LATAM has started a new direct route between Lima and Mendoza - Argentina's wine country capital.

For those that wish to visit both Peru and Argentina, this cuts out a significant dog leg to Buenos Aires and onward to Mendoza.

For those wanting a quick stop in Argentina's wine country before visiting Chile, there are also direct flights onward to Santiago.

Peru and Argentina are two of the most visited countries in Latin America, with the lure including the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Lima, Buenos Aires, the Valdes Peninsula, Iguazu Falls and wine country.

The service between Lima and Mendoza opens up a new route to explore both countries while reducing the number of flights and cost.

Mendoza

Mendoza has a laid-back atmosphere and some of the country's best restaurants.

The surrounding countryside forms one of the world's great wine making regions.

The hot days and cool nights are the secret to the region's wine making success.

Many of the bodega's have opened their doors as hotels and small luxury guesthouses.

For the more adventurous, there's the chance to trek up Aconcagua that rises 6,959 metres above sea level, and is one of the highest peaks in the Americas, or to try white water rafting in the rivers that cut through the central valley.

Useful links

​ www.experiencemendoza.com/en

www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk