Mendoza Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour

Mendoza’s wine country is spread far beyond the city, and this hop-on hop-off minibus tour gives you a practical way to reach it without renting a car. Pick a route by wine region and spend the day visiting two or four wineries, with tastings and tours paid for separately at each stop.

I like the freedom to choose a full-day or half-day outing, and I like that the bus handles the driving after a morning of Malbec. The main catch is that the bus must serve many pickup points, and schedules can slip, so you need patience as well as a watch.

Key points

• Five wine regions: Choose Maipú, El Sol, Luján de Cuyo, Luján Sur, or the Uco Valley, depending on the day.
• Four visits on a full day: The longer ticket gives you the best chance to see several wineries and an olive producer.
• Tastings cost extra: Your $40 fare covers transport, water, guide, and driver, but winery fees, food, and wine are separate.
• Many city pickups: The bus serves hotels and central meeting points, but you must be outside and ready at the exact time.
• Good for non-drivers: You can taste wine without appointing one person to skip the fun.
• Guide quality can vary: Hugo and Gabriela receive warm praise, while some English-speaking visitors found the commentary basic.

Four wineries without a rental car

The best reason to choose this tour is simple: Mendoza’s bodegas are scattered across several wine districts, and public transport is not designed for a full day of tasting. The bus lets you reach the vineyards, hand over the driving, and return to the city without arranging several separate taxis.

A full-day ticket usually allows visits to four wineries, while a half-day option covers two. The exact wineries are organized by the operator and route, so this is not a private outing where you freely pick any bodega in Mendoza. That distinction matters if you have your heart set on one particular producer, such as Susana Balbo or Chandon.

The route can include large commercial wineries, small family bodegas, sparkling wine producers, and olive-oil makers. One full-day combination included four wineries and the Laur olive producer. That variety gives you a broader taste of Mendoza than spending the whole day at one polished estate.

Pick your wine region by weekday

The route schedule is built around different wine areas on different days. Check the exact day before you book, since you cannot assume every region operates daily.

Maipú, called Camino del Vino y Olivos de Maipú, runs on Monday for a full day or morning half day. This is a useful choice if you want wine and olive oil in the same outing. Maipú is also one of the easier regions to pair with a shorter visit, since the route offers both morning and afternoon possibilities on some dates.

El Sol operates on Tuesday. You can choose the full-day or morning half-day route, with an afternoon half-day option also shown for Tuesday. This gives you flexibility if you want to keep the morning free, though the sparse afternoon pickup information means you should confirm the exact meeting point and time before setting out.

Uco Valley Sur is a Wednesday full-day route only. This is the most demanding option in terms of time. You leave early, spend the full day out, and should not plan another major activity afterward. The schedule shows the central pickup at Av. Colón 423, at the Edificio Recoleta Colon, around 7:55 a.m.

Luján de Cuyo Tierra Malbec runs Thursday. It offers a full day or half day, with a morning departure from Av. Colón 423. A separate afternoon option lists the Tourist Information Centre at Garibaldi 10 at 2:15 p.m.

Luján Sur appears on Thursday and Friday schedules. Thursday includes a full-day or half-day route, with afternoon pickups listed at Esplendor by Wyndham Mendoza and Quick Point Araoz. Friday has an afternoon half-day departure from Amérian Mendoza at 7:58 a.m. The published timing is unusual, so confirm the correct day and departure before you rely on it.

The route names tell you where you are going, but not the exact wineries you will visit. You receive confirmed times at the wineries, and no separate reservation is required for those arranged stops. Still, your choices may be limited to the producers offered for that day.

What the 25 city pickup points mean

The morning bus starts its collection around 7:55 a.m. and continues through a long list of hotels and central points. Pickups include Park Hyatt Mendoza, Hotel Argentino, NH Mendoza Cordillera, Sheraton Mendoza, Hilton Mendoza, Esplendor by Wyndham, and several other properties.

There are also useful public meeting points, including Garibaldi 10, the tourist information centre, and Reconquista 52 at the main entrance area of the bus terminal. The first listed location is Av. Colón 423 at Edificio Recoleta Colon.

This wide net is convenient if your hotel is included. It also creates the tour’s biggest timing risk. The bus may spend a long time crossing the city to collect people who are not ready, and one poor experience involved more than ten empty pickup attempts. If you are not staying at a listed hotel, choose a central stop and arrive early rather than trying to flag the bus down.

The operator stresses punctuality, and you should take that seriously. Be at your chosen stop before the stated time, with your passport ready. The service has guaranteed departures and does not need a minimum number of passengers, but that does not mean the bus will wait.

Full day or half day?

I would choose the full day if wine is one of your main reasons for visiting Mendoza. Four winery visits create a fuller picture of the region, and you may have time for lunch at one of the producers. One full-day outing included lunch at a winery, while another included an olive-oil stop alongside the bodegas.

The full day also makes the transport cost easier to justify. At $40, you are paying for a long day of road time, an air-conditioned minibus, bottled water, a professional driver, and a guide. The winery entrance fees and tastings then come from a separate budget.

A half day makes sense if you want a gentler schedule, have another afternoon plan, or prefer two visits rather than four. It can also reduce the total cost once tasting fees are added. The tradeoff is less variety and less time to recover from any delay between stops.

Do not book the half-day option assuming it is simply the first half of the full-day route. Some half-day services run in the morning, others in the afternoon, and the available region changes by weekday.

What happens at the wineries

The bus brings you to each producer at a confirmed time. Winery tours and tastings are not included in the $40 fare, so you pay the entrance and tasting charge at the site by cash or credit card. Food and drinks are also extra.

This arrangement gives each winery control over its own presentation. You might see a modern cellar at one stop, a smaller family operation at another, or a producer focused on sparkling wine or olive oil. A visit to Andeluna, for example, was praised for its attractive cellar and strong on-site presentation.

The tradeoff is that the bus operator is not selling one all-inclusive tasting package. You need to keep track of extra costs, and you may not be able to choose every winery on the route. If lunch matters to you, ask about the available meal stop when you board. One outing became rushed at the final stop, leaving too little time for dessert.

Some people have also found that the wineries did not immediately recognize the mobile voucher. You may be directed to a tourism desk and asked to wait for the next bus or local transfer. Keep your confirmation available, but allow a little breathing room in your expectations.

The guide, the road, and the language question

A professional driver is one of the tour’s strongest features. Mendoza’s wine districts are too spread out for a carefree day of self-driving after several tastings. The air-conditioned minibus is also welcome during a long summer outing.

The guide’s role is less consistent. Hugo received warm praise for being attentive, helpful, and willing to answer questions. Gabriela was also singled out for good service. On other departures, English commentary was described as limited, with only basic information about Mendoza and the wine regions.

The tour may operate with a multilingual guide. If you need detailed explanations about grape varieties, farming, winemaking, or regional geography, ask how much English-language guiding is available before booking. The winery staff may provide the more detailed presentation at the actual stops.

Road time can also be substantial. A full day combines city pickups, transfers between wineries, scheduled visits, and lunch. When the bus runs on time, that rhythm works well. When it does not, a missed connection can make the final winery feel hurried.

Is $40 a fair price?

The price is reasonable for the transport alone, especially when you consider the distance between Mendoza and the outlying wine areas. You also receive bottled water, a guide, a driver, hotel pickup and drop-off at selected properties, and an air-conditioned vehicle.

But $40 is only the starting price. Add winery entrance charges, tastings, lunch, and any wine you buy. A full day can become much more expensive than the headline fare, particularly if you choose premium tastings or a sit-down meal.

The value is strongest for solo visitors, couples, or small groups who would otherwise need a private driver. It is also a good fit if you want to taste wine without appointing a designated driver. If you already have a group large enough to share a private vehicle, compare the total cost and the freedom to choose specific wineries.

The operator accepts cash or credit card at the wineries, but carrying a backup payment method is sensible. The tour itself includes no meals, so bring a plan for lunch and do not assume every stop will offer the same dining choice.

Problems to plan around

The main concern is organization. Some departures have run late, one bus reportedly broke down, and one passenger waited more than an hour for a repair or replacement. These incidents do not define every departure, but they show why you should avoid scheduling a flight, major museum visit, or other fixed appointment immediately afterward.

A second issue is the long pickup loop. If the bus serves 25 city stops, the early part of the day may feel slow. The pickup list includes many hotels, so the route works best when you accept that convenience for some passengers creates extra road time for everyone.

A third issue is limited control over winery selection. The tour promises confirmed winery times, not unlimited choice. If a specific bodega is the main purpose of your Mendoza visit, a private arrangement may suit you better.

The good news is that departures are guaranteed, most people can participate, and the operator does not require a minimum passenger count. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not refundable.

Who should book this Mendoza wine tour?

I would book it if you want a straightforward day of wine tasting, do not want to drive, and care more about seeing several producers than controlling every stop. It works especially well for first-time visitors who want an overview of Maipú, El Sol, Luján de Cuyo, Luján Sur, or the Uco Valley.

Choose the full day if you want four wineries, lunch, and the widest mix of producers. Choose half day if you want two stops and a lighter schedule. Bring your passport, arrive early, budget extra for tastings, and keep the afternoon after the tour free.

I would look elsewhere if you need polished English commentary, exact departure times, or a guaranteed visit to one named winery. For everyone else, this is a useful, fairly priced way to taste Mendoza’s wine country without turning the day into a driving assignment.

FAQ

What does the $40 price include?

The price includes transport by air-conditioned minibus, a professional guide and driver, bottled water, and hotel pickup and drop-off at selected hotels.

Are winery entrance fees and tastings included?

No. You pay winery entrance fees and tasting charges separately at each stop, using cash or a credit card. Food and drinks are also extra.

How many wineries can I visit?

A full-day ticket is designed for four winery visits. A half-day ticket is designed for two visits.

Which wine regions can I visit?

Routes cover Maipú, El Sol, Luján de Cuyo, Luján Sur, and the southern Uco Valley. The available region depends on the day of the week.

What time does the tour start?

The general meeting time is 7:30 a.m., while the listed city pickups begin around 7:55 a.m. Exact times depend on your selected pickup point and route.

Can I choose any winery I want?

No. You can choose among the wineries offered for your route, but the available producers may not include every bodega you request.

Is the tour available as a half-day experience?

Yes. Half-day departures are available on selected routes, in either the morning or afternoon. The exact option depends on the day and wine region.

Do I need to bring a passport?

Yes. A current valid passport is required on the day of the tour.