Argentina Travel: A Two Week AdventureArgentina travel is very cost effective for North Americans. Most international travelers are likely to enter Argentina by way of Buenos Aires, the capital. Buenos Aires has a well-deserved reputation of being the most European city in South America. It is vibrant, cosmopolitan and sophisticated. All Argentina vacations will likely begin in Buenos Aires as the capital is the gateway to other regions of the country. On Day 1 arrive in Buenos Aires and check in to your place of lodging. Start the tour at the Plaza de Mayo in the Microcentro and visit the Museo Del Cabildo de la Revolucion de Mayo, Cathedral Metropolitana and Museo de la Casa de Gobierno in the Casa Rosada. All are near the same subway stop (Subte A – Plaza de Mayo). Follow these up by touring around the neighborhood. Day 2 is assumed to be a Sunday (if not, change the order as required). Spend Sunday morning at the San Telmo Market. Take Subte C to San Juan station then walk 6 blocks to Avenida Defensa and then 1.5 blocks to Plaza Dorrego. The outdoor market is 8-10 blocks long. Spend the afternoon in the colorful and eclectic La Boca – the “Birthplace of Tango”. Do not walk from San Telmo to La Boca as the neighborhoods that you will pass through are said to be dangerous. Enjoy a late lunch or early dinner consisting of the Argentine barbecue known as the parrilla in La Boca at La Vieja Rotiseria (Magellanes 869). On Day 3 take Subte C to Plaza Italia and tour the Japanese Garden (Jardin Japones) and the Evita Museum. Continue with a visit to Cemetario de la Recoleta. Most visitors seek out Evita’s tomb but the general architecture is fabulous. Take Subte C to Recoletta station. From here you must either hire a taxi or else walk 16 blocks (most of it through Buenos Aires’ most upscale neighborhood). Continue your Argentina travel on Day 4 with shopping. Buenos Aires is particularly noted for leather goods. In the early evening, visit the Tango Museum (Av de Mayo 833 – 1st floor) then see a tango show at Café Tortoni (825 Av de Mayo). Both are accessible from Subte A – Piedras. After the show, enjoy a late evening parrilla dinner at Grill Oriente, a short walk away (Avenida de Mayo 999, Subte C – Av de Mayo). As you eat, look out over the widest street in the world – Av 9 de Julio. This 20 lane street has seven lanes running in each direction down the center plus an additional three lanes on the outside separated by a median. Spend Day 5 in the town of Tigre about 1 hour outside Buenos Aires. Take a boat tour of Paraná River delta. After your cruise, shop for handicrafts at the Puerto de Frutas. Visitors should note that Tigre may be reached by either the Tren de la Costa or a regular passenger train. The former is more expensive and is touted as the more scenic train ride. The downside is that you only see the water for about 10 minutes of the 30 minute ride. On Day 6 and 7, travel to Uruguay across the river by hydrofoil. Your Argentina travel continues on Day 8 as you fly from Buenos Aires to the city of Mendoza. Mendoza is in the heart of wine country. As soon as you arrive, settle in at your place of lodging. Remember to ask for a city map of Mendoza when you check in. Start your visit by arranging a wine tour for that afternoon. If time is available before the tour begins, go to the Vines of Mendoza (Av Espejo 567) and sample some wines. Begin Day 9 with a visit to the Museo Del Pasado Cuyano (544 Av Montevideo). Spend any remaining time touring the city before returning to Buenos Aires. Day 10 of your Argentina travel finds you in transit from Buenos Aires to the ocean playground of Mar del Plata. If you take the short flight to Mar del Plata, check in to your place of lodging and spend the rest of the day relaxing at the beach if the weather permits. Alternatively, take the six hour bus ride through the Argentine pampas. On Day 11 of your Argentina travel, visit the Gruta des Lourdes (bus route not known - corner of Magallenes and Bosch) and the Banquina des Pescadores (buses 593, 563, 554, 522, 562, 551, 511, 533, 552, 581) to watch the sea lions. Consider the 2 kilometer walk (one way) out to the Monumento de San Salvadore on the tip of a breakwater for the great view. Walk back to the entrance to the Banquina des Pescadores. Just outside is the Centro Commercial de Puerto where you can enjoy a late lunch of fresh seafood. Tour the neighborhood. Day 12 brings you to one of the more upscale neighborhoods of Mar del Plata to visit two museums : i) the Archivo Museo Historico Municipal ”Roberto T. Barili” (Madrid 3870 corner of Madrid and Formosa) and ii) the Villa Victoria – Centro Cultural Victoria Campo (1800? Matheu at La Madrid). Take buses 523, 524, 591 and ask the driver where to get off. Days 13 and 14 of your Argentina travel are for shopping and/or the beach if weather permits. End your Argentina travel by returning to Buenos Aires and flying home.
The following travel tips will simplify your vacation in Argentina: 1) Look around this website for the for the best deals on airfare, accomodation, rental cars and tours. 2) Only a valid passport is required for visitors to enter Argentina. 3) Purchase your Argentine Pesos from the ATM at the airport after you clear Customs and Immigration. You will only be able to withdraw 300 pesos at a time. 4) When you first arrive in Argentina, you will be given an exit card. Keep this until you depart. 5) In Argentina, prices reading U$S are in U.S. dollars; $ means pesos. 6) Use the subway for moving around Buenos Aires. Multiday passes are cheap. 7) Competition is fierce when you shop for leather goods in Buenos Aires. September, the end of the winter season, is the best time to shop for leather coats. Here are two areas filled with leather shops: i) start along Av Florida and Marcelo T de Alvear and walk up the street mall toward Plaza San Martin; ii) the Villa Crispo area: Calle Murillo – leather shop just off Murillo on Calle Acevedo 119 – Subte B – Scalabrini. 8) Book your tickets to the tango shows several days in advance. Seating quality is often determined by the order of booking. 9) The Buquebus Station (Estacion Buquebus) is at the bottom of Av Cordoba on the left. Take Subte B to Alem Station and then walk four blocks. Round trip tickets to Uruguay should be purchased several days in advance. You will require an exit card to leave Argentina. Acquire these at the Buquebus Station before departure. 10) For a wine tour in Mendoza, try Tourismo Sepean on Primitivo de la Reta 1088. A visit to the Cavas de Don Arturo in Maipu is highly recommended. 11) High quality Argentine wines are quite inexpensive. 12) Mar del Plata city buses require a prepaid bus pass. Drivers do not sell the passes. Ask where to purchase them. One place is at a kiosk near the main bus terminal. 13) Argentina travel is not complete without sampling the specialties of the country. Try the dulce de leche – a thick carmel sauce eaten with pastries. Yerba mate is a tea-like drink that is ingrained in Argentine culture. This caffeinated drink is an acquired taste (it has the flavor of straw).
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