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[title]Imagine traveling across Argentina following in the footsteps of General José de San Martín, with a passport in hand that fills with stamps as you discover landscapes, towns, and traces of his libertarian epic. That’s the idea behind the Pasaporte Nacional Sanmartiniano (PNS), a cultural tourism project that invites travelers to explore 83 national landmarks certified by the Instituto Nacional Sanmartiniano.
This historical experience goes beyond books — in each site, part of the past comes to life while revealing the cultural and natural richness of every region. The route is open and flexible, but the passport organizes the journey chronologically, from the Liberator’s birthplace in Yapeyú to his mausoleum in Buenos Aires Cathedral. And for those who take on the adventure, there are prizes: the first travelers to complete the PNS will win trips to keep discovering the country.
Mendoza is the heart of this route, with 28 key locations ranging from mountain passes to urban landmarks full of memory and documentation. It’s the perfect excuse to let history guide you — and to experience Mendoza in a truly unique way.
What Is the Pasaporte Nacional Sanmartiniano?
The PNS works as both a travel notebook, where each visit is recorded with a stamp, and as a guide to the most important certified sites of the campaign.
“The historical circuit with national projection was developed between Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis,” explains Marcelo Reynoso, General Coordinator of the program. “It doesn’t include commemorative sites but those with documented evidence of San Martín’s presence or direct connection to the Liberation Campaign — this certification was carried out by historians from the Instituto Nacional Sanmartiniano,” adds Reynoso, who is also the Director of Tourism Development and Innovation at EMETUR (Mendoza Tourism Board).
Obtaining the travel document is simple: you can buy it online (through EntradaWeb or the program’s official website) and pick it up at the first stop you visit. One key detail — it has no expiration date, allowing you to travel at your own pace. Mendoza, with the highest number of certified sites, is the ideal starting point for the adventure.
Which Mendocinian Sites Are Part of the Sanmartinian Route?
There are 28 historical landmarks across nine municipalities in Mendoza. Ready to start the journey? Each one offers a unique experience that blends history with landscape and local culture.
“These are places that invite you to dive into history while enjoying the natural and cultural beauty of our land,” highlights Reynoso.
Let’s begin in the City of Mendoza — a place best explored on foot, filled with Instagram-worthy spots to capture the essence of your visit. Here you’ll find nine different stops:
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Museo del Área Fundacional (Beltrán & Videla Castillo, Plaza Pedro del Castillo), once the provincial council and the heart of colonial life.
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Museo Casa de San Martín (Corrientes 343), the house where the General lived from 1814 to 1817 while serving as Governor-Intendant of Cuyo.
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Plaza Sarmiento (Buenos Aires, J. F. Moreno, Lavalle & Montecaseros), formerly “Plaza Nueva,” where local militias performed their drills.
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Convento de Santo Domingo en Soriano (Salta & Beltrán), which in 1815 housed the 3rd and 4th squadrons of the Mounted Grenadiers.
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Basílica de San Francisco (Necochea & España), home to the image of Our Lady of Carmen of Cuyo, Patron and General of the Army of the Andes. Here you can see a letter written by the Liberator and the remains of his daughter Mercedes Tomasa, his son-in-law, and his granddaughter.
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Memorial de la Bandera del Ejército de los Andes (Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo 201), located in the Provincial Civic Center, displaying two royalist flags captured in independence battles.
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Archivo General de la Provincia (Sargento Cabral & Belgrano), where San Martín’s decrees and proclamations are preserved.
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Museo del Pasado Cuyano (Montevideo 544), featuring a Sanmartinian room dedicated to the General and the Liberation Campaign.
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Museo Histórico General San Martín (Remedios de Escalada de San Martín 1843), located on a site the General bought in 1818 as a retreat.
The route continues through Gran Mendoza:
In Godoy Cruz, visit the Tomb of Tomás Godoy Cruz (Lavalle 60), a close friend and ally of San Martín and his voice in the Congress of Tucumán; and the Tropero Sosa Property (bike path between Lavalle & Rivadavia), home to the man who transported weapons and supplies for the army.
In Las Heras, explore both urban and mountain sites. Campo Histórico El Plumerillo (Lisandro Moyano & Independencia) is where the General trained his troops for the campaign that would change the continent. Nearby, Capilla Histórica El Plumerillo (Pedro Pascual Segura s/n°) is believed to be where San Martín prayed during the army’s formation.
Also in Las Heras, Estancia Canota (Provincial Route 52 s/n°) features the Monument to the Army of the Andes, built in 1935 to honor the army’s columns. In Uspallata, visit Las Bóvedas — vault-like structures used for storage during the campaign — and Puente de Picheuta (National Route 7 s/n°), site of a 1817 ambush by royalist forces. The Battle of Potrerillos (Punta de Vacas) was fought in response to that attack.
The Uspallata Pass, also known as the Paso de la Cumbre, was one of the six mountain crossings used by the Army of the Andes to enter Chile in 1817.
In Maipú, the Posta de Rodeo del Medio (Carril Viejo s/n°) was a key stop for travelers and muleteers, while the Casa de las Bóvedas (Provincial Route 50, Rodeo del Medio) was the site where locals bid farewell to San Martín before the campaign.
In the Uco Valley, Fuerte de San Carlos (Lencinas & Independencia, San Carlos) was where San Martín met with southern chiefs to secure passage and support for the crossing through Portillo and El Planchón.
In Tunuyán, two essential landmarks await: Paso del Portillo, one of the army’s strategic mountain crossings, and El Manzano Histórico (Provincial Routes 89 & 94), where San Martín shared an emotional reunion with Colonel Manuel de Olazábal after the campaign.
In eastern Mendoza, San Martín features two sites: Chacra La Tebaida and Olivo Histórico (Alem, Ejército de los Andes, Thomas & Mercedes), lands donated to San Martín by the provincial government; and the Museo Histórico Las Bóvedas (Godoy Cruz & Pirovano), a replica of his 1823 home built with materials from the original.
In Junín, visit the Posta del Retamo (Mitre & La Posta), a rest stop used by San Martín en route to assume the governorship of Cuyo, and the Hacienda del Libertador (Orfila s/n°), which he purchased to build a flour mill to feed the local population.
Further south, in Malargüe, lies the Paso del Planchón — now the Vergara International Pass — used by the column led by Lieutenant Colonel Ramón Freire.
Pasaporte Nacional Sanmartiniano Awards
The launch of the PNS includes a contest for the first three people to complete all 83 certified sites. The prize: a trip with companions to one of the 12 provinces not part of the route.
“It’s like a patriotic embrace for the whole country — a tourism and cultural program of great historical value,” summarizes Marcelo Reynoso.
Mendoza already has a pioneer: Julio Alvarado, the first traveler to visit and stamp all 28 provincial sites. As recognition, he received a pehuenche poncho — a replica of the one gifted to San Martín by Chief Ñacuñán as a symbol of respect and leadership. The ancestral garment, in black, blue, white, and yellow, was imbued with spiritual and cosmic meanings.
It’s worth noting that the Pasaporte Nacional Sanmartiniano has no expiration date — it can be completed anytime, at your own pace. There’s still time to join the Sanmartinian route and discover Mendoza (and Argentina) in a different way — with the freedom of a traveler and the thrill of being part of the greatest epic in our history.