Potrerillos
Mendoza’s mountain lake: a 1,300-hectare turquoise reservoir at 1,380 m, ringed by the Cordón del Plata. The province’s rafting capital.
The Potrerillos dam pools the Mendoza River between the foothills and the high Andes, in Luján de Cuyo. Around the village and the lakeshore you’ll find the province’s biggest concentration of active tourism: rafting and kayaking on the river, SUP and pedal boats on the lake, ziplining, horseback riding and trekking. The hydroelectric complex opened in 2003 — the dam stands 116 m tall — and in season the lakeshore paradores add beaches, picnic shelters and food trucks.
Reference prices
✓ Data verified: Aug 7, 2026| Half-day rafting (12 km summer / 8 km winter) No transfer; includes wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, bilingual guide and insurance. Via agency, Jul 2026 | ≈ ARS 72,000 |
| Rafting with transfer from Mendoza Departs 8:00–13:00, ages 12+. Jun 2026 | ARS 105,000 – 110,000 |
| Rafting 6 km + lake kayak combo Ríos Andinos online cart, Aug 2026 | ≈ ARS 71,900 |
| Zipline/canopy with transfer Ages 10+; local 4-cable circuits in the village too | ≈ ARS 105,000 |
| Kayak rental (paradores) Guided kayak outing ≈ ARS 40,000. Jan 2026 | ≈ ARS 12,000 |
| Pedal boat (up to 4 people) Lakeside paradores, Jan 2026 | ≈ ARS 30,000 |
| Bus Mendoza → Potrerillos village Fare table in force since Jul 13, 2026 | ≈ ARS 3,800 |
Operators quote by WhatsApp and adjust prices each season — treat these as order-of-magnitude references and confirm when booking. Main operators: Argentina Rafting (WhatsApp +54 261 657-2582), Potrerillos Explorer (+54 9 261 653-8204), Ríos Andinos (+54 9 261 703-9291), Ríos Libres.
Getting there from Mendoza
By car via Route 7 · ≈ 40 min to the dam
The international highway to Chile skirts the reservoir’s south shore — the fast way to the dam wall and the rafting bases. The village is 66–69 km away (~1 h).
By car via Route 82 (scenic) · ≈ 1 h 10
Through Cacheuta and the Mendoza River canyon; the Cacheuta–Potrerillos stretch (10–12 km) has been rebuilt. Ideal for a hot-springs-plus-lake day.
By regional bus · ≈ 1 h 20
From Mendoza’s main terminal to Potrerillos village, Las Vegas, El Salto and Valle del Sol (Buttini and related companies). Fare ≈ ARS 3,800 since Jul 2026; extra summer services.
Things to do in Potrerillos
- White-water rafting on the Mendoza River: the classic. In high water (October–March, snowmelt) the river runs class II–IV with 12 km descents; in low water (April–September) it is calmer and more technical, suitable for kids. Always guided, with wetsuits and a safety kayak.
- Kayak, SUP and pedal boats on the lake: rentals at the lakeside paradores; SUP yoga and floating bikes in season.
- Ziplining: 300 m and 700 m cables at Potrerillos Park (by the Gran Hotel) and a 4-cable circuit in the village.
- Beaches and paradores: Costazur and Parador Uno (Bahía Príncipe) with free parking, restrooms, picnic shelters, grills and food trucks; lifeguards in season. At Bahía Bonita, Parador Aventura adds a craft-beer bar.
- Trekking and horseback rides in the foothills, plus full-day programs toward the Cordón del Plata.
- Two-day raft expeditions (50 km, October–March) with barbecue and riverside camp, for those who want the whole river.
Vallecitos: no longer a ski resort
Worth clearing up, because many guides still sell this wrong: the small Vallecitos ski centre has not operated since around 2008 and there are no lifts. Today the area — about 25 km uphill from the village, inside Cordón del Plata Provincial Park — works as a natural mountaineering school: refuges, trekking, acclimatisation hikes and recreational snow in winter. If you want lift-served skiing in Mendoza, that is Las Leñas (Malargüe).
The dam, in numbers
- Opened in 2003 (filling began in 2001); concrete-faced rockfill dam 116 m tall with a 395 m crest.
- Reservoir: ~1,300 hectares today (7 km long, up to 1.5 km wide), at 1,377–1,380 m a.s.l.
- 181 MW hydroelectric plant (~850 GWh/year).
- The lakeshore is under development: cabins, dining and a perimeter road have been announced, but as of August 2026 an official audit confirmed the major works had not yet started — the real services today are the seasonal paradores.
Combine it with Cacheuta or the High Andes
The Cacheuta hot springs are 10–12 km away on Route 82: rafting in the morning and thermal pools in the afternoon is the perfect combo. Continue west on Route 7 and the High Mountain circuit begins: Uspallata, Puente del Inca and the Aconcagua viewpoint.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
How much does rafting in Potrerillos cost in 2026?
Verified mid-2026 references: about ARS 72,000 per person for a half day without transfer, or ARS 105,000–110,000 with round-trip transfer from the city. Wetsuit, boots, helmet, life jacket, bilingual guide and insurance are included. Prices move often — confirm by WhatsApp when booking.
Do I need experience (or to swim well)?
Not for the tourist runs: they are guided, fully equipped and escorted by a safety kayak. Minimum age is 10–12 in normal conditions (operators adjust it with the flow). In low water (April–September) there are family floats suitable for kids.
How do I get there without a car?
Regional buses run from Mendoza’s main terminal to Potrerillos village and the valley settlements (~1 h 20, fare ≈ ARS 3,800 since July 2026). For rafting, the practical option is booking the excursion with transfer included.
When is the best time to go?
For adrenaline, the snowmelt: October to March, when the river runs class II–IV. For the lake and beaches, summer. April to September the river drops and rafting turns family-friendly; in winter the snowy Cordón del Plata backdrop is the draw.
Can you camp?
There is free, unserviced camping on much of the lakeshore, plus a serviced sector recovered by the UNCuyo university (the historic "Triángulo Fiscal"). The Costazur paradores offer day-use shelters, grills and restrooms; a cabin development is slated for late 2026.
Can you ski at Potrerillos or Vallecitos?
No. Vallecitos has not operated as a ski centre since ~2008 and has no lifts; it is now a trekking and mountaineering base with recreational snow in winter. Mendoza’s lift-served ski resort is Las Leñas, in Malargüe (about 5 hours away).
Licensed operators in Potrerillos and around
Operators registered with the Mendoza tourism board for rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, trekking and more: