What to do in Tigre and San Isidro
A paradise half an hour from the chaos
Tigre and Parana Delta: what to do and what to see in Tigre
A mighty river that flows into another river forms the fourth largest delta in the world. It is a tour of streets and avenues of water framed in a wild, quiet and silent landscape. Thirty minutes from the Cabildo or Plaza de Mayo, towards the north, the suburbs of the city of Buenos Aires become an area of wild nature with hundreds of small islands that form the Parana delta that until today continues growing. We speak of the place where the Parana River flows to meet the La Plata River and merge its waters into a game of forces where the boundaries are blurred and begin to confuse first with the sea and then finally with the nirvana of the ocean.
By car, by bus, by motorway, by train or by boat, the district of Tigre can be reached by almost all means of transport. From the River Station the adventurers – and those not so much - will be able to immerse themselves in this universe of islands. The continuous growth of the delta is due to the constant sedimentation that brings with it the water flood of the Parana, fed by the rivers Bermejo and Iguazu that ends up forming the hundreds of islands full of a powerful flora and fauna similar to those of a tropical forest. Even for the porteños themselves, the delta equals paradise, silence, serenity and nature, only a few kilometers from their homes.
Places to visit in Tigre - What to do in Tigre, Buenos Aires
Rivers, streams and canals open through islands of different sizes, all in the form of soup plate, that is, with its coasts or high banks and its low and marshy centers. That is why from the boat, kayak or canoe tour you can see the houses of the neighbors without cars, streets or avenues. The Parana Delta comes to be like a wild Venice, with streets and avenues of water.
The wooden piers and houses built on stilts form part of the typical coastal landscape, together with the willows, ceibos, casuarinas, reeds and liquidambar, on which “Claveles del Aire” and “Barbas de Viejo” grow. The views of the canals and streams with the wind on the faces and their chiaroscuro of sun rays that cross the intricate network of trees, leaves and branches generate real postcards of peace that seem to be involved in the crusade of convincing the visitor to move there to discover the leisurely and quiet rhythm of the local life with motorboats and sunny evenings and mate served on the docks.
Delta in summer
All seasons have their charm in Delta. Summer explodes with aquatic activities among which rowing is one of the infallible hits. In fact, Tigre is full of rowing clubs like the English Rowing that was the first to settle in the place. On the islands there are recreations open to the public, restaurants such as El Gato Blanco and all kinds of inns, cabins and hotels such as El Descanso, where Madonna is said to have been lodged there, and the Delta Eco Spa that surprises with a structure based on a maze of wood walkways that cross the river in different directions.
Delta in autumn
Autumn, always friendly in Buenos Aires, surprises with a rainbow of leaves: a palette of colors that goes from brown through yellow, red, orange and gold. And as summer leaves some warmth in the air, water rides continue to be a pleasure.
Delta in winter
Winter invites you to stay on dry land to avoid the humid cold of the area. During these months, Tigre displays all its splendor and offers different activities for all tastes: the Tigre Museum, a stately residence where Argentine art is exhibited that is also used as a location for dozens of movies and television commercials where the impressive balcony terrace from where, in the past, the aristocrats of the area contemplated the regattas. The casino for the players; Parque de la Costa for those who come with children; Paseo Victorica, an extension of ten blocks of well-kept lawns, lanterns, benches and a festival of gastronomic venues to choose from; and Puerto de Frutos, where the visitor can purchase in only a handful of stores citrus, plums, quinces and wicker objects that are typical of the islands.
Delta in spring
A multitude of bird species of different colors and sizes congregate in the delta during the spring just as the azaleas bloom and the trees are painted green. At this time of year you can enjoy a boat tour to enjoy the sounds of a wild nature growing and a few minutes from the urban chaos.
Two must-sees for the whole year: the house of Sarmiento, one of the most admired heroes of Argentina, absolutely glazed to avoid possible damages by the water and the Alpenhaus tea house where the most delicious Austrian sweetness are served.
San Isidro: Between wells and mansions - what to do and what to see in San Isidro
Colonial architecture and urbanism. Sports and culture. The district of San Isidro combines aristocracy and beauty in the suburbs of the city.
It is one of the most aristocratic and ancient suburbs of the country. The City of Buenos Aires people (porteños) call San Isidro the northern zone as if it was not part of the Buenos Aires metropolitan area but only a residential extension of the capital. It goes from the Panamericana highway to the coast of the Rio de la Plata and in this route it is imposed as a destination where culture, sports, architecture and colonial life of the 19th century converge in unforgettable postcards. The district of San Isidro -large in its extension with towns such as San Isidro, Acassusso, Martinez and Beccar-tells the story of a colonial Buenos Aires town with a historic cobbled town that still remains in some of the weekend houses of the wealthiest Buenos Aires families. Today that spirit continues: most of the houses have a garden and a pool, in addition to the presence of luxurious private neighborhoods like the Boating that offers its neighbors individual piers.
Along with a colonial architecture style, but also a modern one, the high of the ravine that crosses the corridor of Libertador Avenue offers the best facades to appreciate always from below where the train tracks of Tren de la Costa and the river bank of Rio de la Plata are joined in a double horizon walk: the river and the mansions of the gorge.
San Isidro Attractions - What to do in San Isidro
Culture and urbanism
It has always been convenient, even from the times of the colony, to visit the country house Los Ombúes that keeps the original colonial architecture with its well, central yard, galleries and gardens. The Cathedral of San Isidro located in front of the main square is another of the obligatory milestones for a tour together with the Sans Souci Palace and Villa Ocampo, the summer residence of Victoria Ocampo, a prestigious and avant-garde Argentine writer who loved to receive visits of intellectuals of the time, such as Graham Greene, Albert Camus, Saint Exupery, Le Corbusier, Pablo Neruda and Ortega y Gasset, among others. The rooms and gardens of this beautiful residence are the intense debates and talks of great thinkers.
Rugby Cathedral
In connection with the economic and social level of the houses and residences of the town, San Isidro is also an area of bilingual and exclusive schools only suitable for those with the necessary fortunes to pay the dues every month. In addition, it is considered the capital of rugby because it houses two of the historical clubs of the sport in Argentina: Club Athletic San Isidro (CASI) and San Isidro Club (SIC).
Sports and gastronomy
The ride to San Isidro can include a visit to the Hippodrome, the first with a grassy track, where every year Carlos Pellegrini prize is run, one of the most important in the country. The proximity to the river adds a nautical profile to the town with schools and places -Peru Beach is the best known - where you can learn and practice windsurfing and kitesurfing.
In the itinerary of what to do in San Isidro you cannot miss the gastronomy that spans two areas: Dardo Rocha avenue with exclusive restaurants overlooking the Hippodrome and the whole of Bajo, where different fashionable bars and restós with the river of horizon alternate.
San Isidro has a small shopping center, although its real charms are found in architecture, urbanism, nature, history and the importance of sports.
