The Real de la Cruz Refuge is on the trail that leads to Portillo Piuquenes, in the Tunuyán department of Mendoza Province. This legendary trail covers 12km and links Argentina to Chile. It was here, in 1817, that Général San Martin led his army during the liberation of Chile.
The best way to explore the Real de la Cruz Refuge and the stunning Andean Cordillera is on horseback. You can leave Mendoza by car and then continue on horseback from Manzano Histórico. Allow for 4 days and 3 nights in the heart of the Andean countryside. During this trek, you'll be able to visit Portillo Piuquenes and Portillo Argentino, at 3,400 metres high, before heading down the Río Tunuyán Valley to join the Real de la Cruz Refuge and the Tupungato Volcano.
Be forewarned, you need to be in good shape to do this trek, enjoy being in the great outdoors and be prepared to sleep in a tent. The best bit? Sleeping under an amazing starlit sky.