10 Filming Locations in Mendoza

Unable to film in Tibet, the production of Seven Years in Tibet moved to western Argentina — specifically, to Cerro Tunduqueral in Uspallata, a town in the Las Heras department of Mendoza. For months, the area was transformed with temples, villages, and Eastern-style sets. Although everything was later dismantled, locals still fondly remember hosting Brad Pitt in their town.

Visiting Uspallata means immersing yourself in a tranquil Andean landscape surrounded by mountains and fresh air. About 120 kilometers from the city of Mendoza, this mountain town wins visitors over with its serenity, warm locals, and natural beauty. Less than 7 kilometers away lies Cerro Tunduqueral — a sacred site for ancient peoples, featuring hiking trails and rock paintings that are over a thousand years old.

Fun fact: Hidden in the heart of the town, Bar Tíbet still preserves original props from the film’s set — a gem for movie lovers.

Where: Cerro Tunduqueral, Valle de Uspallata, Las Heras, Mendoza.

Directed by Mendoza-born filmmaker Alejandro Fadel, this horror film unfolds across hauntingly beautiful landscapes. It follows a rural policeman investigating the case of a headless woman. Fadel blends the rawness of the genre with Mendoza’s breathtaking scenery. The abandoned Hotel Termas El Sosneado adds a mysterious touch to the story.

Located in San Rafael, southern Mendoza, about 60 kilometers down a gravel road, this 1938 hotel lies in ruins today — though its thermal pools remain. The journey there winds through mountains and wild terrain before arriving at the site, where visitors can go trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, or enjoy photography tours. It’s an unforgettable experience where silence and altitude meet.

Fun fact: The film brought Mendoza’s landscapes to Cannes, where it was nominated in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section.

Where: Hotel Termas El Sosneado, San Rafael, Mendoza.

Directed by Ariel Winograd and starring Guillermo Francella and Diego Peretti, The Heist of the Century used Mendoza as the setting for its grand finale. The movie recreates the 2006 Banco Río robbery in Acassuso — one of Argentina’s most daring crimes. In the film, the story concludes in Potrerillos, where Peretti’s character escapes after the heist. The final mountain and dam scenes reveal Mendoza’s majestic, tranquil side — a perfect counterpoint to the film’s adrenaline.

Just 69 kilometers from Mendoza City, Potrerillos is a favorite getaway (and home to Experiencia Chirivia). With its vast turquoise reservoir, it’s a paradise for rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and horseback riding. Many locals also enjoy picnics by the lake, mountain dining, or nights in cozy cabins and glamping domes.

Fun fact: While the movie shows the thief hiding in Mendoza’s mountains, the real mastermind behind the Banco Río robbery fled to a gorge in Iglesia, San Juan.

Where: Potrerillos, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Directed by Gaspar Gómez, Road July is a road movie set against the vast, sun-drenched routes of southern Mendoza. It tells the story of July, a young girl who, after her mother’s death, embarks on a journey with her estranged father to meet her grandmother in San Rafael. Driving an old Citroën, they traverse remote highways, small towns, and mountain passes.

Also of interest: The Best Mendoza Restaurants to Visit This Spring

The Mendoza landscape becomes a third protagonist — its empty roads, wide-open skies, and silences shaping the emotional journey. Filmed across nine departments, including Capital, Godoy Cruz, Luján de Cuyo, Tunuyán, and San Rafael, it paints a vivid picture of rural Mendoza life.

Fun fact: Considered Mendoza’s first fully industrial film production, Road July marked a milestone in regional cinema.

Directed by J.A. Bayona, this film revisits the 1972 Andes plane crash, in which a group of young men survived 72 days in extreme conditions. Though primarily shot in Spain, Uruguay, and Chile, the real crash site — the Valley of Tears — lies in Mendoza’s Malargüe region.

Reaching the site is possible via a three-day expedition from El Sosneado. The trek, while demanding, rewards travelers with awe-inspiring views and a deeply moving encounter with history — the wreckage of the plane still lies in the valley, a powerful reminder of human resilience.

Fun fact: The valley’s name comes from its mineral-rich soil, which irritates the eyes — as if the landscape itself brings tears to visitors.

Where: Valle de las Lágrimas, Malargüe, Mendoza.

This Mendoza-made film by José Kemelmajer and Axel Rezinovsky tells the story of Néstor, a solitary doctor researching cell aging in a nursing home. Much of the story unfolds in General San Martín Park — the city’s great green lung — where the characters’ lives intersect.

Just steps from downtown, the park’s tree-lined paths, lake, and picnic areas make it a local favorite. Visitors can explore by bike or car, enjoy food stalls and restaurants, or simply relax under the sun with a mate in hand.

Fun fact: Director José Kemelmajer also starred in and produced the film — a triple role born of pure cinematic passion.

Where: Av. Emilio Civit and Av. Boulogne Sur Mer, Ciudad de Mendoza.

Directed by Marina Seresesky and starring Darío Grandinetti, Mercedes Morán and Jorge Marrale, this road movie follows three aging tango performers on a journey from Buenos Aires to Mendoza. The director, who lives in Spain, chose Mendoza out of a long-held personal desire to film there. The stretch between Cacheuta and Potrerillos became the emotional heart of the movie.

This scenic mountain route winds through sharp curves known as los caracoles, offering sweeping views of ochre and green hillsides and the fragrance of native jarilla plants. The journey reaches its climax at the Potrerillos Dam — a cinematic sight in itself.

Fun fact: At the 26th Málaga Film Festival, the film won the Audience Award and earned Jorge Marrale the Silver Biznaga for Best Supporting Actor.

Where: RP82, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

In this romantic comedy starring Luisana Lopilato, Benjamín Vicuña and Benjamín Amadeo, the Penedo Borges Winery becomes “Bodega Renard.” The plot follows a sommelier who discovers she can communicate with her past by sending messages through wine bottles — a magical story set in Agrelo’s stunning vineyard landscape.

Also of interest: What is natural wine and which ones should you try?

Located in Luján de Cuyo, Penedo Borges combines modern architecture, artisanal spirit, and sustainability at the foot of the Andes. Visitors can enjoy tastings, vineyard lunches, and sunset views that feel straight out of a movie.

Fun fact: The production benefited from Mendoza’s Cash Rebate program, which offers tax incentives for filming in the province.

Where: Penedo Borges Winery, Ruta Internacional No. 7, km 8, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

This action-comedy, directed by Jorge Nisco and starring Adrián Suar, follows Duque, a former agent who returns to action when his niece is kidnapped — leading him to Mendoza. One of the filming sites was the DiamAndes Winery, which doubled as a high-security lab in the movie.

Owned by the Bonnie family of Bordeaux fame, DiamAndes blends sustainable design, cutting-edge technology, and elegant architecture that merges with the Uco Valley landscape. Its fine organic and vegan wines and the French-inspired DIAM’S restaurant complete the cinematic experience.

Fun fact: The winery’s name fuses “Diamond” and “Andes” — and it offers Argentine visitors a 25% discount on all experiences.

Where: Clodomiro Silva S/N, Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Mendoza.

Starring Mercedes Morán and Natalia Oreiro, The Rojas is a thrilling adventure about two scientists — a paleontologist and a biologist — who join forces to protect a remote site from exploitation. Filmed in Mendoza’s rugged landscapes, the standout location is the Paramillos Mines.

Located near Uspallata, about 110 kilometers from Mendoza City, these 17th-century Jesuit mines once employed thousands of Indigenous workers. Today, their tunnels and ruins — over 10,000 galleries — offer guided tours, mining treks, and adventure sports like rappelling and ziplining.

Fun fact: “Paramillos” derives from “páramo,” meaning desolate place — a name perfectly suited to this hauntingly beautiful setting.

Where: RP52 km 25, Uspallata, Las Heras, Mendoza.