Puerto Madero, Tigre Delta & Mataderos
★★ Puerto Madero — The Modern Port
Argentina's youngest and chicest neighborhood: The disused port was redeveloped into a prestige project in the 1990s. The red brick warehouses (Docks 1–4) now house restaurants, lofts, and offices, alongside skyscrapers rising into the sky. The Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge) by Santiago Calatrava is the landmark — a 170-meter-long swing bridge that looks like a stylized tango dancer.
Worth seeing: The Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur — a 350-hectare nature reserve right on the Río de la Plata, just minutes from the city center. Created on reclaimed land, nature has reclaimed it: wetlands, lagoons, 300+ bird species, otters, and an astonishing silence in the middle of the megacity. Ideal for jogging, cycling, or birdwatching.
Reserva Ecológica: Tue–Sun 8:00 AM–6:00 PM (summer until 7:00 PM). Free entry. Entrance at Av. Tristán Achával Rodríguez.
Day Trip: Tigre & the Paraná Delta
★★★ Tigre & the Paraná Delta — The Green Lung
Only 30 km north of Buenos Aires begins another world: The Paraná Delta — a vast river delta with countless wooded islands, canals, and waterways where boats replace buses. The small town of Tigre at the entrance to the delta is the perfect day trip from Buenos Aires — or a worthwhile overnight stop for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
What you can do in Tigre:
- Boat trip through the Delta (2–4h): The classic experience. The "Lanchas Colectivas" (public boats) depart regularly from Estación Fluvial and take you through the canals, past wooden houses on stilts, floating supermarkets, and lush vegetation. Alternatively: Private boat tours or canoe/kayak rentals. From approx. 3,000–8,000 ARS
- Puerto de Frutos (Fruit Market): A huge market with furniture made from delta wood, wickerwork, handicrafts, plants, and delicious food. Especially lively on weekends
- Museo de Arte Tigre (MAT): A beautiful Belle Époque-style palace on the banks of the Río Luján, with a fine collection of Argentine art
- Kayaking & Rowing: On the calm canals of the delta — a contemplative experience
Getting there: From Retiro station in Buenos Aires with the Tren de la Costa (the coastal train — scenic, via Olivos and San Isidro) or the Tren Mitre (faster, directly from Retiro to Tigre, 45 min., approx. 0.20€ with SUBE card). Alternatively: Colectivo 60 from Constitución.
💡 Tipp
The most romantic way to Tigre: Take the Tren de la Costa (it travels through the elegant suburbs along the Río de la Plata), head to an island in the Delta by boat, have lunch there, and paddle back by canoe. Perfect Sunday!
Feria de Mataderos — The Authentic Buenos Aires
★★ Feria de Mataderos — The Gaucho Market
If the Sunday market in San Telmo is the Buenos Aires of tourists, then the Feria de Mataderos is the Buenos Aires of Argentines. On the western outskirts, next to the old slaughterhouses (Mataderos = slaughterhouses), a huge folklore market takes place every Sunday, almost exclusively visited by locals.
- Gaucho Equestrian Shows: Jineteada (rodeo riding), Carreras de sortija (ring spearing from horseback), Doma — the riders come from the provinces
- Folklore Dances: Zamba, Chacarera, Gato — danced by couples in traditional clothing, accompanied by live music with guitar and Bombo (drum)
- Food: Here you find Asado over an open fire, Locro (corn stew), Empanadas Salteñas, Humitas (corn dumplings), Pastelitos (sweet pastries) — all fresh and sensationally cheap
- Handicrafts: Silver jewelry, gaucho belts, leather goods, mate cups, ponchos — authentic and significantly cheaper than in San Telmo
Lisandro de la Torre 2535, Mataderos. Sunday 11:00–19:00 (April–Dec), Saturday 18:00–01:00 (Jan–March, in summer evenings). Getting there: Colectivo 55, 92, or 126 from Microcentro (approx. 40–50 min).