Understanding Maipú's Layout
Maipú is part of the Mendoza metropolitan area, and it's worth understanding from the outset that the department is spread out rather than concentrated in one compact centre. The centre of Maipú itself can be explored on foot, but many of the wineries, olive-oil producers and tourist restaurants that visitors come for are scattered across different districts. That single fact shapes almost every transport decision you'll make here: getting between the places you want to see usually matters more than getting around within any one of them.
Walking
Walking works well for the centre of Maipú, where you can cover the core on foot. It is much less practical as a way of linking the wineries and other tourist establishments, which sit in separate districts. If you're basing yourself in the centre and only want to explore locally, you can manage without any vehicle at all.
Bicycle
Cycling is one of the main options for getting around Maipú, and it is particularly well suited to areas where several tourist establishments are relatively close to one another. If your itinerary clusters a few wineries or producers together, a bicycle can be an enjoyable and practical way to move between them. Before setting out, check the distances involved, since the department's spread-out geography means a route that looks short on a map may not be.
Car, Taxi and Hired Transfers
Private or rental cars, taxis and hired transfers are all established ways of getting around Maipú. A car gives you the most flexibility if you plan to visit wineries in different districts of the department. Taxis and hired transfers work similarly for point-to-point trips without the need to drive yourself.
If you are visiting wineries in different districts, it is advisable to plan your route in advance and check the directions provided by each establishment. Opening hours and reservation requirements should also be confirmed with each establishment before you travel, as these vary and can affect how you sequence your day.
Organised Excursions
Organised excursions are another of the main options for getting around Maipú. They are a sensible choice if you would rather not drive, particularly for a day that takes in several wineries, since they remove the need to plan routes and arrange transport between each stop yourself.
Public Transport and Buses
Public transport services connect Maipú with Mendoza city and other parts of Greater Mendoza, so you can reach the department by bus rather than by car or taxi. Within Maipú, however, public transport is less convenient than a car, a hired transfer, an organised excursion or a bicycle if your goal is to visit several wineries in a single day. Treat the bus as a way of getting to and from Maipú and Mendoza, and plan a different mode for moving between the wineries themselves.
Getting There from the Airport
The usual airport for visitors arriving in the region is Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport, also known as El Plumerillo, which sits in the Mendoza metropolitan area. From the airport, Maipú can be reached by car, taxi, rental vehicle or public transport. If you are heading straight to a winery or a spread-out district rather than the centre, a car, taxi or rental vehicle will generally serve you better than public transport.
Practical Tips
- Check distances between wineries before setting out — the department is spread across multiple districts and establishments are not clustered together.
- Confirm opening hours and reservation requirements with each establishment in advance.
- If you're visiting wineries in different districts, plan your route ahead and check the directions each establishment provides.
- Use walking for the centre, and a car, taxi, transfer, excursion or bicycle for reaching the wineries.
- Rely on public transport mainly for connections to Mendoza city and the rest of Greater Mendoza, not for hopping between wineries.