BUENOS AIRES TOURS
BUENOS AIRES CITY AND SURROUNDINGS
7 trips to the best places in the City of Buenos Aires and its surroundings
Buenos Aires, the great southern capital located along the banks of the Río de la Plata, reveals in its historic center the contrasts of a large city. Its past, with many religious temples and majestic buildings merges with its present, with refurbished old work. The city history coexists with the hectic pace of the 21st century revealing the secret formula for its city charm. The old downtown of this large urban center includes the traditional Plaza de Mayo, Avenida de Mayo (May Avenue) as far as Plaza del Congreso. Colonial facades, Spanish appearance, European styles and “porteño” taste join all together in every block.
The heart of the city is made up by the downtown area, the financial and commercial hub, the Plaza San Martin with its stately architecture, a haven from the city rush, the Calle Florida (Florida Street) and the Plaza Lavalle (Lavalle Square), leading to the emblematic Obelisco, and the mythical Calle Corrientes, where most opera theaters are located. The city is still colonial with a bohemian mixture, taking us back to the past in the Manzana de Las Luces (Illuminated Block) as far as San Telmo and the southern part of the Montserrat area. Finally, the new modern face of the city widely opens to the Río de la Plata: the natural haven of the ecological reserve at Costanera Sur and the recycled docks at Puerto Madero make this a sophisticated area where many restaurants are located.
Tours around Buenos Aires
You have the option of taking a classic tour around the City of Buenos Aires lasting 4 hours or the option of walking around its more traditional areas. At the historic center, you will visit Plaza de Mayo (May Square), Casa Rosada (Government House), Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) and the Cabildo. Then you need to head to the Avenida de Mayo, where the wide sidewalks are shaded by platano trees leading to the Plaza Congreso, and stop for a coffee break at the traditional Tortoni Café, open since 1858. For your stay in Buenos Aires experiencing a tango dancing night and attending an Argentine soccer classic match (such as Boca Juniors vs. Río de la Plata, or some other major soccer team like San Lorenzo, Racing or Independiente) during the weekend should be mandatory!
You can also go sailing among lush vegetation and local wildlife in the Río de la Plata and the Delta del Tigre. Or you can travel to the Province of Buenos Aires and visit a traditional Argentine “estancia”, where identity is still based on farm culture and the “gaucho” is the icon of the farm-rancher tradition, the historic powerhouse for the economic development in Argentina. You will find a number of “estancias”: El Ombú de Areco with its oaks, araucarias, eucalyptus and its traditional ombu trees. Estancia Cinacina, where a “gaucho” museum is located. Estancia La Bamba with a colonial style, including a bay window, covered arcades and a yard with a water well or Estancia La Porteña which was once home of poet and author Ricardo Güiraldes. Another good option is visiting Luján, a city renowned for its Neo-Gothic style basilica, regarded as the most important Catholic temple in Argentina. You can also visit La Plata, capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, to enjoy the beautiful architecture along its diagonal streets full of flowers and the great lungs of the city at Parque Pereyra Iraola.
Your visit to Buenos Aires may also be an invitation to cross the river for a short trip to the lovely colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento. If you happen to have a few extra days, you can also visit the nostalgic city of Montevideo and the gentle or rough sea beaches of Punta del Este. Combining the city of Buenos Aires with Uruguay and Brazil is a tempting option. You can start your travel at the “Paris of South America”, then continue to the Uruguayan coastline and northbound as far as the amazing Iguazú Falls and the Iguazú National Park and finish your trip at the beautiful warm beaches of Rio de Janeiro.