Qué gran tour "caliente" de Buenos Aires con Patrice.
So lucky to be able to get a personalized tour from Patrice Vigier from Argentina Elite Transfers & Tours after our cruise to Antartica. Started with the symbolic heart of Buenos, Plaza de Mayo. Loved the insight to the origins of this plaza. The old photographs that he shared showed how the plaza looked a couple of hundred years ago. Interesting how they would tear down buildings that were in the way of the road construction/expansion. During Spanish times, this was a bustling marketplace. Many local residents used it was a meeting location.
Today, it is still a center for government and commercial business. Take time to soak in the atmosphere as you explore Casa Rosada (aka the Pink House), the Piramide de Mayo, and the National Bank. Stopped for a short visit to the beautiful Catedral Metropolitana. It is the final resting place for Jose de San Martin who is credited with liberating Argentina, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. His grave is guarded around the clock.
Stopped also to pay respects to those who are mothers of the missing children and the painted stones to remember those who lost their lives during the COVID pandemic.
On the next stop, on one of the hottest days during a heat wave in Buenos Aires where the temperature soared to triple digits, we walked down the cobblestone roads created from stones used as ballast on ships that sailed to the New World to reach San Telmo.
San Telmo is the oldest barrio (neighborhood) of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is filled with charming cafes, antique stalls and bakeries. Love the colonial buildings that lead to the central Mercado or marketplace.
Some of the first homes and elaborate mansions were built in this neighborhood. These homes were quite luxurious with access to gas mains, lighting, sewers, and running water. This led to a growing and thriving community. Unfortunately, this early era ended abruptly when the yellow fever epidemic struck the area in 1871. Although the establishment of new clinics helped slow the spread of the epidemic, it claimed over 10,000 lives. Yellow fever caused many prominent families to abandon their homes with all contents left behind.
Hundreds of properties became vacant. Some of the larger homes and land were converted into parks. Many of the abandoned treasures are now sold at antique shops in the area or the Mercado. Many of the homes became conventillos (tenement housing) for European immigrants.
Explore the Mercado for delicious foods or a fun souvenir. The stalls are full of so many antiques like rotary telephones, China sets, silver platters, old coins and political posters. Love the old Coca-Cola signs.
Puerto Madero is such a beautiful waterfront barrio. Cross the Puente de la Mujer (the Women's Bridge) and turn to the left to visit the Frigate Sarmiento.
ARA Presidente Sarmiento is a beautiful frigate training ship that has been restored as a naval museum. Built in 1897, she is believed to be the last surviving training cruising ship from the 1890s. During her service, she circumnavigated the globe on six tours of duty until she was retired as a seagoing ship in 1938. Today, she is a beautiful historic naval museum and national monument.
Visit the colorful markets in La Boca.
Enjoy a taste of Venice in Tigre. So interesting to walk through Tigre with its waterways reminiscent of the canals in Venice.
Tigre is also famous for its rowing clubs. The Italian Rowing Club is housed in a 1921 palace that resembles the Venetian Doge's Palace.
When the temperature is 43 C (109 F), take an airconditioned boat from Tigre to Buenos Aires.
As we were in Buenos Aires during an unprecedented heat wave, it was so nice to leave from Tigre Fluvial Station in a comfortable boat. The audio guide was in three languages, Spanish, English and Portuguese.
So relaxing to take a cruise on the Lujan River, the Sarmiento River, the Tres Bocas area, the San Antonio River and Canal Vinculation. Notice the upscale homes and water parks next to shipwrecks and dilapidated homes. Fun to see ReMax signs selling properties along the water. According to the audio tour, homes range from $30,000 to $120,000.
So many boats on a Saturday afternoon. Fun to watch people kayaking and sailing in the calm waters.
As we approached Buenos Aires, we entered the Río de la Plata through the Costanero Canal. Nice to able to see spires of cathedrals, Puerto de Olivos, River Plate Court, and Jorge Newbery Airport as we neared Puerto Madero with a stunning view of the city of Buenos Aires. We even saw our cruise ship docked prior to its next voyage.
The ride takes about two hours. Snacks and drinks are available, but you can also bring your own onboard. Our guide, Patrice from Argentina Elite Transfer and Tours, dropped us off in Tigre and picked us up at Puerto Madero at the end of the cruise before flying back home.
A nice way to explore while staying cool on a very warm late summer day.
Uitstekende priv��tour! Onze gids was snel, vriendelijk en voorzien van een geweldige ervaring. De boottocht was mooi, vredig en vol sites door BA en Tigre. We genoten van een lekkere lunch, bezochten de Puerto de Fruta, Museo de Artes in Tigre en een prachtige kerk in San Isidro. Het was heerlijk en we werden goed verzorgd. Beveel deze rondreis ten zeerste aan!
This was a wonderful excursion for us. In a country where few people who deal with the public speak English, having Patrice (with Argentina Elite Transfers and Tours) as our guide made all the difference. He is fluent in Spanish, French and English so can conduct his tours in any of these languages.
He picked us up at our hotel and transferred us to the tour boat, waiting with us until we were safely aboard, and explained he would be waiting for us in 2 hours in Tigre City. The recordings in several languages on the boat were excellent in explaining what we were seeing along the way.
As promised, Patrice met us at the dock in Tigre and we were off for a walking tour, stopping at a lovely restaurant for our first introduction to empanadas and a continuation of our introduction to the history, culture, and peoples of Argentina. Following lunch, we drove to Puerto de Fruitos, an interesting marketplace full of souvenir shops, produce vendors and other merchandisers. We had a specific souvenir we were looking for and Patrice jumped right in searching, negotiating the best price, and helping us understand the currency and exchange rate.
Back in the car, we visited two museums, and a beautiful cathedral, all the while with Patrice leading the way with great commentary and humor. By the time we arrived back at our hotel in late afternoon, we felt well ready for the remainder of our travels in South America.
We can’t say enough about this tour and our positive experience with Patrice Vigier. Before leaving us, he also took the time to advise us about safety when out navigating Buenos Aires on foot. While the advice really applies to any large city one is unfamiliar with, we very much appreciated the care he took in offering it.