Valle Grande Dam

Information

Valle Grande is a dam located in the southern part of the Argentine province of Mendoza, relatively close to the city of San Rafael. It sits on the Atuel River, at one end of the well-known Atuel Canyon.

It's a major tourist attraction thanks to the landscape offered by the reservoir alongside the colorful mountains that surround it, which at times reflect perfectly in the water creating opportunities for truly unique photographs. Along the road that circles it there are high-up viewpoints that allow you to appreciate the scenery from different angles. Both on the way to the dam and in its surroundings there are accommodations, a few shops and camping areas. It's a place where water sports are practiced and catamaran rides are offered. It's worth noting that these special services require payment.

How to get there:
— By bus: there is public transportation from San Rafael. It's a good idea to check with the local tourism office for available schedules and stop locations.
— By car: from downtown San Rafael, take Ingeniero Julio Ballofet Avenue heading south for 6 km. There the road curves to the left, and after 400 meters Route 173 branches off to the right. It's 32 km along this route to the dam, all paved up to that point.

An interesting fact is that the road leading to this dam is the same one that later runs through the Atuel Canyon and eventually ends in El Nihuil. For that reason, a good option is to head out early in the morning to visit Valle Grande and on the same day explore another of these attractions, stopping for lunch at one of the many places along the way.