Overview

Traffic

By U.S. standards, traffic in the city is fast and aggressive. Stoplights are normally followed, stop signs are not and many intersections have neither. Generally speaking, the car coming from the right has the right of way—not all of the time, but generally.

Maps

A funny thing about maps in Mendoza is that we have yet to find two that are alike. The other challenge is that very few streets outside of the city have street signs. Taken together, those challenges can make for some interesting trips. If you feel most comfortable driving yourself we suggest you get directions from a tour company. And, buy two or three maps. Then, if you can't find your way using one, you can always try the second!

Walking in Mendoza

Growing up, all of our mothers would pester us about looking both ways when crossing the street—you should heed that advice in Mendoza. We have a simple saying to describe walking in Mendoza: In the U.S., pedestrians have the right of way; in Mendoza, pedestrians have the right to get out of the way. Keep that in mind and you'll be fine.

Car Rentals

If you want to rent your own car to get around Mendoza, it’s easiest to rent one at the airport, although not always cheaper. However, unless you’re already in the downtown area, the convenience of renting at the airport tends to outweigh the relatively small savings you may or may not get elsewhere. No matter where you rent from, know that you can only rent a manual transmission car in Mendoza.

Taxis, Remises and Drivers

Taxis are black and yellow, and are always clearly marked. Traveling by taxi is a safe and easy way to explore Mendoza. They also have the advantage of being incredibly cheap. A taxi across town will cost you about 30 pesos. Remises are unmarked taxis that look like normal cars with a small antena and a yellow number on the trunk. They are much often newer and cleaner than taxis. It can be cheaper to rent a remise (with driver) for the day than to rent a car for the day.

Buses

Mendoza is quite accessible to many regions by bus. The bus terminal has domestic and international departures, and road trips to Chile are enormously popular, due to comfortable seats that fold down into beds. The bus station is located at Av R Videla & Acceso Este, in Guaymallen +54 9 (261) 431 3001 Bus voyages within Argentina Buses are available daily to Uspallata, Los Penitentes, and Aconcagua. Skiiers and snowboarders can take buses directly to Las Leñas (about AR$30, 6½ hours) in season. See tour companies for more details. Outside Argentina Ruta 7 is the famous road to Chile that many travel daily to Paso de Los Libertadores, Vina del Mar, and Valparaiso. Be aware that when traveling in winter (June to September), the pass will close, for up to days at a time, for inclement weather. Be sure to check the weather with a tour operator before booking your tickets. Bus travel within Mendoza city is also a good option for those looking to save cab fare. Standard fare is $2.50 pesos, and must be paid in coins or by purchasing a Red Bus card at a kiosk, and can get you in and around Mendoza and to neighboring suburbs (Godoy Cruz, Luján, Guaymallen etc.) For help planning your bus route, visit: http://www.omnilineas.com.ar/mendoza/colectivos