Expose: Buenos Aires » What To Do

Tandil

Matt — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:35:56 +0000

Tandil, ArgentinaTandil is a small city located five hours south of Buenos Aires, and a little inland from the eastern coast. It is a popular destination for weekend and long-weekend trips, and for good reason – it is a relaxing, pretty city with plenty of stuff to do.

Some interesting facts about Tandil

Tandil has the second highest per capita earning in Argentina. It is a very wealthy city, and this shows – the streets are clean, there are many nice houses, and the infrastructure is very good.
Tandil is known for their picadas, because many of the countries sausages and cheeses come from this region.
A lot of Argentina’s top athletes are from Tandil, and Tandil is also a very popular place for Argentine and international athletes to come and train. Tandil is a great city to play sports in, because of their excellent infrastructure, and the result is a fitness orientated culture that has developed in the region.

What to do in Tandil

Tandil is a great spot to spend a couple days, but you could easily spend more time, by taking advantage of everything the city and surrounding area have to offer.

Dique

There is a decent sized lake in the city, created by a dike that was built in 1960. You can rent canoes, kayaks and row-boats to boat around the lake in. Some people go swimming, but it is not that common. Its mainly for people training to be ironmen, triathletes, etc.

There is also a long-path around its perimeter, which is great for jogging, walking or biking. If you feel like resting, there are many restaurants and cafes on the side opposite the dike.

Sierras

Tandil is surrounded by many large rocky hills, where you can take part in a variety of activities. There are horseback rides that take you through some of the different spots. Some are pretty standard, that involve lots of people in a line going up the mountain and then back down. If this is not what you are looking for, there some other options where you go out with some more freedom, and can do some galloping, cantering, and have a little more control over where your horse goes, and you are able to get away from the more trodden route.

You can easily go trekking through the mountains. All you need to do is get to the hills, which you can do by renting a bike or taking a remis. They are only about 5 min driving from the city. You can also get your own private guide to take you trekking, who make sure to take you to the best spots and tell you about the area.

Other things to do in the hills include 4X4, zip-lines, rappelling, and climbing, and all of these are possible very near Tandil.

In the City

Although the city is nice, there isn’t much to do. There is a history museum, a few decent restaurants and bars, typical spots such as churches, and that is about it. The city is more about taking advantage of everything outdoors.

The main spot in the city is a very pretty central square, although surprisingly enough, there aren’t any good restaurants right on the square to enjoy the atmosphere. Nearby, you can find restaurants, cafes, and bars, making it a good spot to wander around at night.

Top Spots in Tandil

La Cautiva

Yrigoyen y Las Heras

Tel. (02293) 44-9433

A nice Little bar that often has live music. People of all ages go to listen and to dance. Highly recommended for a pleasant evening out on the town.

Carajo Parilla

Saavedra Lamas S/n

(2293) 43-6669

Good barbecued meats, with the best view in the city. The restaurant has a beautiful patio overlooking the lake, making this an ideal spot for lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack. Although the quality of the meat is nothing out of the ordinary, they are cooked to crispy perfection.

Horseback Riding with Gabriel Barletta

Avellaneda 673

(02293) 427725

A true lover of horses, Gabriel is a gaucho not by birth, but by experience. His horseback rides take you out into the sierras, away from people and into the wild. He is very knowledgeable about the land, and will tell you all about the flora and fauna of the region. His passion for what he does is obvious right from the beginning, and he will make sure to take you on a horseback ride you won’t forget. The evening ride is especially recommended, because after Gaucho Gabriel sings Argentine folk songs while playing his guitar in front of a campfire.

Check out our page on hotels and accommodation in Tandil.

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Square of Enlightenment

Matt — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:20:49 +0000

The Square of Enlightenment (Manzana de las Luces) is a square block of a few different historical buildings, located very close to the plaza de Mayo. There are daily tours offered for those interested in an important part of Buenos Aire’s history, which take you through the major points of interest in the Square of Enlightenment. Tours are only offered in Spanish, once per day, and cost around $7 pesos.

The handout offered at the starting point to the tour does a nice job of describing the area:

“Church, Jesuit residence, point of concentration of merchandise from Jesuit missions, school, and after our independence, seat of a number of institutions which contributed to shape the Argentine Republic, the Square of Enlightenment is a beloved part of our city, which evokes the fascinating mystery of its tunnels or the magnificence of the Parliamentary sessions held in the Hall of Representatives. In some ways, this is the cradle of our nation.”

If you aren’t interested in the tour, or aren’t able to make it for the single daily tour, you are still able to see certain parts of the square.

San Ignacio church – construction of this church was begun in 1688, making it the oldest in Buenos Aires. It was built by the Jesuits, and can be visited at any time.

Underground Tunnels – they were many underground tunnels built in Buenos Aires, connecting churches, public buildings, a fort, and perhaps certain residences. There isn’t much factual information about these tunnels, but they are believed to have been used as an escape in case of attack, or perhaps for contraband trading. The tour takes you into a small section where you can see the tunnels, and is one of the highlights.

Velads Virreinales Cafe

Right by the entrance to the tunnels is a large plaza, housing a large building that was originally used to store food, and another building that was the first pharmacy of Buenos Aires. Off to one side of the plaza is a small market selling artisan products, although there are many better places to buy artisan products in Buenos Aires. This plaza can be accessed by anyone, not just people on the tour.

Veladas Virreinales Cafe

Located in the plaza of the Mission’s Law Office is a really nice café that serves a signature hot chocolate – instead of a high tea, they serve a “hot chocolate for 2” that comes with sweets and sandwiches. There are tables outside in the plaza, and inside as well. The atmosphere is great, a pleasant oasis from the chaotic downtown of Buenos Aires. Staff is dressed in old fashioned clothing, and the café is surrounded by old brick walls and a high arched ceiling. It’s the kind of place your Grandma would love, and is definitely worth a visit.

The Hall of Representatives

The hall is viewable only with the tour. This is where many parliamentary sessions took place, and at one point was also the location for many faculties of the University of Buenos Aires.

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Bioparque Temaikén

Matt — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:19:39 +0000

Temaiken is Buenos Aires’ most highly touted zoo, located in Escobar (about 1.5 hours from Plaza Italia). The zoo is beautifully landscaped, and very spacious, which is what really sets it apart from the Palermo Zoo. Unfortunately, this also causes it to cost nearly three times as much (currently $58 for adults, and $44 for children under 10). Nonetheless, this makes a great day trip for families, or anyone who enjoys seeing animals. One of the major attractions is the bird park, which houses dozens of different species of birds, all grouped by the continent they come from.

Temaikén in numbers:

59 hectares total space
4.5km to go around the park
5687 animals
40 species of mamals
180 species of birds
24 species of reptiles
56 species of fish
60 % are species from Argentina
40 % are species from other countries

Getting there:

Chartered Bus – there is a chartered bus that leaves from Plaza Italia, right in front of La Rural. It costs $14 pesos and takes about 1.5 hours.
City Bus – the #60 (escobar) goes to Temaikén. It costs $6.50 pesos, and takes about 2 hours. It can be rather uncomfortable, but is the most economical option.
Remis/Taxi – you could take a Remis or Taxi, but it would cost upwards of $300 pesos.

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Creamfields

Diego — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:22:30 +0000

Creamfields is the largest electronic music festival in South America, and Creamfields Buenos Aires is the best of the bunch. This is a massive single day event, where over 100 of the world´s top DJs will play to 60,000 screaming Argentines and tourists. The event currently takes place at the Autodromo, where the festival sets up a variety of tents. One of the main tents can hold over 10,000 people, and the smaller ones less than a thousand. There are also two open air venues, for the largest shows of the night, and this is where you´ll some amazing audio and visual shows by groups such as Prodigy, UNKLE, and Chemical Bros.

Most music festivals in South America will have a couple huge international headliners. Creamfields has over a dozen, giving you with the chance to see loads of the world´s most talented DJs.

The most difficult part about Creamfields is trying to decide which show to watch, because you are bound to have some of your favorite DJs playing at the same time. Some of the DJs that have played in the past include: Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, John Digweed, Dubfire (Deep Dish), Hernán Cattaneo, Lcd Soundsystem, Erick Morillo, Paul Oakenfold, Underworld, Sasha, Kleinenberg, Tiga, and loads of others. This festival is a dream come true for any electronic music lover.

**If you don´t like massive events, you may not enjoy Creamfields. The venue is packed full of people, so expect to pinball your way from from one tent to another. It is also nearly impossible to find a taxi home if you leave at the end, and the Autodromo is right at the edge of the capital**

When: November
Where: Autodromo de Buenos Aires
Why: If you like big events, this is one of the best you´ll experience in Buenos Aires. If you are into electronic music, you know this is the ultimate experience in South America.
More Info: http://www.creamfieldsba.com/

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The “ARA Uruguay” Museum

Matt — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:51:11 +0000

The ARA Uruguay is a small ship, known as a corvette, that is permanently docked in Puerto Madero and can be visited by the public. The boat has a very interesting story – it was built in 1874, a three-mast beauty and was one of the largest ship in South America. At the beginning of the 20th century, it set-out to rescue the survivors from the Swedish ship Antarctic, who were marooned in the freezing Antarctic during the winter months. The Uruguay successfully rescued them, and was able to return triumphantly to Argentina.

This ship and its story can be visited in Puerto Madero, and is well worth it for anyone interested in boats or history. It is cheap, currently only $2 pesos, and you can walk through the majority of the boat. This is also a great attraction for kids, because you get to go under the surface of the boat, and see what the inside of a large sailing ship looked like.

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Hot Festival/Personal Fest

Diego — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:50:14 +0000

Hot Festival (originally Personal Fest) is a two day music festival that takes place at the Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires stadium. Each day features a massive headliner, as well as a number of smaller local and international music groups. Style of music ranges, but is mainly rock, reggae, and pop.

***Hot Festival 2010 – November 19 and 20th – confirmed artists: Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Hot Chip, Mika, Phoenix, Scissor Sisters, The Smashing Pumpkins
more information will be posted as it becomes available. ***

The two headlines for 2009 were Depeche Mode and Pet Shop boys. Past shows have featured R.E.M, Fito Paez, Snoop Dog, Gotan Project, Black-Eyed Peas, Spinetta, Kid Koala, and Cypress Hill. Crowds are large, over 50,000 people per night, with a real party vibe. If you like to mosh, find yourself a spot at the front near the stage, the Argentines love to mosh!

Ticket prices vary every year, and always depend on who the headliner is. If you buy tickets to both shows, you get a significant discount. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketek, or by going to the stadium.

When: Between October and December, depending on the year.
Where: Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Why: You want to rock out to a great mix of national and international live music
More info: HotFestival/

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La Bomba del Tiempo

Diego — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:12:09 +0000

By far the best thing to do on a Monday night in Buenos Aires, La Bomba del Tiempo is a ridiculously popular percussion night at Ciudad Cultural Konex, which is an old oil factory. It makes for a perfect venue, especially during the warmer months when the concert is done outside. La Bomba starts at 8PM finishes at 10PM, but make sure to get there early unless you´ve already got tickets – line-ups go all the way around the block.

The shows is comprised of a group of 17 musicians that play different percussion instruments. It is all based on improvisation through dozens of different hand signals. For the first hour, it is only percussion, but the second hour includes an invited guest, which is different every week. It could be a guitar player, a singer, a trumpet player, a DJ, anyone that they feel will complement their music. This is one of the great things about La Bomba del Tiempo; although it is always similar, it does change from week to week.

The crowd is a great mix, comprised of tourists and Argentines. It is definitely a younger, hippie crowd, especially the ones that really get into it, and let loose with some crazy dancing. However, all kinds of people can be found, and very few people do not enjoy the experience. It is truly a great vibe as everyone gets into the music and dances to the hypnotic rhythms while enjoying the relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Cost is $20 per person. Inside they sell 1L cups of beer for $20, as well as other drinks (including huge fernet and cokes) and empanadas if you are hungry. Ciudad Cultural Konex is located at Sarmiento 3131 in Abasto, right near Abasto Shopping. This is an event not to be missed, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself turning into a regular. It happens every Monday night all year long, rain or shine.

Here is a great video that will give you an idea what it’s like:

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Vinos y Bodegas Expo

Diego — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:24:35 +0000

This is another huge wine event, and a perfect opportunity for you to try over 1000 Argentine wines from both large and boutique Argentine wineries. It is the largest and the most important wine event in Latina America, and provides wineries, wine lovers, buyers and sellers, all a chance to get together and learn about the new wines of the year.

Here’s how it works: You are given a wine glass at the entrance, and then are free to roam around and try all of the wines you like. If you plan on trying a few hundred, remember to spit, or you won’t make it all night!

A recent addition to this expo is a special section for Gourmet Wines. The tickets cost about twice that of your entrance to the expo, but you get to try a variety of wines that cost over $60 pesos retail. A nice option for the true wine aficionados.

In addition the general tasting, there are also various talks, cooking shows, courses, and blind tastings you can take part in. These are especially informative, and are highly recommended to those who are really into wine.

The perfect accompaniment to great wines are meats and cheeses, and these are also available for tastings. They make for a perfect opportunity to take a break from all the wine you are sure to have tried.

When: Beginning of September
Where: La Rural
Why: You love wine, and want an opportunity to try a whole ton of great Argentine wine.

For more information: http://www.expovinosybodegas.com.ar/

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Movin in the Moonlight

Ashley Barnes — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:45:58 +0000

It is no secret that this exciting city holds an abundance of activity detailed with an energetic rhythm. Amongst the ebb and flow of this chaotic city, there may be times in which you would prefer a night of calm activity and good conversation to just feel…balanced. “Moonlight Yoga”, branching from the local yoga studio BuenaOnda Yoga, is an event that pulls people from all over the world who want to take a break from the outside rush of the city and soak in a Friday night of yoga, live music and homemade food. Founders of Buenaonda Yoga Meghan Lewis and Katrina Petney, both gifted yoga instructors, have whole-heartedly worked to create a yoga community amongst the locals and international community of Buenos Aires. In addition to their four locations across Capital Federal, “Moonlight Yoga” has been a chance for their loyal students to enjoy a different aspect of yoga and connect to each other outside the normal studio space.

After a chaotic week, the minute you arrive to “Moonlight Yoga” on a Friday night, you feel relaxed, content, and prepared for an enjoyable experience. The evening takes place at Espacio Azai which, as opposed to being a regular event space as one would expect, is a spacious and cozy house with a large kitchen, high ceiling, eating area and colorful furniture.

“We love spending time in ‘Espacio Azai‘. The guests always wish they could live there and Katrina and I feel the same”, says Meghan Lewis. Complimentary to the warm environment where this event takes place, are the smiling faces that are attracted to “Moonlight Yoga”. “I really do love when people meet each other there. It gives so many people a chance to connect, even more than in the yoga classes. Everybody from everywhere comes, and they are all really down to earth,” Katrina Petney comments when referring to how delighted it makes her to draw such wonderful people from around the globe.

A walk upstairs in Espacio Azui brings you into a dimly lit room that creates a perfect ambiance for a full yoga class. As an extra but crucial touch to the experience, Meghan and Katrina, who are already known for choosing impeccable soundtracks to compliment their yoga classes, have opted to bring in a live band to play during the class. After a considerable search to find a band that creates the correct “onda”, they were ecstatic to find musicians Leo Goldberg and Miguel Angel Regalado. The inspiring feeling between the event and the musicians was mutual, and now the band will be recording a new album titled “Elephant Beats”, which was inspired by the music they started playing while accompanying the yoga classes at “Moonlight Yoga”.

After a relaxing yet energizing yoga class, you are pulled downstairs by the smells of homemade food being prepared from the first floor. Every month has a different style of ethnic food that is freshly prepared for the event. From traditional Argentinean food, to Thai cuisine and even homemade African dishes, the food is just another aspect to this intriguing and cultured evening. As Meghan and Katrina serve their guests, they are reminded how far they have come with BuenaOnda Yoga and how every progressive step has continued to form a community they had envisioned. So next month, before the city’s late adventures call your name, grab your smiles and attend a night of “Moonlight Yoga”

Buenaonda Yoga – Classes in four locations throughout the city in Spanish and English. http://www.buenaondayoga.com

Musicians project, Elephant Beats – http://soundcloud.com/elephantbeats

Written by Ashley Barnes, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a freelance writer, photographer and creator of Entre Argentina Tours”, a tourism business dedicated to connecting tourists to the best wine tours, art tours, and restaurants in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina. http://www.entreargentinatours.com

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La Rural

Ashley Barnes — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:49:04 +0000

Believe it or not, outside the bubble of this urban capital of Buenos Aires, exists approximately 3500 kilometers of land not covered in cafés, clubs, restaurants, Porteños, and clothing stores. “La Rural” is the annual agricultural event, which takes place at the event center La Rural Predio Ferial de Buenos Aires and attracts over a million people from all over Argentina. Farmers and agricultural lovers from outside these screaming streets slowly glide in throughout this event drinking mate, eating the various cheeses and meats that are being sold from nearby stands while casually chatting about their recent accomplishments or mishaps on the farm this past year. Continue to the large indoor space of the event center and you will see an assortment of cows, yes…. an assortment of cows. Farmers gather at “La Rural” once a year to proudly display their finest cattle. Venturing into the next indoor space, you will be surrounded by the high-pitched calls of roosters, chickens, peacocks, and a whole new list of Spanish vocabulary words that you may never use again. The city of Buenos Aires has it all…. even the country.

Ashley Barnes resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a freelance writer, photographer and creator of Entre Argentina Tours”, a tourism business dedicated to connecting tourists to the best wine tours, art tours, and restaurants in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina.

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