Rafting and Canopy near Mendoza: Which Mendoza River Tour to Book?
4 min read
If you want rafting and nothing else, the 12-km Mendoza River tour is the one to book: it is the most reviewed rafting tour on GetYourGuide for Mendoza, costs €31.20 per person and is rated 4.2/5 from 106 reviews. The time on the water is short compared with the length of the day, so decide whether you want to add the canopy.
What to expect on the river
Rafting here takes place on the Mendoza River, in the mountains west of the city, near Potrerillos. Visit Argentina says that spring and summer are the ideal months, as water levels are higher. Ask the operator whether the tour runs on your dates. The tours below are described with level 3 and 4 rapids or a 12 km stretch, but time in the water is about an hour on most of them.
Rafting only
The Mendoza River rafting tour is run by Ríos Andinos. The page lists 1 hour of rafting and equipment, meaning a wetsuit, life jacket and helmet, plus an instructor. You can choose an option with hotel pickup and drop-off or go to the base yourself, which is on Route 7 about a 1-hour drive from Mendoza. Food and drinks are not included. The page lists children under 12, pregnant women, people with back problems or mobility impairments, people over 65 and people over 110 kg as not suited. Its listed duration of 2 to 7 hours depends on the option you pick.
The half-day rafting tour from Gray Line Argentina costs €139.05 and lasts 6 hours with pickup included. The highlights mention over 1.5 hours of rafting, while the description says about one hour in the water, so ask which is right. There is time for lunch at the parador afterwards, but food and drinks are not part of the price. The page lists equipment, a bilingual guide, accident insurance and transfer from central hotels as included. It also says every participant must be able to swim and gives a minimum age of 12, with younger children to be asked about, and it rates the river at class 2 to 3 depending on the time of year.
The Potrerillos rafting tour costs €103.40 and lasts 7 hours, with a van from Mendoza (the itinerary lists 40 minutes) and 1.5 hours listed for the rafting. The description says an 8-kilometre stretch, shorter than the 12 km of the first two. The page lists the guided rafting, a safety talk and the gear (wetsuit, neoprene shoes, dry jacket, life jacket and helmet), takes groups of up to 30 and asks you to request an English- or Portuguese-speaking guide when you book. Its mixed list of inclusions and exclusions also names the cost of lunch, so ask whether lunch is covered. It lists children under 8 and pregnant women as not suited, and it is marked as a new activity.
Rafting with a canopy
The rafting and canopy tour from the same operator as the first costs €47.24 and lasts 6 to 8.5 hours, with groups up to 30. After 12 km of rafting you cross the river on a 4-section canopy of 700 metres, hanging from a steel cable 10 metres above the water. It lists children under 10, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, people over 65 and people over 100 kg as not suited. Food and drinks are not included.
| Tour | Length | Rafting | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendoza River rafting | 2–7 hours | 1 hour, 12 km | Pickup optional |
| Half-day rafting, Gray Line | 6 hours | 1 to 1.5 hours, 12 km | Swimmers only, from 12; lunch not included |
| Potrerillos rafting | 7 hours | 1.5 hours, 8 km | Pickup included |
| Rafting and canopy | 6–8.5 hours | 12 km | 700 m canopy |
Our recommendation
Most visitors who want the river should book the Mendoza River rafting tour, or choose the rafting and canopy tour if the canopy appeals and you fit its limits. Check the age and weight limits before bringing a family, and whether pickup is part of the option you choose. For more adventure choices, see the rafting and adventure tours or the Aconcagua and high mountain tours.
