In the center of the province of Mendoza is the Department of San Rafael, which provides a number of tourist attractions that will make the delight of those who busquenun place with the ideal combination of nature and tourist services. The city of San Rafael is the capital of the Department, and is in itself a beautiful tourist town that is worth be visited and enjoyed. The big Valley, a place of stunning beauty, is only 37 km of the same. As its name indicates, is a valley which pass through great gorges, and surrounded by hills of fascinating colors. The area is crisscrossed by innumerable rivers and streams of crystal clear waters, which are given entirely to those who want an alternative to relax and enjoy the most of tourism in Mendoza.
To access the big Valley you can visit the provincial route 173, in excellent condition. An abundant vegetation welcomes visitors, who in a few kilometres will enter towards the edges of the Atuel River. Many visitors come year after year to the Valle Grande in search of places for camping, rafting on the mighty river, or enjoy a holiday in maximum contact with the nature, a perfect remedy for the stresses of daily life. But, the advantage of big Valley is that, despite retain their natural character to the maximum, the visitor can find a wide range of services that will make your stay a moment of comfort and security. In the Valle Grande is located the eponymous dam, with an imposing wall, whose objective is to regular Atuel river flow and remove hydroelectric power. Here forms an artificial lake, on whose margins are located many companies and businesses that continuously provide assistance to many visitors. In this way it is possible to enjoy a wide range of aquatic activities, but also find restaurants, accommodations, proveedurias and tourism companies that specialize in the Organization of excursions for this beautiful area of the country. One of the activities that most attracts young people and adolescents is the Hydrospeed, consisting of slide at high speed across the River into a kind of slipper, comprised of a single plastic cart, where they only fit one or two people. Activity synthesize fun and adrenalin the Atuel River has to offer to those who visit it, which will be, undoubtedly, accommodation in Mendoza in this area to enjoy the maximum of their possibilities.