WHAT: A walk in the Parque General San Martin, in the city of Mendoza WHERE: East of the city. As it's only 2,5 km from Plaza Independencia, it's easy to get from the center of Mendoza to the park. There are several ways to enter the park, but the main one would be via de Portones del Parque (the big gate at Avenida del Libertador). HOW LONG: The park is huge, so it all depends on your schedule. If you're there in the weekend you can be entertained for a full day for sure. Try to take at least two hours to see the main highlights if you have little time. HOW MUCH: Entrance is free!
New York has Central Park, London has Hyde Park, Barcelona has Parc Güell and Mendoza has Parque General San Martin: the local favourite big public park.
It must be mentioned; in general Mendoza is known for its many green spaces and lush avenues. The green oases are a bare necessity for Mendoza, as summers tend to be bloody hot in there. And Parque General San Martin certainly is the bedrock of all parks in town.
Like all of the mentioned urban parks, the huge Parque San Martin is absolutely adored by its locals. If you visit this place during the weekends, it feels like you’ve entered another micro world of Mendoza.
Food stalls are set up, local wines are being sold, live music can be heard at several spots and even big demonstrations (which Argentinians are famous for – the passion is in their blood after all) are held in here. Apart from that, the area will be swarmed with joggers, bikers, dogs, skaters and families that are celebrating life with picnics and asados. So you’ll basically find all of Mendoza’s inhabitants in here on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you want to understand the life of the locals in Mendoza, this park is perhaps the place to be.
Throughout the weekdays the well-maintained, tree covered lanes are less crowded and therefore worth a visit. Perfect for a short or longer stroll.
Take your time in here as there’s so much to explore. The park for example is home to a gorgeous gate, a fountain, a yacht club, many sports clubs, an artificial lagoon, an amphitheater and a hill with a monument that celebrates the independence of Argentina. And all of the highlights look so much better when covered in the beautiful colours and long shadows of autumn, like at the time of our visit in May 2018! I don’t think the backdrop views of the Andes can ever bore you.
Here’s where to find it! ↓
