the attractions calmly, which usually doesn't happen on tours.
- To find out what the region is like at the time of your trip, check out the text when you go to Mendoza, as we talk about what the weather is like and what items to take in each season.
- Still haven't decided where to stay? So, check out the text on where to stay in Mendoza with tips on the best regions and hotels.
Location: Ruta Nacional Nº 7, Las Heras Department, 193 km from the center of Mendoza, Argentina
Value: visiting Puente del Inca is free.
Time: 24 hours
Travel insurance will help you in case of illness, accidents, theft and cancellations. We never travel without insurance and we recommend that everyone take it out.
Our favorite company is Promo Insuranceas there we always find a wide range of insurance products with the best prices and discounts.
Want more information? So, check out all the articles about traveling to Mendoza, Argentina, and continue planning your trip:
Plan your trip to Uruguay
To book your hotel in Uruguay, we recommend using Booking, a booking site that we always use on our trips. In addition to the wide range of accommodation options, it has the best prices. Our preferred hotels in Uruguay are:
Travel insurance for Uruguay, in addition to being essential, is mandatory. It will insure you in cases of illness, accidents, theft, lost luggage and flight cancellations. The companies we recommend for taking out travel insurance are:
Uruguay is a great country to explore by car. Therefore, if you plan to visit more than one city, one of the best options, for more comfort and convenience, is to rent a car in Uruguay. The company we recommend for car rental is Rentcar.
Booking your tours in advance can save a lot of time during your trip. Furthermore, you can book your tours from the comfort of your home and pay with your credit card. The companies we use and recommend to book tours and buy tickets are Civitatis and the Get Your Guide.
The best way to stay connected in Uruguay is to buy a travel chip. This way, you will have 4G internet with the best connection throughout Uruguayan territory. The company we recommend is American Chipwhich has great coverage and good prices.
