Is Mendoza Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Motorcycle-based theft — known locally as motochorro — is documented across Mendoza's urban streets and is specifically flagged in multiple government travel advisories including the US State Department, Canada DFAT, and Australian Smartraveller. Thieves operate in pairs on a motorbike: one drives slowly alongside pedestrians while the other grabs phones, bags, or jewellery and the bike accelerates away. The attack is fast and leaves victims little time to react.

How to avoid: Walk on the inside of the footpath, away from the kerb. Keep phones out of sight and in a pocket rather than in hand. Wear bags across the body with the strap on the traffic-side shoulder to make snatching harder. Avoid wearing visible jewellery or watches in street-level areas.

Where: Avenida San Martín, Avenida Las Heras, pedestrian areas around Plaza Independencia, streets adjacent to the microcentro

A major travel agency fraud case in Mendoza in January 2025 resulted in 80+ victims losing nearly $200,000 USD after paying for package holidays to the Caribbean and Disney that were never delivered. The agency — Guillén Enterprise — collected full payment via its website and social media channels, then shut down its online presence and ceased contact two days before departure. The owner was subsequently arrested by Mendoza authorities and the case was widely reported by Argentine national media including Infobae and Todo Noticias. The scale and recency of this case make online travel agency fraud a documented, active risk in Mendoza.

How to avoid: Only book tours and package holidays with agencies registered with Argentina's tourism authority (SECTUR) and verified on the official registry. Pay by credit card rather than bank transfer so you can dispute fraudulent charges. Search the agency name plus "estafa" or "denuncia" before paying. Avoid agencies that promote heavily on Instagram or WhatsApp without a verifiable physical address in Mendoza.

Where: Online — agencies operating via social media (Instagram, WhatsApp) and websites targeting customers throughout Mendoza and Argentina; victims reported citywide

Street-level arbolitos (informal money changers) approach tourists in Mendoza's central pedestrian zone offering parallel exchange rates above the official bank rate. While some transactions proceed, many involve counterfeit notes mixed into bundles, deliberate short-counts, or sleight-of-hand where pesos are palmed mid-count. During periods of Argentine economic instability the spread between official and blue rates is large, making the scam highly attractive to operators. The practice is illegal and leaves tourists with no recourse against losses.

How to avoid: Decline all street currency exchange approaches. Use official casas de cambio with posted rates or withdraw from ATMs. If using informal channels, never allow the other party to handle the cash during counting.

Where: Pedestrian Sarmiento street, Plaza Independencia perimeter, near major bank branches in microcentro

Short-term opportunistic abductions — known as secuestro express — are flagged for Mendoza by the UK FCDO, Canadian DFAT, and US State Department. Victims are typically held in a vehicle for several hours and forced to withdraw the maximum possible amount from multiple ATMs or make mobile bank transfers before being released. Criminals frequently surveil ATMs and currency exchange offices, following targets who have just made a transaction. The risk is elevated late at night and in areas near downtown cash exchange points.

How to avoid: Use ATMs inside banks or enclosed shopping centres during daylight hours only. Vary your routine after cash withdrawals and take a different route back to your accommodation. If confronted, do not resist — comply, and report to police immediately after release.

Where: Downtown Mendoza near ATMs and casa de cambio (currency exchange offices); areas around Peatonal Sarmiento and Avenida San Martín financial district