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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. 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

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 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.

The ticket entry price is 1700 pesos for a weekday, and 1900 pesos 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. There is an on-site brewery as well, but it seems to be temporarily shut down.

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

What is not included in the park entrance: lockers, towels, robes, 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 get 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 to 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 to the meeting point at 9:15, bus leaves at 9:30. The return time is 5pm.

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 going to Cacheuta is with the Andesmar company; you can find the bus between platforms 41-50. 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 day off. I personally like to buy my tickets in advance to eliminate ‘day of stress.’ That way you can just go directly to the bus platform. 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 should buy your return ticket at the same time. The tickets are 145 pesos each way (290 pesos roundtrip/ $1 usd).

There is a very obvious stop where to get off once you reach the 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, the stop will come first. I suggest letting the bus driver know you’re going there when you get on, so you don’t miss your stop.

You can catch the bus going back to Mendoza 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.

This is the bus schedule between Mendoza and Cacheuta:

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

I took the 9am 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 10am, 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.

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. There are bathrooms, changing rooms, mirrors, and three showers (with hot water). There are no lockers to rent, however.

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 view point. A great place to escape the children. 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. It is not that deep. 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.

Picnic Tables/Gazebos

You can find tables all over. Near the entrance when you first walk in (both to the left and right). At the very bottom near the river (they are covered). A few in the grassy area. There are a ton of places where you can eat.

What can I eat at the thermal baths?

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

At the 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.

Quincho

You also have the use of 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.

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 entrances. 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 wrist band. 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 desert (flan); I ordered an additional beer. The total was 2180 pesos. 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.

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
Backpack – to keep all your items easily transportable

Cacheuta Thermal Baths: a favorite spot for rest and relaxation

Spending the day at the Cacheuta Thermal baths (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.