Buenos Aires Travel Guide: The BA City Tour Bus

Following the example set by many cities around the world, since May 2009 Buenos Aires has its own Hop On Hop Off tour bus run by the city government.  Affordable and with an open upper deck, it makes for a great way to see the highlights along a 3 hour loop it follows through downtown. Running every 20 minutes and with 25 stops in all, here are 4 stops to certainly visit during the best tours to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Stop 0: Diagonal Norte & Florida

On the corner of the most important shopping street in Buenos Aires and mere yards away from the Plaza de Mayo with its many monuments including the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo and the Cathedral, it’s no wonder it’s the first stop on the tour.

Stop 8: Caminito

La Boca’s cultural and touristic heart beats on the few blocks around Caminito. This small street on the waterfront has managed to preserve some of its original houses with their different bright colors for almost every wall. This tradition dates back to the dockworkers bringing back left over ship paint from the shipyards they worked at to use on their walls, normally not being enough to paint the entire house in one color

Stop 18: Barrio Chino

Buenos Aires’ Chinatown is the perfect place for lunch. Even more than in other cities around the world it’s the place in Buenos Aires to get some spicy food. Argentines normally do not eat spicy food and the Barrio Chino has by far the best options for those missing food with a bite to it.

Stop 23: Recoleta Cemetery

The number one attraction in Buenos Aires is this cemetery. Most visitors come for the tomb of Eva Peron, but a host of famous Argentines and members of the most important families in town have found their final resting place here. Directly outside the burial grounds is the church of Our Lady of Pilar, built in 1732 and with beautiful silver ornaments inside and certainly an important stop during the best tours to Buenos Aires, Argentina 

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Argentina Travel Guide: The Old Patagonian Express

Made famous by Paul Theroux in his 1978 book, the Old Patagonian Express is described as the railway almost at the end of the world. Though no longer running the entire route it did in its heyday, a journey with this train is still a great addition to any of the best vacations to Argentina.

Officially the Patagonian Light Railway and named La Trochita by the locals, because it runs on narrow gauge tracks, the line opened in 1935 to link the 400 kilometers separating  Ingeniero Jacobacci in Rio Negro from Esquel in Chubut. This line also completed the railroad going all the way up to Buenos Aires.

In the 1960’s the roads improved ever more and faster and more comfortable long distance buses and trucks led to the slow and steady decline of the former popular railway, especially after lines connecting to it also started to shut down because of economic difficulties. When Paul Theroux first rode the train in the late 1970’s the line itself was already making great losses and on the verge of closure, with may of its locomotives and wagons in a perilous state.

The first waves of backpackers discovering the train around this same time however and especially the tourists coming after the publication of Theroux’ book, made the line continue on until the government in 1992 finally decided to close it down because it could not afford the huge investments needed to bring the line up to current safety and economic standards. Almost all rolling stock by this time was over 70 years of age.  

Luckily an international outcry made the two provincial governments think of a plan to keep the line open in a different form. It now runs shorter trips on part of the former line as a so called heritage railway on two touristic sections in Chubut between (a) Esquel and the settlement of Nahuel Pan and (b) between El Maitén and Desvio. It still uses the original steam engines and period wagons and is a great way to spend a part of the best vacations to Argentina.

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Buenos Aires Travel Guide: Plaza de Mayo

There are many monuments and landmarks in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the Plaza de Mayo is undoubtedly home to some of the most important. The heart of the city since 1661 and in its current form since 1884, here are the 5 most important sights to visit on the square during the perfect tours to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Casa Rosada

The “pink house” is based on the remaining annex of the former demolished city fortress from 1713 and underwent many extensions and modifications during the 19th century before getting its not so subtle paint of coat in 1882 under president Sarmiento, supposedly to merge the red and white colors of the two main opposing political parties. It’s been the work palace of the Argentine president ever since independence. 

Piramide de Mayo

Put up to commemorate the newly independent "Provinces of the Rio de la Plata" in 1811, it’s the oldest surviving monument in the city of Buenos Aires. 

Banco de La Nacion

Built between 1940 and 1955, the headquarters of the biggest bank in Argentina also houses an art gallery and a numismatic museum which are both open to the public.

Cabildo

The Cabildo was the original seat of the city government and dates back to 1610, making it one of the oldest buildings in the city. Though half of it was destroyed on purpose in the early 20th century to make room for the new Avenida de Mayo, in 1940 the remaning half was reconstructed with its original colonial features.

Catedral

The Roman temple you see on the corner of the Plaza de Mayo is actually the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires. Rebuilt several times since its humble origins in the 16th century, the present building is a mix of architectural styles. The interior has more to offer with impressive statues and silver altars. It’s also the final resting place of Argentina’s national hero Jose de San Martin, better known as El Libertador, and certainly an important stop during the perfect tours to Buenos Aires, Argentina 

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Buenos Aires Travel Guide: History

Buenos Aires has an impressive history and knowing a bit more about it will help you even more to enjoy all the sights and monuments you will likely visit during the best trips to Argentina.

The city of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre(literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") after Our Lady of Bonaria (Patroness Saint of Sardinia) on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza. The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center. The nearby Lezama Park in La Boca is often seen as the place where Pedro de Mendoza first landed and apart from a monument houses the worthwhile Museum of History in the former Lezama family mansion.

Attacks by natives, disease and hunger drove the original settlers away upriver towards what is now Paraguay and only in 1580 was Buenos Aires founded permanently. Even then, it was still an outpost in the Spanish empire and with gold and silver from Peru being transported towards Spain overland via Panama, the city inhabitants were forced to live from smuggling which lead to strained relations with Spain. During the run up to independence from Spain, English forces saw their opportunity and invaded Buenos Aires twice and even managed to hold the city for a short period in 1806.

When Independence was finally complete in 1816, conflict continued almost directly though this time internally between a rapid succession of different dictators and between the city and the surrounding provinces. Only towards the end of the 19th century and especially with the invention of the cool ship that could bring Argentine beef unspoiled to Europe, did Buenos Aires enter its period of greatest riches. You will notice this next time you stand on the impressive 9th of July avenue on one of the best trips to Argentina and realize that for its creation the width of a city block was razed over it’s entire length destroying many historical buildings just to make the city more like fashionable Paris.

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Top 5 best cafes in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has a century old tradition of coffee houses with writers, artist and regular inhabitants discussing life, love and politics for hours over a cup of hot brew or a drink. With nightlife a very important part of Buenos Aires, you might well be in need of some strong cups yourself the morning after, so here’s our guide to the most important cafes to visit during the best tours to Buenos Aires.

Tortoni

Voted one of the ten most beautiful cafes in the world. Pricey and overrun with tourists, but by far the most famous of them all. If you can avoid the lines that often form outside this former hangout of Borges and Einstein, it’s well worth a visit during the best tours to Buenos Aires.

(Avenida de Mayo 825 - Microcentro)

Confiteria Ideal

Founded in 1912, one of the oldest tearooms in the city, its second floor houses a grand ballroom that hosts tango lessons and milonga’s almost every afternoon and evening. Various days the dancing is accompanied by live musicians and on Friday and Saturday evening they host tango shows as well.  

(Suipacha 384 - Microcentro)

Las Violetas

An unchanged classic since 1884 with beautiful gilded interior, high ceilings and waiters in complete uniforms. The place to go for an old fashioned high tea named after opera singer Maria Callas in the afternoon that includes enough food to leave you filled till well after even Buenos Aires dinner time.

(Rivadavia 3899 - Almagro)

La Biela

Named after the piston in an engine, it started out as the hangout for Argentina’s aviation pioneers and in later years became the unofficial club house for some of the most famous race car drivers in Argentina, including 5 time Formula 1 world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.

(Quintana 596 - Recoleta)

Bar Plaza Dorrego

One of the oldest bars in the city dating back to the 18th century. Original wooden iceboxes en tables and a bar people have been carving their names in for many decades, make this the perfect location to rest up from visiting the sunday antique and crafts market that occupies the street out front.

(Defensa 1096 - San Telmo)

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Argentina Travel Guide: Skiing

Winter's coming again in a few months, so it seems like a good time to take a closer look at the best ski resorts in the country. Argentina’s share of the Andes has the highest mountains outside of the Himalaya, offering a long ski season from Mendoza all the way down to Ushuaia. If you’re looking for a new winter sport experience and some fresh powder snow whilst the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying summer, then read up below on the best ski and snowboard possibilities in Argentina.

Penitentes

A smaller resort with varying difficulties, suitable mainly for beginners. Located directly on Ruta 7 from Mendoza towards the border with Chile, which makes for great access and a perfect day or weekend trip from Mendoza in combination with visits to Aconcagua or Puente del Inca.

Cerro Catedral

The biggest ski resort in the country with the most facilities including some first class restaurants and bars. Located close to the city of San Carlos de Bariloche in the Argentine Lake District and with 1,500 acres of skiing, by far the most popular winter sport destination in Argentina. Catedral offers good off-piste and a special park with rails and ramps for free style and snowboard skiing. Slopes rise up to 6,000 feet offering great snow from mid June to the beginning of October.

Chapelco

Snowboarding heaven at only 15 miles from San Martin de Los Andes in the province of Neuquén. Not only does it have a snowboard area with a half pipe, big air, fun park and a parallel slalom, it also offers winding trails through giant forests of moss covered Lenga trees, making for a spectacular and exhilarating ride. Big drops up to 40 feet and the views  coming down from the top of the mountain at 6,500 ft over beautiful Lake Lakar complete the picture.

Cerro Castor

The southern most ski resort in the world, located only a few miles from Ushuaia. The geographic location means of the longest ski seasons in the world and also one of the lowest in altitude with the resort itself lying below 1,000 feet above sea level. It’s unique setting attracts skiers from all around the world.

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Top 5 most beautiful estancias in Argentina

Most visitors to Argentina dream about spending at least a few days in the country side during their stay and with historical farms or estancias across the country, the possibilities can seem endless. Let us help you out with this short guide to the most beautiful estancias to visit in Argentina.

Villa Maria

Only half an hour from downtown Buenos Aires and close to Ezeiza airport, this is one of the most luxurious choices. Built in English style by a wealthy landowner on almost 200 acres, it consists of 11 suites and houses a billiard and cigar room as well as a library. Polo lessons are on the menu as well

(Ezeiza - Buenos Aires Province)

Candelaria del Monte

A favorite of both Travel + Leisure and National Geographic Traveler magazine, this estancia dates from the 1800’s and was completely rebuilt in the original style in 2004. Most food they serve is produced on the estate itself.

(San Miguel del Monte - Buenos Aires Province)

La Paz

The most beautiful estancia in Cordoba Province, built in 1830. Lovely main house in a park designed by Charles Thays, the man responsible for both the Botanical Gardens and huge 3 de Febrero park in Buenos Aires.

(Ascochinga - Cordoba Province)

Bahia Bustamante

An bit of an anomaly, this estancia/tiny village on the southern Atlantic, as it used to be a farm for seaweed harvesting, not raising cattle. In the midst of an amazing part of nature with the old worker homes converted to cabins and a central kitchen with an award winning chef, this place truly makes for one of the most beautiful estancias to visit in Argentina, if not the world. 

(Bahia Bustamante - Chubut Province)

Huechahue

In Argentina’s Lake District at the foot of the Andes, this is a real farm with a herd of almost  a 1000. The chance for horse riding aficionados to participate in some real gaucho cowboy work. You sleep in simple but comfortable wooden cabins. British female owner.

(Junin de los Andes - Neuquén Province)

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Buenos Aires Travel Guide: Outlet Shopping

Argentineans love shopping and Buenos Aires especially is filled with a huge number of shops that cater to every possible wish. If you want to save some of your hard earned cash to enjoy other aspects of Argentina as well, a visit to the best Outlet Shopping districts in Buenos Aires is well worth your time.

Shopping in Buenos Aires is normally fairly straightforward. You have the busy central pedestrian mall of Florida street in the center of town, the designer labels in Palermo Soho and the huge shopping malls spread around the city, such as Abasto, Alto Palermo, Dot, Unicenter and all other goods are often confined to one street or a few blocks where shops that sell the same products group together.

A lot of people know of Murillo street in Villa Crespo where you have around three blocks of door to door shops that sell leather goods, but there is also Avenida Warnes where all autoparts vendors group together or Puerreydon between Avenida Corrientes and Avenida Rivadavia where you can get cheap imitations of almost any famous brand in the world from Lacoste and La Martina to Ray-Ban sunglasses.

At the intersections of Gurruchaga and Aguirre streets (on the borders of the Palermo and Villa Crespo neighborhoods) however is the heart of a few blocks that house outlet shops of international brands such as Nike, Puma, Lacoste and A&F but also most of the local favorites from Ona Saez to Rapsodia and from Bensimon to Kosiuko. Here you will find high end clothing without breaking your bank.

A second large outlet center is located around the intersections of Herrera and California streets in the southern district of Barracas, almost below the 9 de Julio highway. This one houses stores from brands such as Levi’s, Cardon, Hush Puppies and Christian Dior among many others. Enough to keep you happy for a few hours on one of those rare cloudy days and of course all are open on Sunday afternoon as well. Enjoy!

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