Potrerillos used to be a group of farms and agricultural facilities. It then became a residential area, as well as a rest area for temporary residents, and a tourist resort.
A large dam on the Mendoza River (Presa Embalse de Potrerillos)[2] forms an artificial lake that measures 12 km in length and 3 km in maximum width. Uphill near its shore, there is a settlement of Villa Potrerillos, over 1,380 meters above mean sea level, where there is hiking (in the hills surrounding the area), rafting in the river, and paragliding.[3]
Vallecitos, an old ski center, is located on Cordón del Plata.