Buenos Aires Travel Forum

tHIS QUESTION IS FOR THE LOCALS OF BUENOS AIRES.WAS PLANNING TO TAKE MY MUM AROUND SOUTH AMERICA BUT HAVE BEEN INFORMED NOT ENOUGH TIME TO SEE WHAT I WANT TO SEE IN A FEW WEEKS FROM A TRAVEL AGENT..SO WE DECIDED JUST ON BUENOS AIRES AND MAYBE ANOTHER COUNTRY THATS CLOSE IF YOU THINK WE CAN.WE ONLY HAVE JUST OVER 2 WEEKS HOLIDAYS WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST AS WE HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT OF AUSTRALIA BEFORE SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE SHOULD DO...IS THERE A TRAIN AROUND ARGENTINA THAT WE COULD ENJOY....MY MUM IN HER 70'S.

Please, first tell what time of the year you are planning to visit Argentina ?

When you are going will affect your planning - the seasons are the same as Os and the weather patterns are generally very similar to the east coast there. BA and Syney are on very similar latitudes. Trains and/or buses are not really the best way to get around given that you only have two weeks. Like Australia, Argentina is huge and there are long distances between places. Flying between places is probably your best option.

You certainly don't want to spend all your time in Buenos Aires. Four or five days there will give you a really good taste of the city and give you time to take a day trip by ferry across to Uraguay to the historic small town of Colonia for something completely different from BA's big city style.

I'm sure your mother would enjoy a trip to the beautiful mountain region of northern Patagonia centred around Bariloche where gorgeous lakes and forests are set amid the foothills of the Andes.

The Iguazu Falls are magnificent but they do require a lot of walking, including some steep steps if you are to make the most of them. Your mum's fitness levels will be a factor but if she's good on her pins she should be fine and there are trains and carts to help people get around.

Another option could be to fly from BA to Mendoza - the Andes again, and a really major wine growing area. Spend 3 days or so there and then, depending on your mother's health (and it's not really a strenuous trip but it does go to just over 3000 metres) take the bus across the Andes to Santiago in Chile. It takes about 8 hours, you can do it in daylight all the way, it's very reasonable and comfortable with lunch and drinks provided and it is absolutely spectacular! Three days in Santiago would give you two days for the city and another day to take a day trip to Valparaiso, and you could fly back to Oz from Santiago.

We did a 5 week trip around Argentina and Chile a couple of years ago, with friends in their late 60s, and we had an absolutely fabulous time. You'll find lots of details of how we did it and where we went on pages I've written here on VT that you might like to take a look at. You are in for a fabulous trip whatever you do!

I'm not from Buenos Aires, but I do love that city. 14 days is awesome! Just take a ferry and spend just one day at Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. There's also a lot to do in the city, and I found the taxis inexpensive and convenient. I think I paid only about $40-50 for an hour-drive to El Tigre, which is a nice place where you can have a boat ride on the canal and see the wonderful houses and scenery - charming place just outside of Buenos Aires. If you do have extra money, Rio de Janeiro is just a flight away but if it is your first time out of the country, you might have to do a lot of research before you hit a vibrant mega-touristy city like Rio and the travel might be too much for Mom. Just enjoy Buenos Aires and a little bit of Uruguay then...watch Tango (several dinner tangos available - eat dinner and then they have an exhilirating Tango show) and walk at classy Puerto Madera. Also, they have the PINK House (equivalent of USA White House) where Evita Peron gave her speach to the people...definitely visit her tomb (the cemetery is awesome and placed right in the heart of the city, and surprisingly Evita's tomb is just small compared to the other richer-looking tombs). Hi to your Mom, get nice walking shoes and enjoy, Norman :)

There are trains but they are old machines and it`s not the best way to travel here, but the Mar del Plata train is very cool and you can get there in about 5 hours. 14 days in Buenos Aires is a good time to enjoy this city.

As another post suggested, flying would be the best way to see South America. What are you and your mum's interests? Historical?, environmental? Urban/Rural? Is your mum in good physical shape? If your mum is in good condition and if you don't mind lots of packing and unpacking you could see quiet a bit of Argentina and maybe Chile if you so desired.

There are air passes available which will reduce your cost of flying substantially. I assume you would arrive on Quantas and One World offers the Visit South America Pass which is a good value depending on where you would like to visit.

If you want to pack in as much as possible (assuming you visit in the summer months) then do a triangle fare on Quantas, fly into Santiago de Chile, overnight there and take the bus over the high Andes to Mendoza, Argentina. A spectacular trip and takes about 7 hours. Spend two days in Mendoza then fly to Buenos Aire. Spend 3 or 4 days there then fly north the Iguazu Falls for two days. Then fly back to Buenos Aires and connect with a flight to El Calafate. Visit the spectacular Glaciers National Park. Visit 2 to 3 days. Fly back to Buenos Aires and do the day trip to Colonia if you so desire or just relax for and then fly home from Buenos Aires.

Obviously this is a lot to pack in. Another option using the air pass would be fly into Santiago de Chile, overnight fly out the next day to Cusco, Peru. Spend two days there to acclimate to the altitude. Train to Aquas Caliente the third day to visit Machu Picchu. Return to Cusco overnight and fly back the next day connecting in Santiago de Chile to a flight for Buenos Aires. 3 or 4 days there and then either a trip south to El Calafate or north to Iguazu Falls depending on your interests. Then return to Buenos Aires to relax and fly home from there.

Hope this has helped and not further complicated your plans :)

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SAM

I think the simple answer is it is to long for anyone to spend. Use Buenos Aries as a stepping off point to other places.
Arrive, spend a few days to recover then do one or two of the following:-
Spend a few days on the beach - Argentina or Uruguay, but if you want reliable weather not before mid November
Go whale watching in Puerto Madryn, this is a seasonal activity - check.
Spend some time in the Lake District, maybe cross the border into Chile - boat or road.
Go to the mountains from Salta, Mendoza or Cordoba.
Estancia stays are available in every region and if you are city people then Argentina is a perfect opportunity for some time in the country.
Take a cruise round the southern ice fields.
There are virtually no train services in Argentina and the few that exist are, I hear (never used them myself) are pretty basic. Use internal flights and if you want to keep hassle to a minimum maybe book tours and/or day trips using local companies.
All bookings and arrangements for an independent holiday can be done on the web; Argentina is a well trodden road with good tourist infra-structure.
My final advice 2 pieces of advice are, to get a decent guide book and have a read, and follow the forums on Virtual Tourist and its associate Trip Advisor.

Good Luck

The idea of taking a Buquebus ( water ferry - http://www.buquebus.com/cache/HomeENG.html ) to Colonia is a very good idea. There is a slow ride and a high speed ride. Either is OK. Colonia is a fascinating antique city to walk around in. Uruquay is an extremely laid back country, too. Nobody appears to get in a hurry. In the old fort area there is a pizza place, cannot remember the name, that has great pepperoni pizza. The pepperoni is fabricated in Uruquay and does not have the sharp bite to the tip of the tongue as here in the USA.

There are many taxis in Buenos Aires, the federal capital. You can't throw a rock and not hit one. And the price of fare is OK. Given your mothers age, that may be the best mode of transportation. I say this not knowing how well that she can get around.

And on that note, there are sidewalks galore in the federal capital. However, they are not always even and well kept. And beware the dog droppings! If you do any walking in Buenos Aires, the odds are against you that you will eventually step in some dog poop. Like anywhere else, people are supposed to clean up after their dog, but don't always do that.

There is an extensive train system leading in and out of the Buenos Aires (the federal capital), but it is an old train system. The excpetion is the coastal train (Tren de la Costa) that travels north to Tigre. I would recommend taking a taxi to where the coastal train starts. Tigre is an interesting place. It is small, but with a lot of history. There are also riverboat rides, some including dinner, through the Tigre delta area which is a series of canals and small islands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigre,_Buenos_Aires

Most all hotels in Argentina, specifically in the tourist areas, have trained clerks that have actually been school trained with a degree in tourism. Many of them speak English and will assist you with making contacts for city tours, a taxi to catch a Buquebus ride, etc. Rely on their help!!! Argentines are very open and friendly people, and enjoy helping others.

About the name reference of Buenos Aires. There is the province of Buenos Aires whose provincial capital is La Plata. In the province of Buenos Aires there is a city by the name of Buenos Aires. In the central part of that city of Buenos Aires there is a section that is the federal capital, labeled "Buenos Aires, Capital Federal". The Federal Capital area has its own police officers, etc. The Federal Capital area is the main area of tourism where you will most likely be staying and it never sleeps. I love it there!

thanks all.yeah my mum is healthy but she recently broke her leg and is still playing up a bit after long walks.flat surfaces are fine but i dont trust her on rocky surfaces.We will be there in october late til mid nov.Your replies have been awesome and i am getting very excited.decided on overnight trip to falls and an over night stay in uruguay.The hotels are somewhat confusing as the aussie dollar doesn't stretch so far.Think i prefer down town somewhere but
still looking.Any suggestions more than happy to recieve...thankyou all

We stay at the Howard Jorhnson's on Florida when we're in BA (my husband goes there regularly on business). It's a reasonably priced and in a good, central location, at the top of Florida (BA's answer to London's Oxford St) and just a block from a beautiful, huge park. There's a metro station just around the corner and it's walking distance to many of the city's attractions. Florida is pedestrianised, so there's no traffic noise to keep you awake, the staff are very nice - efficient and friendly. http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/92cd3/86d/3/#1697501

With all due respect to the previous post, I would not stay on Calle Florida. Daytime is a zoo with the shills trying to get you into whatever store they are fronting for. And night time is a ghost town. With your aged mother stay in the Recoleta. If price is an issue rent an apartment, http://www.vacationrentalargentina.com/ is a good one to check out. If a hotel is more your style there are a number of places where your Assie $ will stretch :)this one is a good value and a great location http://www.apartrecoleta.com.ar/

At Iguazu I would recommend staying in the park at the Sheraton. It will be pricey but well worth the extra money since all you do is step out the door and you are in the park. Plus if you pay the extra to get a falls view room your mom will be in heaven :)

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sam

Porteno's advice is good, the centre is not a great place to stay for long, it's fascinating to see a 12 or 16 lane highway running through the centre of a city, but not fascinating to stay in a hotel on or near one.
Calle Florida is great shopping, but is also the centre for pick pockets and various 'bad people', this can be a hassle, especially if you have to look after a companion's safety as well as your own.
Consider also staying in one of the many B&Bs in Buenos Aires, these can be great places to stay and a chance to get to experience some local colour.
You could also still consider basing yourself outside Buenos Aires; the cost of a couple of return flights could be grabbed back by lower cost of living and good value accommodations. All Argentina's cities have great night life and usually have loads of places to visit and/or an opportunities for adventure tourism. Some other cities also benefit from a significantly lower crime rate.
Salta considers itself to be the friendliest place around and is very much a laid back sort of place. I have stayed a couple of times and enjoyed it, it also has direct flights to Iguazu (Monday and Friday).

Again, good luck

14 days in Buenos Aires too long ??

Yes, in my opinion - although we love the city - it is too long.
I rather would spend about one week in the city (including some day trips to for instance Tigre and Colonia in Uruguay) and spend the other week somewhere else in Argentina.

You will find enough info about the highlights of Buenos Aires, therefore just some more or less "off the beaten path" sights:
- if visiting on a Saturday: art and craft market in Palermo Viejo
- if visiting on a Sunday: Feria de San Telmo; or even much more authentic the Feria de Mtadero.
- during our last visit we found a kind of 'hidden gem': Palacio Noel, which now houses the Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco.

Outside Buenos Aires I also would recommend the Iguazu Falls, but would say stay in the town, which will give a good impression of an South American town. Transportation to the falls (also in Brazil) is easy and cheap by bus or taxi.
You do need at least two days.
Another nice city is Salta (nowadays with a direct flight from Iguazu by Andes Lineas Aereas); from Salta you could make trips to Cafayate and/or Purmamarca and the Salinas Grandes.

happy travels
Jaap

you guys are awesome!!my mum and i have learnt so much even with the 3 guide books we have,local knowledge is so much better.So we looked on the travelrent webste and cant believe how much cheaper it is for our 14 day stay...We know many of you do not approve of down town for us but what about 7 nights in an apartment in recoleta and 7 days down town?The apartment in down town are in AV.CORRIENTES and MAIPU III or AV.CORRIENTES and ESMERALDA V.Or do you still think recoleta for the whole 14 days or another area perhaps....As you know this apartment is a base for us so we can leave our luggage and stay overnight at different places...

Not sure what price range you are looking for in an apartment rental but having to pack up and move after one week doesn't sound like too much fun for your poor mom just in order to save a few $'s. This is a listing for a very nice flat in a good location and is less than $USD a week 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths
http://www.homes.com.ar/properties/?month=10&year=2009&id_prop=12887

Reynolds is also one of the oldest short term rental agents in Cap Fed and are honest to deal with.

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SAM