Take a trip to the elegant solid jungle of the South and meet the descendants of the Great Immigration with our favorite Buenos Aires tours.
Trips to Buenos Aires include history, nature, culture, and of course, Tango.
The length of your stay in Buenos Aires depends on your interests in the city’s history and culture. Buenos Aires never truly sleeps, offering endless activities like bicycle tours, walking tours, museums, theaters, cinemas, bookstores, cafes, shows, and more. For most travelers, it’s recommended to spend at least 3 nights in the city. For a more immersive Buenos Aires trip, consider staying a few nights at the beginning of your journey and one night at the end to fully explore the vibrant life the city offers.
What you pack for your Buenos Aires trip will depend on the time of year you visit. Buenos Aires is close to the river, meaning it experiences high humidity. In summer, pack light clothes, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. In winter, you’ll need warm clothes, a raincoat, and comfortable shoes. There may be nights when you want to dress up a bit more, but formal attire is not necessary for most restaurants or tango shows. Comfortable attire is generally sufficient for most Buenos Aires tours and activities.
Yes, it is safe to go out at night in Buenos Aires, especially in popular neighborhoods like Palermo, which is known for its vibrant nightlife with a variety of restaurants, bars, and clubs. However, as with any big city, it’s advisable to remain cautious and stick to well-lit, busy areas. Many Buenos Aires tours include evening activities, allowing you to experience the city’s lively nightlife safely.
Yes, it is safe and very easy to navigate Buenos Aires using public transportation. All you need is a “Sube” card, which can be purchased at subway stations or in some “Kioskos.” Load the card with the desired amount, and you can use it for buses, the subway, and urban trains. Many Buenos Aires excursions make good use of the city’s efficient public transportation system, making it a convenient option for solo travelers.
Both experiences are worth it, and they complement each other perfectly. A tango show is like watching a theatrical performance, complete with an orchestra, dancers, and elaborate costumes, often with dinner included. On another night, you can visit a milonga, where locals dance tango in a more casual, authentic setting. There are different milongas on various nights of the week, offering a chance to dance with locals and even take a class. Including both experiences in your Buenos Aires excursions will give you a deeper understanding of the city’s tango culture.
The trendiest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires are Palermo and Recoleta, both popular for their nightlife and cultural scenes. For those interested in a more historical atmosphere, San Telmo and downtown near the Obelisco and Av. Corrientes are ideal. These neighborhoods are often highlighted in Buenos Aires tours, providing a great mix of culture, history, and modern-day entertainment.
What to do on Buenos Aires Excursions?
Famously called the ‘Paris of South America,’ Buenos Aires was founded by the Spanish Crown in 1580. The region was originally home to the Querandies, a community of great runners who used to hunt deer and guanacos. Buenos Aires sits on the coast of Río de la Plata, the widest river in the world. If you cross this immense river, it will take you just one hour to reach the other coast in Uruguay! The city was named after a virgin, Nuestra Señora del Buen Aire, who accompanied the first Spanish explorers.
Today, a Buenos Aires trip offers a vibrant cultural life, with museums, galleries, and theaters, as well as a bustling nightlife that comes alive early in the evening and lasts into the early morning hours. This South American capital city is full of contrasts, where the districts of La Boca, Palermo, and Recoleta each offer their unique charm, be it culture, food, or nightlife. Buenos Aires was recently declared a “prepared destination” by the WTTC (World Tourism Travel Council) and features many open circuits for Buenos Aires excursions, allowing visitors to discover the diverse barrios of the city. After exploring the vibrant urban life, consider extending your adventure with El Calafate Tours or a visit to the breathtaking Iguazu Falls.
Destinations to Combine with Tours in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the best-connected destination of Argentina, making it one of the most popular trip destinations in South America. It has the biggest international airport, train and bus station with the largest frequency. The port is also frequented by cruises and has weekly departures to Uruguay where you can also enjoy day trips from Buenos Aires.
El Calafate
Located on the shore of Argentino Lake, El Calafate is the perfect destination to start a trip through Patagonia. The word “calafate” comes from a little bush with yellow flowers and dark blue berries that is pretty easy to find in this region. El Calafate is home to giant glaciers and isolated ranches where gaucho culture can be appreciated. It is also the perfect destination for outdoorsy travelers who enjoy hiking, horseback riding or navigate lakes and rivers. Most travelers come to El Calafate to see the famous Perito Moreno Glacier and navigate to its icy walls. You can even walk over the glacier in special mini trekking! From El Calafate, El Chaltén, another hiker’s paradise can be easily reached.
Iguazú Falls
Iguazú Falls are located between the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. These magical falls were named Natural World Heritage in 1984 and one of the Seven Natural World Wonders in 2011. It features 250 waterfalls, and the widest is the Devil’s Throat (82 meters high). Iguazú Falls is the most international destination of Argentina and can be visited all year round. The falls are shared by three countries: Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Both Brazil and Argentina have National Parks devoted to them, and they are sufficiently different in character to each merit a visit. Waterfalls are always a somewhat magical phenomenon and make every hike a little more special than just walking on a trail. However, when you have some of the largest waterfalls in the world placed in a tropical jungle climate, the phenomenon takes on a whole different level of incredible. That is what it is like to experience Iguazu Falls.
Iberá Wetlands
The Iberá Wetlands are among the last natural paradises on earth. Found to the south of Iguazu Falls, Esteros de Iberá is the second-largest wetlands in the world and is also one of the biggest freshwater reservoirs on the continent. This nature reserve covers over 5000 mi² of marsh with over 60 lakes. These marshlands offer one of the best spots for a nature-lover’s Argentina vacation. With an overwhelming variety of species, including more than 300 species of birds, Ibera is one of the best destinations for people looking to get a little bit closer to Argentine wildlife. Here, visitors can get face to face with caimans, capybaras, swamp deer, pampas deer, howler monkeys, giant otters, anacondas, greater rheas and over 350 species of birds that can be easily spotted.
Mendoza
Argentina is world-known for its “asado” and its delicious Malbec wine! Mendoza is the capital of the wine country and a destination for food enthusiasts and sybarites. Visit Mendoza and discover beautiful vineyards, wineries of all types and shapes and enjoy adventure tours like horseback riding and white water rafting. Mendoza’s best wine-growing region is situated 4,000 feet high in the Andes, making it one of the highest altitude wine regions in the world. Due to the high altitude and low humidity of the main wine-producing regions, organic wines can be easily produced in Argentina.
Northern Argentina
Northern Argentina features completely different landscapes from Patagonia and Iguazú. Travelers come to the north to wander the Calchaquí Valleys, visit the Humahuaca Gorge, declared a UNESCO World Heritage, and taste the delicious torrontés wine in Cafayate, the second wine-producing region after Mendoza. Salta is the starting point for most of the trips to this destination but it is easily combined with Jujuy. The Great Salt Flats, the Seven Color Hill and the craft markets of the isolated villages are also highlights of the region.
Ushuaia
Nicknamed the “End of the World”, Ushuaia sits south of the Tierra del Fuego island and at the shore of the Beagle Channel. When Europeans set foot on these lands, marveled by the many fires made by the inhabitants of the region, the Yamanas, a community of superb fishermen and sailors that were the first to navigate through the channel and lakes in their canoes. Today, in Ushuaia, there are museums dedicated to the story of the Yamanas, and tours to visit remains of some former settlements. Ushuaia, founded as an Anglican mission and then known to feature the most southern Prison in Argentina, focuses on tourism as its main activity. Then there’s the unmistakable Tierra del Fuego National Park too, a visual spectacle of mirror-like lakes, imposing mountain peaks and alluring native forest reserves ready to explore. Every year is visited by travelers seeking to discover the amazing nature and wildlife of Patagonia.
Tango in Buenos Aires
Where to find Tango dancers on the streets?
Where to find Tango dancers on the streets?
Exploring the history of Tango is very much like exploring the history of Buenos Aires itself. Tango is a product of many different cultural influences (Spanish, Italian, French, African, and Eastern European), having been developed in the crowded streets of the immigrant barrios La Boca and San Telmo. You can still find it there during various Buenos Aires excursions: in quite spontaneous ways in San Telmo’s Plaza Dorrego (particularly on a Sunday afternoon) and in a more touristy, semi-professional manner in La Boca. This is the best way to first encounter the dance and music, as it recreates some of the flavors of Tango’s early period, making it a highlight of many Buenos Aires tours.
Where to learn the Tango & Tango dance halls in Buenos Aires
Where to learn the Tango & Tango dance halls in Buenos Aires
Tango was never meant only to be watched but danced. Some travelers embark on a Buenos Aires trip with the sole aim of learning the dance, and any time dedicated to it will guarantee a memorable, perhaps intoxicating experience. There are an immense number of dance halls, or milongas, in Buenos Aires that offer very different types of ambiance and style. Venture to places like the beginner-friendly La Viruta, which holds a nightly milonga (tango dance hall) and lessons. A milonga with a more advanced clientele includes the Salon Canning. This is just the tip of the iceberg—there are venues that feature electronic-infused versions, as well as ones devoted to gay and lesbian pairs.
Professional Tango & Tango show in Buenos Aires
Professional Tango & Tango show in Buenos Aires
Tango gradually became a cultural export of Buenos Aires, and this professionalization soon became very popular throughout the world. It was still a while before the Argentine elite would completely accept it, but already the phenomenon of a Tango show was born. Today’s shows bear quite a lot of similarities with those first ones. It is difficult to venture through central Buenos Aires without being invited to one. Given the enormous variety of options, prices, and quality, it is a good idea to go with some advice. Say Hueque has carefully chosen some favorite places in the city for its Buenos Aires tours to appreciate Tango performances based on the quality of the food, the show, the price, and the historical significance. After enjoying the vibrant Tango culture, consider extending your journey with Mendoza wine tours for a taste of Argentina’s finest wines.
Tango taxi dancer experience
Tango taxi dancer experience
The city’s tourism industry offers some very convenient ways to enjoy Buenos Aires Tango, from the ‘TangotaxiDancers’ service, which provides dancing partners of both sexes and at every ability level, to guided Milonga tours and, of course, a Buenos Aires Tango Show. For those interested in learning more, there is also a Tango Afternoon—which includes a visit to the city’s Tango spots (like the Tango Museum on Avenida de Mayo) and introduces its key figures (such as Carlos Gardel—the godfather of Tango, whose cheeky smile beneath a fedora is hard to miss). These experiences are often included in Buenos Aires excursions, which may also feature thorough group lessons and finish in iconic locations like Café Tortoni. After your Tango adventure, you might want to explore the southernmost city in the world with Ushuaia Tours, where you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of Patagonia.
Where to find Tango dancers on the streets?
Exploring the history of Tango is very much like exploring the history of Buenos Aires itself. Tango is a product of many different cultural influences (Spanish, Italian, French, African, and Eastern European), having been developed in the crowded streets of the immigrant barrios La Boca and San Telmo. You can still find it there during various Buenos Aires excursions: in quite spontaneous ways in San Telmo’s Plaza Dorrego (particularly on a Sunday afternoon) and in a more touristy, semi-professional manner in La Boca. This is the best way to first encounter the dance and music, as it recreates some of the flavors of Tango’s early period, making it a highlight of many Buenos Aires tours.
Professional Tango & Tango show in Buenos Aires
Tango gradually became a cultural export of Buenos Aires, and this professionalization soon became very popular throughout the world. It was still a while before the Argentine elite would completely accept it, but already the phenomenon of a Tango show was born. Today’s shows bear quite a lot of similarities with those first ones. It is difficult to venture through central Buenos Aires without being invited to one. Given the enormous variety of options, prices, and quality, it is a good idea to go with some advice. Say Hueque has carefully chosen some favorite places in the city for its Buenos Aires tours to appreciate Tango performances based on the quality of the food, the show, the price, and the historical significance. After enjoying the vibrant Tango culture, consider extending your journey with Mendoza wine tours for a taste of Argentina’s finest wines.
Where to learn the Tango & Tango dance halls in Buenos Aires
Tango was never meant only to be watched but danced. Some travelers embark on a Buenos Aires trip with the sole aim of learning the dance, and any time dedicated to it will guarantee a memorable, perhaps intoxicating experience. There are an immense number of dance halls, or milongas, in Buenos Aires that offer very different types of ambiance and style. Venture to places like the beginner-friendly La Viruta, which holds a nightly milonga (tango dance hall) and lessons. A milonga with a more advanced clientele includes the Salon Canning. This is just the tip of the iceberg—there are venues that feature electronic-infused versions, as well as ones devoted to gay and lesbian pairs.
Tango taxi dancer experience
The city’s tourism industry offers some very convenient ways to enjoy Buenos Aires Tango, from the ‘TangotaxiDancers’ service, which provides dancing partners of both sexes and at every ability level, to guided Milonga tours and, of course, a Buenos Aires Tango Show. For those interested in learning more, there is also a Tango Afternoon—which includes a visit to the city’s Tango spots (like the Tango Museum on Avenida de Mayo) and introduces its key figures (such as Carlos Gardel—the godfather of Tango, whose cheeky smile beneath a fedora is hard to miss). These experiences are often included in Buenos Aires excursions, which may also feature thorough group lessons and finish in iconic locations like Café Tortoni. After your Tango adventure, you might want to explore the southernmost city in the world with Ushuaia Tours, where you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes of Patagonia.
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