The capital of Buenos Aires has a huge international following among travellers with many visiting, again and again, to explore and discover its many wonders and lap up the vibrant lifestyle. Rich with cultural history yet very modern, the city is often described as being similar to Rome. This is the home of the Tango and right across the capital, this most seductive dance is celebrated in the streets, bars, cafes and dance halls everywhere.
If you want to experience all the flamboyance and fabulousness of the Buenos Aires dance scene, the streets of the La Boca neighbourhood are a must. La Boca is a sea of brightly coloured houses and shop fronts and you can have a lot of fun wandering the cobblestone streets and ducking in and out of quirky little places as you go. The highlight is El Caminito, meaning ‘little street’, where art, music, dance, history and culture all merge to create unforgettable eclectic experiences. This is the Italian neighbourhood and if you’re an out of towner, you can be assured La Boca is always going to turn on the fun with lashings of cultural learnings along the way. But the best part is that moment when you’re suddenly swept up in the magic of some spontaneous street Tango dancing - just the thing to conjure up the romantic in you and perhaps even inspire you to take a lesson or two?
The market places of Buenos Aires are equally beguiling. The San Telmo Market is the major drawcard with specialist markets clustered together over several city blocks. You can spend hours scouring the maze of stalls, which are often packed to the rafters with bric-a-brac, searching out antiques, jewellery, speciality food products and of course, fruit and veg. Just be sure to make time for a stop at any one of the many cafes you’ll find scattered throughout the markets where you can sample great dishes and street treats that will keep you coming back for more. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals for their recommendations too; they won’t steer you wrong.
Beef production is big in Argentina and steak is the food of the nation! In fact, the Argentinians are the second-highest consumers of beef in the world. Most of the agricultural production is based in the Pampas, an extremely fertile plain that covers more than 750,000 km² of South American lowlands. Go anywhere in Argentina and you’ll always manage to find a perfect steak - grilled of course in traditional Asado style.
If you’re after a truly authentic steak experience, why not visit Frank at his home in Palermo Viejo. Frank, who is originally from Chicago, has been living in Buenos Aires since 1999. Together with his wife, they invite you to experience all that is authentic Asado (grill) food. Food is one of the most important aspects of Argentinian culture. Frank will be your guide throughout the whole experience explaining everything from how the cuts of meat are prepared and selected, to how they are cooked. This is an educational experience as well as a cultural experience - and even better, you get to make new friends too. Set in their beautiful home located in Palermo Soho, this is an experience you will be recommending to everyone.
We mentioned earlier about the historic charm of Buenos Aires. So many of the old buildings have become landmarks either for political reasons or as museums and art galleries. Top of the list is the Plaza de Mayo. Located in Monserrat, the Plaza has been and remains the site of momentous political events. For more than a century it has been the gathering place of the people; a place to protest, to be listened to and to be heard. Within the Plaza grounds, there are other key sites such as the Casa Rosada, the President’s executive headquarters, the Pirámide de Mayo monument, and the Cabildo, which was transformed from a government building into a major museum - the Museo Histórico Nacional del Cabildo y la Revolución de Mayo.
You can see these are other major attractions with our City Tour Lunch. This coach tour showcases all the best sites in Buenos Aires, includes an experienced local guide to ensure you get the most out of your experience with plenty of laughs and fun facts to keep you on your toes, a three-course lunch and lots of photo stops. In addition to the Plaza de Mayo, you’ll visit Main Square and Boca Stadium. This experience is a great way to explore the city with others who are as eager as you to see and enjoy all the top city spots.
For those who love their nightlife action, if you’re in Buenos Aires, you have come to the right place. The city sizzles at night with non-stop after-dark entertainment that will have you dancing the night away at any number of clubs, bars and dance halls. This truly is a city that never sleeps. Most club goers don’t even hit the hot spots until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning that’s not a problem when most venues close at 7:00 am.
When the intensity of the city gets too much, you can always head out of town for the day to get close up and friendly with some pretty amazing wildlife. The Zoo Lujan is home to tigers, lions, Asian elephants, monkeys, sea lions and other favourites as well. But it also offers the chance to interact with exotic, and even highly endangered animals. You can actually spend time in the petting barn cuddling up to some of the baby wildlife - an unforgettable experience that most people might otherwise never have. You can make a full day of it too with a guided tour of the facilities and a large picnic area complete with BBQs. The Zoo Lujan is one of Gifting Owls’ most popular experiences with travellers to Argentina.
Argentina is a beautiful country and yes, it’s full of culture, art, food, music but it also has extraordinary countryside, deserts, glaciers and snow-clad mountain ranges. While we have focussed on the capital of Buenos Aires, there are exciting discoveries to be made and adventures to be had in other parts of the country. For example, Mendoza is definitely worth a visit if you like outdoor adventures on tap. You can go Rio Mendoza White Water rafting tour and couple that with Mendoza Zip Line for some aerial fun. Zip lines are a great way for adrenaline junkies to get their jollies or for anyone who wants to take in the terrain from a birds-eye view. The Mendoza Zip Line Base Tour is located in Ciudad De Mendoza and gives adventure seekers a panoramic view of the Valley of Potrerillos and Cordon de Plata. Top off your visit to vineyard for delicious wine tastings and tours.
The southern regions are where you’ll find rugged and icy adventures scaling mountain tops, trekking snow-covered trails and exploring expansive glaciers such as Ushuaia Martial Glacier and Perito Moreno Glacier that spread out before you, as far as the eye can see, like crisp white carpet.
Little wonder people love to come to Argentina. It is a country that welcomes every stranger as if they were old friends and you can experience the very best of life, from lively street encounters to quiet and remote moments that let you breathe deeply under an open sky. Argentina is loved for good reason. Gifting Owl can help to guide you along the way with an abundance of experiences that you can search and book direct. That said, happy travels!.
