Another circuit well known and of great tourist attraction is El Carrizal Dam, located between the departments of Rivadavia and Luján de Cuyo, only 60 km from the City of Mendoza. Until it is reached from the Great Mendoza, in the south direction by Route 40. The road is flat in all its extension. The height varies between six hundred and seven hundred meters. Its route of one hundred and twenty kilometers is done in one day. It is operable all year, but it is more advisable in summer.
With the imposing frame of the Cordillera de Los Andes to the west and oasis crops in almost the entire circuit, it deviates to the East in Ugarteche, along Provincial Route 16, to the El Carrizal reservoir.
It is a dam of stone, earth and clay, with a water mirror whose reservoir measures about 15 × 5 km, and the maximum water level is 785.5 meters above sea level, covering 31.47 km². Its maximum volume is 327 million m³. The reservoir is used to regulate the flow of the Tunuyán River, which is then used to irrigate the eastern oasis. The climate in Carrizal is warm and temperate. In winter, there is much less rainfall than in summer. The annual average temperature is 19.2 ° C.
It is a true oasis in the middle of the desert of La Travesía, which infuses a breath of fertility into these barren lands by nature, none of the plantations and vineyards that constitute the pride and prosperity of the area would be possible without its existence. As well as none of the modern wineries installed in the surroundings, and that receive the tourist with its varied and tempting offer of walks, outdoor activities and tastings. The true name of the Villa is San Isidro but such is the importance of the dike that few know it as such.
The truth is that most of the tourism comes to the village El Carrizal to practice sports or water activities. This is the reason why, on both sides of the periwinkle, in forested areas, there are more than 30 fishing and / or nautical sports campsites and clubs. Some of them are: Yacht Club Mendoza, Club de Pesca y Nautica Rivadavia (with a windsurf school), Martín Pescador, and El Pelícano, among others. On the west bank is the Club Mendoza de Regatas.
On the other hand we can also find campsites, diving schools, weekend houses, tourist complexes with varied accommodation services, gastronomy and numerous offers of activities to do both day and night.
Among the sports activities that take place there we can mention horseback riding, trekking, hiking, fishing. Adventure tourism has an important development in the surroundings. It allows navigation with and without motor so you can practice windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, motor boating, boating and fishing. The predominant fish population is pejerrey Gran Paraná. In general the fishing season is inaugurated on November 1 and the El Carrizal dam is one of the most popular for the practice of this activity. Although fishing restrictions are minimal there, do not forget to buy the permit before leaving with the rod under your arm.
Beyond the area of the well-known campsites of El Carrizal, a natural area where hundreds of species of native fauna and flora coexist, it extends for about 18 kilometers of coastline. You can find more than 60 species of birds, from teros, geese from Black collar and herons up to flamingos. In addition there are wild boars, hares, cougars, foxes, otters, wild cats and pajonal, among other large number of animals.
Recently opened is Luján Playa, a spa located on the edge of the El Carrizal dam, between the edge of water and street Las Turberas, west of the water mirror. A space with 3 recreational pools, foodtrucks, services and an unparalleled view of the reservoir.
It is returned by the same route. There is also the option to connect from here with the East Zone on Route 64.
