Villavicencio 4x4 Photo Safari: Andes Wildlife, Switchbacks, and Uspallata Views
Difficulty
easy
Duration
7–9 hours
Fitness Level
Comfortable with short walks on uneven, sometimes windy terrain; long periods seated in a 4x4.
Overview
Trade tasting rooms for high ridgelines on this private 4x4 photo safari from Mendoza. Climb the switchbacks of Villavicencio, explore Jesuit mining ruins, and frame condors over turquoise water at Potrerillos—then refuel with a hearty Uspallata lunch.
Villavicencio 4x4 Photo Safari: Andes Wildlife, Switchbacks, and Uspallata Views
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Dawn lifts over the Mendoza foothills as the 4x4 noses onto the old Route 52, a gravel ribbon that climbs toward Villavicencio’s high country. The air feels thin and clean, tugging at your jacket as hairpin turns—the Caracoles—coil above the valley. Guanacos watch from the shoulder like curious locals, ears flicking, then sprinting along the ridge as if daring the truck to keep pace. Ahead, the Andes stack into layered blues, every switchback peeling back a new horizon.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Prepare for altitude and wind
Sections crest above 2,500–3,000 m; hydrate, apply sunscreen, and move at a steady pace during short walks.
Protect your camera from dust
Bring a microfiber cloth and zip-top bags or a rain cover—unpaved sections can kick up fine grit.
Grip-ready footwear
Sturdy closed-toe shoes with good traction make roadside pullouts and short rocky scrambles safer.
Motion management on switchbacks
If you’re prone to car sickness, sit up front and consider motion tablets before the Caracoles.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Andean condor
- Guanaco
History
The Jesuits established early mining works at Paramillos in the 1600s–1700s, among Argentina’s first mineral projects. Route 52 once connected mule and early motor traffic between Mendoza and Uspallata before modern highways took over.
Conservation
Villavicencio Reserve protects high-desert and puna habitats; stay on established pullouts, respect wildlife distance, and pack out all litter to reduce erosion and disturbance.
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Adventure Hotspots in Mendoza
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Windproof layer or softshell
The high Andes funnel gusts; a light windbreaker keeps you warm during photo stops.
Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
Intense UV at altitude makes broad-brim coverage and sunscreen critical in summer.
summer specific
Sturdy closed-toe shoes
Grippy footwear helps on gravel shoulders and short, uneven paths to viewpoints.
Telephoto lens (200–400mm) with polarizer
Reach condors and guanacos without approach, and use a polarizer to deepen skies and cut glare on Potrerillos.