Founded in 1561 by the Spanish, the city of Mendoza joins two other providences, San Juan and San Luis that makes up the heart of the Cuyo. Responsible for seventy-five percent of the country's wine production, it is difficult to imagine that all of those grapes grow in an inhospitable desert thanks to a vast irrigation network of canals that date back to the Incas. The area is a great place to indulge in outdoor activities from skiing to hiking, mountain climbing, hang gliding, and horseback riding. Naturally, wine tours are available for those interested in tasting the different local Mendoza wines and tourists can also try their luck at a huge casino located in the Park Hyatt Hotel. Other areas of attraction are the Plaza Independencia, the Museo Fundacional, and the Museo Histórico General San MartÃn.
