To all my hikers and lovers of the outdoors, look no further for the ultimate guide to hiking Cerro Arco in Mendoza, Argentina.

In this post, you’ll learn how to get to Cerro Arco, what the hike is like, and whether hiking Cerro Arco is worth it or not.

Let’s jump in!

But first, Where is Cerro Arco?

Chances are you probably have a rough idea of where Cerro Arco is if you’re reading this.

But if not, Cerro Arco is a mountainous area (elevation 5,472 feet above sea level) located in the Mendoza province of Argentina. 

If you’ve never been to Mendoza or are unfamiliar with the area, it is in the eastern part of Argentina, settled along the Andes mountains.

The great thing about hiking Cerro Arco in comparison to other mountains in the province of Mendoza is the proximity to the city of Mendoza, also known as “Capital” in Spanish. 

Getting to the Base of Cerro Arco

Getting to the base of Cerro Arco from the city of Mendoza (where you can find the most accommodation options) is fairly quick and easy. If you decide to Uber or take a yellow taxi, it will set you back about 2000 ARS (about $5 USD) and will take no longer than 20 minutes.

If you decide to take the public bus from the city center, you can expect it to take about 35 minutes but will only cost 70 ARS (roughly 15 cents)! While $5 USD definitely won’t break the bank, I decided to take the public bus to get more of a feel for the local rhythm of Mendoza.

The specific bus you need to take is the 300 and during normal operating hours, it stops every 15 minutes. You can expect it to be a few minutes late like all busses in Mendoza but because it stops so frequently, you won’t find yourself waiting at the stop for very long.

Pro tip: Finding exactly where to go can be a bit difficult on Google Maps. I recommend searching for Puesto Puerto de la Quebrada, which is a restaurant at the base of Cerro Arco.

What’s the bus ride to Cerro Arco like?

I’m so glad I decided to take the bus to Cerro Arco.

Firstly, it was nice to feel like I was immersed with the locals. I got to see a little bit of the cultural norms, like the way everyone greeted each other as they passed by one another on the bus.

Additionally, I also got a peek into life outside the city.

I would have never known that all the streets in the somewhat rural neighborhood closest to Cerro Arco were named after Argentine doctors. Or got to see the huge military base 5 minutes from Cerro Arco that looked like a luxurious hotel resort.

It’s also just a cool ride as the bus winds up and down the hill with progressively better views of the mountains. For pretty much the last 10 minutes of the bus ride, you can see the mountains on one side with the city on the other.  

Though it can be a bit of a bumpy ride, if you ask me, I say definitely go with the bus!

And the Cerro Arco Hike Begins!

When you get off the bus, the hike technically begins right there.

I say technically because you see signs that say “Cerro Arco – 4250 meters”, but really what you’re doing is walking to the base. From the bus stop to the base of the mountain is about a flat 25-minute walk.

Once you get to the base, you’ll see the restaurant on the left side and the start of a slight incline straight ahead.

With this, the hike (really) begins!

In just 15 minutes, you’ll notice that the slight incline starts to have a little bit more bite to it.

You’ll also notice the radio antennas that seem so far off in the distance. These antennas are where the summit is.

I won’t lie, though I was totally game for the hike, at that moment I was thinking that this would be a long hike.

I Wasn’t Wrong

According to AllTrails, the hike takes about 3.5 hours to complete. I won’t say this is completely inaccurate because I could definitely see people completing it in that timeframe.

But I think for the vast majority of us, hiking Cerro Arco from top to bottom will take closer to 4.5 hours. This is mainly because you’ll probably want to stop and take pictures of the mesmerizing views. Also, since the trail gets really steep, the way back down can be a bit tricky.

Speaking of steep…

Yeah, some points on the trail are no joke. I’m talking 10 out of 12 on the stair master.

You won’t need hiking poles but you do need to be prepared to feel a bit of burn in those calves and quads! It’s hard to give a 100% accurate depiction of the level of difficulty, given that we all have different hiking experiences and fitness levels, but I would consider Cerro Arco to be moderately-difficult.

Making it to the Top of Cerro Arco

As much as I want to write extensively about how beautiful that feeling was to get to the top, if you’ve ever gone on a hike, you already know. I’ll spare the details.

What I will write is how you can determine you’re getting close.

This may seem obvious (you see the top, duh!). But with so many switchbacks, I thought I was near the top 3 times before I actually reached the summit of Cerro Arco.

There will be three different antennae stations. 

When you reach the first, you’re arguably at one of the most difficult sections of the hike. The good news is, you’re roughly only 30 minutes away from the summit.

Then there’s a second antennae station which will make you feel like you made it with the glorious views of the city this section has to offer. From here, you’re roughly 20 minutes away.

Then there’s a paragliding station with even better views of the city and surrounding mountains. A grueling 10 minutes later and you’re at the summit!

Was the hike worth it?

Okay, I have to say what we already know of the vast majority of hikes: it is SO worth it!

I couldn’t believe that just a 20-minute ride away from the city I was more than 5,000 feet above sea level, walking through the midst of the clouds.

Add this to the fact that there was no one around. Though I’m sure the views would have been substantially better on a clear day in the summer or spring, I would actually recommend doing this hike in the fall or early winter for this same reason.

There are not many other better feelings I’ve personally experienced than being all alone with the grandeur of the mountains surrounding me.

I hope by now I’ve convinced you to hike Cerro Arco, or at the very least have helped you plan your hike.

If you’ve already hiked Cerro Arco, let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your experience!

‘Till Next Time Travel Friends!