Cacheuta Thermal Baths | Everything You Need to Know

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Mendoza is the ultimate escape for full relaxation. While Mendoza is most known for its wineries and bodegas, there are also the lesser-known Cacheuta Thermal Baths or Termas Cacheuta Mendoza. When people think of thermal baths, they often think of the well-known, yet overcrowded thermal baths like Széchenyi in Budapest, Saturnia in Italy, or Pamukkale in Turkey. However, Argentina is full of hidden gems; they’ve got their very own thermal baths in the province of Mendoza.

You can soak in the Cacheuta Thermal baths in the heart of Mendoza, while gazing out at the incredible mountain landscape, full of cacti and wildflowers. Treat yourself to the relaxing atmosphere in one of the most peaceful areas of the country. You won’t want to miss this, so let’s dig in!

(Note: All prices are as of November 2022)

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Basic Info for Cacheuta Thermal Baths

Email: inquiries@termascacheuta.com
Phone: +54 261 5191676
Hours: 10am- 6pm
Address: Ruta Provincia Nº 82 KM 39 (38 for the hotel/spa)

What’s the difference between the Cacheuta Thermal Baths Hotel/Spa and the Water Park?

When beginning to research Cacheuta Thermal Baths (Termas Cacheuta Mendoza), this becomes the big question. The information online is not always clear here. But these are in fact two separate spaces offering different experiences.

Click here for hotel/spa prices.

Cacheuta Hotel/Spa

The Hotel and Spa offers a more luxurious experience. Staying at the hotel is an all inclusive experience, offering both meals and access to the spa and thermal baths included in the price. There are extra benefits the more nights you spend.

If you don’t want to sleep at the hotel, but you want the more exclusive experience of using these spas, you have the option of 4 different packages:

Full day: (13,000 pesos) Price includes all day access to the spa, plus a Creole lunch and a towel.

Thermal mindfulness: (20,000 pesos) Price includes all day access to the spa, plus guided activities, lunch, and a towel.

Afternoon spa: (8000 pesos) Price includes half day access to the spa (2pm-5pm), and a towel.

Potrerillos + afternoon spa: (15,000 pesos) Price includes pick-up from Plaza Independencia in Mendoza, a visit to the Potrerillo Valley, access to the thermal baths (3pm-6pm), and a towel.

The first three options offer a Mendoza city pick up/transfer for an additional 2300 pesos. You need to book very well in advance for any of the Hotel/Spa activities as the space is limited (between 6-50 people) and they fill up very quickly. I really wanted to go here, but unfortunately, there were no openings for a month in advance.

Cacheuta Water Park

The thermal water park (Termas Cacheuta Mendoza) is open to the general public. Spaces are limited (2300 people in summer/1000 in winter) so you should also try to purchase tickets in advance if you’re going in high season or on a weekend, though the water park is definitely not as limited as the Hotel/Spa experiences are. If you go on a less busy day, like a Monday-Wednesday, you should have no problem to just show up and buy a ticket at the entrance. That’s what I did.

How much does it cost to go to the Cacheuta Water Park?

The ticket entry price is 1700 pesos ($5.5 USD) for a weekday and 1900 pesos ($6.50 USD) on the weekend.

The water park includes access to indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a wave pool, a lazy river, interactive activities for kids, picnic areas, and a small shop to buy beverages and snacks. There is an on-site brewery as well, but it seemed to be temporarily shut down when I was there.

There are also additional adventure activities if you so wish to purchase them.

What is not included in the park entrance: lockers, towels, robes, and umbrellas.

How do I get to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths?

The Cacheuta thermal baths (Termas Cacheuta Mendoza) are about an hour west of the capital city of Mendoza. There are a few ways to get there:

Drive

If you have your own car, getting there shouldn’t be an issue. According to GPS, the drive is about 50 minutes. Just across the street from the water park entrance, there is a small dirt parking lot. The hotel has a parking lot.

Shuttle

This option might be one of the easiest if you don’t have a car, as you can get a shuttle service between Plaza Independencia and the front door to the thermal baths. Though it does mean you need to book in advance and pay online, and the price is quite a bit higher than the city bus. You can buy tickets here. The ticket price for entry + shuttle transfer is 3500 pesos (3700 pesos for Saturday/Sunday). You need to arrive at the meeting point (in Plaza Independencia) at 8:45 am to leave at 9:00 am. The return from the water park is at 6:00 pm. You should also try to book this in advance, as there is a capacity of 76 people.

The schedule changes slightly in the winter season (May 1- August 31): Arrive at the meeting point at 9:15 am, bus leaves at 9:30 am. The return time is 5 pm.

If you’re going to the hotel/spa, many of the packages include the shuttle service, or it is available for an extra 2300 pesos.

Bus

This is definitely the most affordable option. From the Terminal De Ómnibus de Mendoza, you can catch a public bus directly to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths. The bus that goes to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths (and hotel/spa) is with the Andesmar company; you can find the bus between platforms 41-50 at the station. Just look for the Andesmar bus between those numbers. The platforms can be found on the west side of the station (after walking through a shopping gallery hallway).

You can buy your tickets in advance or on the same day you want to visit the Thermal Baths. I personally like to buy my tickets in advance to eliminate ‘same-day stress.’ That way you can just go directly to the bus platform, ticket in hand, when you arrive at the station. If you prefer to buy your tickets on the same day, I suggest going about 20-30 minutes before the bus is due to leave. The line to buy tickets gets really long just before departure, and that anxious feeling of missing a bus is the absolute worst.

Regardless, you need to purchase your tickets inside the main bus station at the Andesmar counter. It is downstairs, next to Rapipago (east side of the station near the entrance). You need to purchase your return ticket at the same time, and you have to know the time for your return in advance. So plan accordingly. The tickets are 145 pesos each way (290 pesos roundtrip/ $1 USD).

There is no assigned seating on the bus, so you can sit wherever you want. But if the bus is crowded, standing up is not allowed, which is why you should buy your return ticket in advance. There is no bathroom on board, so try to use the restroom at the station before you get on the bus. Otherwise, it will be about an hour before you arrive.

There is a very obvious stop where to get off once you reach the Cacheuta Water Park since the majority of the people on the bus will be getting off. If you want to get off at the Hotel/Spa, that stop will come first (marker 38). I suggest letting the bus driver know you’re going there when you get on, so you don’t miss your stop. Try to sit in the front of the bus as well. That way you get a great view and you’ll be close to the driver if you need to clarify your stop.

You can catch the bus going back to Mendoza from the Cacheuta Water Park exactly across the street from where it drops you off in the morning. There is no sign, but you will see a group of people congregating, also waiting to take the bus back. Unfortunately the “bus stop” is in the sun, in a gravel parking lot, but there are a couple of trees you can wait under until the bus arrives. You can also get fresh fruit juice for a few pesos at a small shop just across the street to keep you hydrated while you wait.

This is the bus schedule between Mendoza and the Cacheuta Thermal Baths:

Leaving Mendoza: 6 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:15 pm (9 pm on Saturday/Sunday/holidays)
Leaving Cacheuta: 7:10 am, 10:30 am, 11:20 am, 12:15 pm, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm, 6:50 pm, 9:20 pm

I took the 9 am bus to the thermal baths, and the 3:45 bus back to Mendoza. I felt it was perfect timing. I got there right as the baths opened at 10 am, had lunch in the middle, and then left in the late afternoon as the baths were starting to get fuller and the sun was at full strength.

Depending on the time of year, you may be able to catch the sunset in the Cacheuta Thermal Baths, which would be a magical experience. In that case, you could just take the 6:50 pm or 9:20 pm bus home. Regardless, when planning your trip to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths, think about your priorities while there, what and where you want to eat, and how long you want to spend there. For me personally, 5 hours was perfect for me. But if I went with friends, and not as a solo traveler, I probably would have wanted to pack a picnic or bring food for an asado and make a day of it. But whatever you decide to do, you won’t regret coming.

Take an Organized Tour to the Cacheuta Hotel/Spa

Unfortunately, it seems there are currently no tours available to go to the Cacheuta Water Park. However, there is a tour available for the Cacheuta Hotel/Spa. The tour includes:

• Use of all facilities at the thermal center in the Hotel Termas de Cacheuta
• Lunch
• Hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels only)
• Mud Therapy
• Sauna

If you’re looking for something very fancy for a several-day trip, check out this other tour that offers:

• 4 nights accommodation in a Standard room in a 5-star hotel
• Private guides
• Round-trip private transfers from/to the airport
• 24-hour assistance available
• Breakfast (4)
• Lunch (2)

This second tour will take you to the Cacheuta Thermal Hotel/Spa on one day, and a private mountain excursion and a wine tour on other days.

What can I expect to find at the Cacheuta Water Park?

Locker Rooms

When you first walk into the covered thermal bath area from the entrance, you’ll see the locker room entrances for men and women to your right. There are bathrooms, changing rooms, mirrors, and three showers (with hot water). There are no lockers to rent, however. So make sure you bring a small bag that you can easily carry around with you.

Indoor Thermal Baths

These are the first baths you’ll see when you enter. They are also the hottest. I suggest starting here in the morning before it gets too hot. In the afternoons, the heat feels suffocating (at least for me).

Outdoor Thermal Baths

There are a ton of these. Both in the upper level, and in the lower level. They are of varying temperatures, though a general rule is that the water seems to get colder as you get lower. There is also an 18+ pool with an incredible viewpoint. A great place to escape the children. Another rule of thumb is that the lower you go, the more children there are. Many of the outdoor pools toward the bottom are not open during the winter. They are open from September 21 until Easter.

Wave Pool

This is a large circular pool in the center. It is not that deep, maybe about 2 feet. There is a large fountain in the center, and this is where the water slides empty into. That means there are a ton of kids in this area.

Lazy River

This is a giant ring of water that goes around the entire bottom level of the water park. The water is quite cold here. It gets full in the afternoon, but relatively empty in the mornings. But it’s a great place to wade through in the afternoons when the sun gets very bright and hot.

Picnic Tables/Gazebos

You can find tables all over the Cacheuta Water Park. Near the entrance when you first walk in (both to the left and right) you’ll see picnic tables with asado grills. At the very bottom near the river (they are covered) are several other picnic tables, but I didn’t see any grills. There are a few uncovered tables in the grassy area on the bottom level, though these fill up fast and early, as people like to claim them and leave their stuff there all day. There are a ton of places where you can eat all over the Cacheuta Water Park.

What can I eat at the Cacheuta Thermal Baths?

If you choose to go to the Hotel/Spa, food is included with the pack you purchase.

At the Cacheuta water park, you have several options:

Picnic

There are tons of picnic tables scattered all around the water park area. Down below by the river, up above by the entrance, and in the grassy area of the lower section. If you like to eat your own food, it is very easy to bring what you want and eat when you want, and wherever you want.

Quincho

You also have the use of a quincho and a bbq area. There are several parrillas (grills) at the picnic tables near the entrance. I saw several very prepared families cooking their own bbq’s. Lots of families used their table as a home base. They would cook all day and go back and forth between the table and the pools.

Restaurants

There are a ton of dining options just outside the water park gates. You’ll see them on your journey down the dirt road from the bus stop to the water park entrance. There are not only restaurants on this main strip, but on smaller streets as well as you walk uphill. You can come and go as you please from the water park as long as you leave on your wristband. I was also surprised by the prices of the restaurants, which did not seem to take advantage of you, as you might expect for eateries near tourist spots. I got a menu del dia, which consisted of an empanada, a salad (or french fries), a main dish, and a dessert (flan); I ordered an additional beer. The total was 2180 pesos ($7.20 USD). It was also a very pleasant eating experience, as it was set in a garden.

If you’re interested in eating at the same place as me, simply walk out of the water park exit and walk straight up the hill. It is the first left you come to. You’ll know it’s the place because the garden is covered in lush green plants and tables with umbrellas. I highly recommend this restaurant.

What should I bring to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths Water Park?

At Termas Cacheuta Mendoza, there are no lockers. You should only bring what you feel comfortable carrying around from pool to pool. But these are the main essentials:

SPF – It gets very hot and sunny
Sunglasses – again, the sun
Hat – If you don’t want the sun in your eyes
Swimsuit – Duh
Flip flops – the ground is rocky and not comfortable to walk on with bare feet
Phone (with waterproof case if necessary) – you gotta get those enviable photos
Selfie stick – to keep your phone out of the water easier
Towel – Get dry!
Money – to get in and to eat lunch
Food/snacks – if you want to bring your own, it’s allowed
Extra change of clothes & undies – Make sure you’re comfortable for the ride back
Book/kindle – take a rest in the grass or read while at lunch (I did!)
Headphones – to listen to music/podcasts on the hour-long bus ride
Water bottle – it gets hot, stay hydrated. I personally love the LifeStraw filter water bottle.
Backpack – to keep all your items easily transportable. I used the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L, which was the perfect size.

Where to Stay in Mendoza

If you’re planning to spend several days in Mendoza, check out these places to stay:

Gorilla Hostel

This is one of the most popular hostels in Mendoza. It seemed that everyone I met was staying here. It’s a very social hostel in a hip part of town. A great place to meet other travelers.

Chill Inn Hostel

This hostel is RIGHT on Aristides street, which is the most popular street for going out. If you’re into nightlife and like to be around all the action, this is the perfect place to stay.

Villaggio Hotel Boutique

This Boutique Hotel is right in the center of town, just one block from Plaza Independencia (where you can see the fountain show). There is a small outdoor pool and a free breakfast every morning.

Hotel Nutibara

This hotel is also just one block from Plaza Independencia, which is super central. Free parking is available, as well as free breakfast, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.

Posada Cavieres Wine Farm

If you like the idea of sleeping where wine is made, this could be the place for you. A breakfast buffet is included. If you don’t have a car, transportation can be arranged for a small fee to reach this destination. On the property, you can find a garden, vineyard, and olive grove.

Get Travel Medical Insurance before you go!

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Cacheuta Thermal Baths: a favorite spot for rest and relaxation

Spending the day at the Cacheuta Thermal Baths Water Park (Termas Cacheuta Mendoza) was easily one of my favorite days in Mendoza. I really hope you’ll make time in your schedule to do this activity. If you are reading this in advance of your trip, I also strongly suggest making reservations now at the Hotel/Spa if you’re looking for something extra peaceful and relaxing. Disfrutá!

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