Heading west on Ruta 7, we drove out of the pampas and vineyards of Mendoza and into the mountains. We passed the last vineyard and then entered a stunning red, orange and yellow limestone canyon. The Rio Mendoza, nearly completely dry at this time of year, snakes it's way through the narrow valley. We first stopped to see the "Arenas Amarillos", or Yellow Sands, a strange deposit of Bentonite, the mineral that is used to filter white wines. The sands have formed a dozen rounded peaks along the far side of the river.
Two hours later, after climbing over 5,000 feet, we reached the small, dusty village of Las Cuevas. The small town is kept alive by the tourists and pilgrims that come to visit the “Puente del Inca,” or Bridge of the Incas. The natural bridge was formed during the last ice age, when avalanches bringing sediments and rocks flowed over the ice that covered the river, along with minerals from the adjacent hot spring. As the temperatures warmed and the ice melted, the natural stone bridge was left in place, hovering above the river. The sulfuric springs still pump out hot water, and the cascades have covered the bridge and the east bank in brilliant yellow, orange and green mineral deposits. In the sunlight, the bridge sparkles gold.
We continued further up the pass, reaching the entrance to Parque Aconcagua, at almost 10,000 feet. We were so wide-eyed, staring up at the surrounding mountains, that the colossal blue and white Cerro Aconcagua appeared entirely by surprise.
The behemoth Glaciar Superior, balanced on the north face, was thick enough that we could see it with the naked eye, nearly 14 miles away. At 22,837 feet, Aconcagua is the highest point in North or South America, and the second tallest peak in the world.
It was understood without explanation that this is a very spiritual place, and upon reaching the lookout point on the trail we all fell silent, staring in awe at the Cerro Aconcagua. As the thin clouds flowed over the summit, my Mom leaned over and said, “I’m really in the Andes!”
The agent had great response to questions and coordinated well to create an itinerary that met our expectations.
Bob Sunshine
1 day ago
Very responsive to all questions
Teresa Cardoso
2 days ago
Kelly and Rhenee were excellent to work with on planning our trip. The logistics all worked smoothly and everyone was friendly and on time. Our accommodations were very good, particularly the incredible Patagonia Camp in Torres del Paine! Our guides on every excursion were outstanding and made the hikes memorable! Overall we had a wonderful trip with incredible memories!
Scott Gibson
2 days ago
Adventure Life is definitely a first-class safari tour company, and our representative was Franny Friesz. First of all, she responded immediately after we contacted Adventure Life. We told Franny that we had never been on a safari, and she was more than eager to offer a mountain of information about the trip. She informed us fully about all the ups, downs, and all arounds! She even prepared a number of packages for us to review -- even after we made changes to the areas we wanted to explore. Friendly, helpful, professional, and extremely knowledgeable -- these words describe Franny, and what a wonderful trip she prepared! We couldn't have asked for better service than Franny of Adventure Life. We HIGHLY recommend her and her outstanding company! Bon Voyage!
Prima Burke
3 days ago
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.