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Two launches and a barbecue on the bank stretch this river day to about 30 kilometres, with hotel pickup from Mendoza City and a support kayak on the water. It is the longest descent in the set, not a short taster.
You reach the Potrerillos base around 10:30 for registration and kit, then transfer to Cerro Negro for the briefing. The first stage covers about eight to 12 kilometres, depending on flow, in around an hour. At about 13:30 you stop for an Argentine barbecue on the bank, a sit-down meal in the valley rather than a rushed snack between launches.
The second stage adds about 20 kilometres and around two hours on the water, so the afternoon feels like a proper continuation rather than a short extra lap. A support kayak stays with the group. You are back at the base around 16:45 to 17:00, then change and drive to Mendoza with the same vehicle.
Cerro Negro is the higher put-in for this longer run, still in the Potrerillos corridor west of Mendoza. The river here is meltwater in a dry Andean valley, with enough distance to feel like a journey rather than a single rapid lap. Pale slopes and scrub follow you downstream, and the bank lunch stop is a quieter look at the same landscape you have been paddling through.
Lunch on the bank is part of seeing that corridor from a slower angle, with the hills still around you while you eat. Mendoza City remains the start and end of the day, so the long descent is still a same-day loop from downtown rather than an overnight on the river.
No previous rafting is required, but you need the stamina for two launches and a long day. The minimum age is 15. You should be happy to paddle in bursts and follow commands.
This is the demanding river day in the set, with more time on meltwater than the 12 kilometre descent. You should be happy to get soaked and stay engaged across two launches. Bring a swimsuit and a full dry change for the bank lunch and the drive home.
The day is built as one descent with a proper meal in the middle, a pattern this Mendoza team has used for long river outings since 1966. Kit is fitted at the base and the briefing happens at the put-in.
Guides work this 30-kilometre stretch through the season, with a support kayak on the water. You get the longest look at the Mendoza River they run from the city.
Hotel pickup covers the designated Mendoza City area and addresses within about 1.5 km of Plaza Independencia. Further out, you will be given a nearby meeting point.
Wear a swimsuit under travel clothes and keep a dry bag ready. You head to the Potrerillos base, then on to Cerro Negro for the first launch. You return to Mendoza with the same vehicle after the second stage.
You raft about 30 kilometres in two stages, with an Argentine barbecue on the riverbank in the middle. Hotel pickup from the designated Mendoza City area, full river kit, a bilingual guide, a support kayak, and personal accident insurance are included.
The first stage is about eight to 12 kilometres, then lunch, then about 20 kilometres more. This is the longest river day in the set, not the 12 km descent.
You reach the Potrerillos base around 10:30 for kit and paperwork, then transfer to Cerro Negro for the briefing. The first stage is about an hour on the water. Lunch is around 13:30. The second stage starts about 15:00 and runs around two hours. You are back at the base around 16:45 to 17:00.
Hotel pickup from Mendoza sits on top of that river timetable, so the whole outing is a full day from leaving the city to being dropped back downtown.
The minimum age is 15. Anyone under 18 should come with a responsible adult who stays with them through both stages and the bank lunch.
This is a long day on meltwater with two launches. If you only want a shorter run, the 12 km descent is the better fit. Mention ages so the guide can place people in a sensible raft.
No previous rafting is required, but you need the fitness for two stages and a willingness to paddle when asked. Everyday gym fitness is not the test; being able to stay engaged for hours is.
You should be happy to get soaked in meltwater and follow commands across both launches. This is the longest river day in the set, so come ready for a full day rather than a short taster.
Yes. An Argentine barbecue is served on the riverbank between stages. That is the sit-down meal of the day, not a rushed snack on the move.
Still bring a water bottle. The lunch stop is a proper pause in the valley before you kit up again for the longer afternoon stage.
You get a wetsuit, neoprene shoes, a dry jacket, buoyancy aid, helmet, and paddle. A support kayak stays with the group on both stages.
Wear a swimsuit and a synthetic layer underneath. Bring a towel, a full dry change, dry shoes, and a bag for wet clothes so you can sit at lunch and travel home in comfort.
You are collected from hotels in the designated Mendoza City area, or from a nearby meeting point if you stay further out. Stays within about 1.5 km of Plaza Independencia are usually covered.
The base is in Potrerillos. The put-in for the first stage is at Cerro Negro. You return to Mendoza with the same vehicle at the end of the day after the second take-out.
Meltwater is cold. The wetsuit, shoes, and jacket are there for that, and paddling warms you once you are moving through the first kilometres.
Pack a warm layer for lunch on the bank and for the drive home. Do not sit around in a wet kit between stages if you can change an outer layer while you eat.
These days run in typical mountain weather. If the river is not safe, the team may reschedule and will be in touch with the new plan.
You will get wet regardless of sun. The only reason the descent stops is safety. Dress so you can add a dry layer at the lunch stop and after the second stage.
A guide is in the raft for both stages, calling strokes and steering. The briefing at Cerro Negro covers commands and what to do if you come out of the boat.
A support kayak stays with the group. Listen on the louder water and paddle when you are asked, so the crew stays together through the longer afternoon run.
About the centre
Mendoza
We run guided adventure days and multi-day expeditions from Mendoza into the Andes: rafting and kayaking on the Mendoza River, zip-lining over Potrerillos, treks to Devil's Throat and Cerro Cabras, horseback rides through Lunlunta and the foothills, and longer routes toward Aconcagua and the high passes into Chile. Pickup is arranged from hotels in Mendoza City, with a nearby meeting point if you are staying outside that area, and a bilingual guide stays with you through the day.
Days are built around safety briefings, the right kit for the river or the trail, and enough time to take in the landscape rather than rush from one stop to the next. Combo days mix river, zip-line, hot springs or rappelling; longer programmes include camping, full board, and support on the mountain. Whether you want a few hours on the water or a multi-day crossing, the same local team looks after the logistics so you can focus on the Andes.
Operated by Operadores Mendoza Viajes, a partner of adventuro.
Mendoza and Aconcagua Corridor, Argentina
From $1370
Mendoza and Aconcagua Corridor, Argentina
From $140
