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Pioneering efforts to protect the fragile and unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands have been rewarded by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, with the removal of the islands from the “List of World Heritage in Danger.”
The Islands, described as a “living museum and showcase of evolution” were famously explored by Charles Darwin, and have since become a world famous beacon for the magical diversity of natural life on planet earth.
Pristine beaches on the Galapagos Islands which have been recognised by UNESCO
The archipelago is famed for its rich collection of endemic species which evolved in total isolation from other creatures, making them a unique environment and immensely important to biological science, as well as fascinating to visitors who can explore the islands on Galapagos Island cruises or land-based island hopping tours.
However, the Islands were added to the Danger List in 2007 due to the risks to the pristine environment created by introduced species, unmanaged tourism and unsustainable fishing of the nearby seas.
However, a pioneering plan by the Ecuadorian government has successfully addressed each of these problems, allowing the development of a more sustainable model to tourism on the Islands.
Conservation projects include the successful reintroduction of a threatened species of tortoise, and efforts to limit the impact of human inhabitants, including 190,000 tourists each year. The human population had been responsible for various significant problems, including pollution, oil spills, the introduction of invasive species and even poaching of rare and endangered species.
The World Heritage Committee voted 15-4 to take the Islands off the Danger List, in a motion cast by the Brazilian delegation. The Danger List allows UNESCO sites to draw upon additional United Nations resources and places pressure on national governments to take action and protect sites of global natural, cultural or historical importance.
Other UNESCO sites in Latin America that have been removed from the Danger List thanks to proactive conservation management include Sangay National Park, also in Ecuador and Iguazu National Park in Brazil.
Category: Travel News
If you are traveling to Peru during Fiestas Patrias, check out these Lima hotel deals, all great value hotels hand-picked and recommended by Peru travel experts at Peru For Less.
Fiestas Patrias, or Peru’s Independence Day, July 28, is a great time to travel to Peru. Weeks beforehand, red and white flags sprout up on rooftops, grocery store workers don colorful hats or traditional clothes, and parades and festivals help build up the patriotism into a fervor. Peruvians make the holiday a long weekend, travelling to visit family or enjoy another part of Peru.
Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, a 5-star Lima hotel deal
Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores is one of the finest and most sophisticated hotels in Lima, but it is actually a great value for those looking for Lima hotel deals. Located in the beating heart of Lima, in the neighborhood of Miraflores, this chic 17-story hotel is within walking distance of some of the best Peruvian artisan markets, the lively Parke Kennedy, a plethora of restaurants and shopping, and the Larcomar on the oceanside cliffs.
Inside this recently remodeled 5-star hotel, guests will find the excellent service and amenities for which Casa Andina hotels are well-known. Guests can indulge in the luxurious spa, salon, massage room, and saunas, as well as the heated swimming pool on an open-air terrace. There is also a full-service workout room, business center, library, a gourmet restaurant, cafeteria, and bar.
There are several different types of rooms in this 148 room hotel, so there are different rates for those seeking a great value on their Lima hotel deal. Each room has sleek, modern décor that blends stylishly with traditional Andean elements, such as colorful bedspreads and artwork. The rooms are soundproof, equipped with cable LCD TVs, wi-fi internet access, and a number of other amenities. Suites come with Jacuzzi tubs, saunas, bar and kitchenette, and personal butlers.
Read more about Lima Hotel Deals
Category: Uncategorized
If you are planning a Lake Titicaca tour, an excellent way to explore the beautiful Lake Titicaca is to take a catamaran tour. A Lake Titicaca catamaran tour is also a great way to transition between Bolivia and Peru during your Latin America vacation.
Located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire. This brilliantly blue lake, the highest navigable lake in the world, is famous for its floating islands. On handmade islands crafted from reeds, the people of the Uros islands have carried on the reed-crafting tradition of their pre-Inca ancestors.
The waters of Lake Titicaca, the birthplace of Inca legends, shimmer around the Isla del Sol
But any visitor to Lake Titcaca would be remiss to miss out on the Bolivian side of the lake, where the founder of the Inca, Manco Capac, first appeared on the Isla del Sol. On the island are pre-Colombian ceremonial temples, such as the Sun Temple and the Chinkana maze.
Also on the Bolivia side of the lake is the Copacabana peninsula, which shelters many more significant Inca landmarks. Situated just outside of the town of Copacabana, the Horca del Inca, an astronomical observatory, was constructed thousands of years ago.
On the island of Suriki live master reed craftsmen, including shipbuilders who helped the Norwegian scientist Dr. Thor Heyerdahl build rafts to sail across the Pacific Ocean. In the 1970s, Heyerdahl and his team successfully navigated from North Africa to the Pacific Islands in reed rafts, showing that early ocean migrations were possible. On the Isla del Sol is Inti Wata museum that discusses these navigations in depth.
There are a number of Lake Titicaca tours, including a full day catamaran tour. Beginning in Puno on the Peruvian side of the lake, travelers head to Copacabana in the early morning. A guide takes travelers around this Bolivian town, visiting the cathedral and main square, before setting out on the catamaran lake cruise that either returns to Puno or ends in La Paz, Bolivia.
Once the ship reaches Isla del Sol, travelers can get out an explore this fascinating island full of Inca landmarks. A guide will show the Inca garden, stairs, and fountain, and then give a tour of the Inti Wata complex, a museum full of archeological and anthropological items that recount the rich history of this lake region. It’s also possible to partake in a ceremony of the Kallawaya people, who are known for their mastery of natural medicine.
Next the cruise continues to the south side of Isla del Sol, where a guide will give a tour of the Pilkokaina Inca Palace. Visitors will also get a chance to watch a sailing demonstration, in which sailing experts show how to navigate their handmade reed vessels.
Visitors can enjoy lunch onboard the cruise while the ship continues on to the Chua harbor on Bolivia’s shores. From there, travelers will take a bus to La Paz, the governmental capital of Bolivia and linchpin for Bolivia tours.
There are many versions of this Lake Titicaca catamaran tour available, including a 2D/1N cruise that includes a trek around Isla del Sol, a Puno roundtrip tour, and a La Paz round trip tour. Check out our other recommended Bolivia tours, Puno and Lake Titicaca tours, or contact us to talk with one of our travel advisors if you have any questions.
The Inca Trail Cuzco to Machu Picchu is one of the most well-known, and well-trod, paths in the world.
The Inca Trail once ran from Cuzco to the exclusive religious citadel of Machu Picchu, roughly 100 kilometers of well-preserved trail that the mighty Incas Empire used centuries ago.
Lush greenery is a common sight along the Inca Trail Cuzco to Machu Picchu
Now, the Inca Trail Trek from Cuzco is rarely walked completely. The vast majority of trekkers start at Piscacucho, KM82 on the train line from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, nearly half-way through the Sacred Valley.
Inca Trail trekkers sign up in Cuzco with a tour agency, which then organizes bus transport to Piscacucho. It is manadory that you go with an INC registered tour group.
It is also mandatory that you obtain an Inca Trail permit. These permits sell out months in advance, especially for the high-season months June-August, so it is advised to book well in advance. The Inca Trail permit is necessary for both The Two Day Inca Trail and The Four Day Inca Trail treks. The numbers allowed on the Inca Trail is now limited to only 500 people per day.
What is today known as “The Inca Trail” is actually only one of many Inca trails that spans the Andean Inca Empire, which was at its height in the 15th century when the Spanish conquistadors landed.
The Incas’s advanced and well-maintained road system was one of the reasons that the Tupac Inca Empire was able to spread out from Cusco as far north as Ecuador, and as far south as Chile and Argentina. The Inca trail network expedited goods and correspondence, and rest stops and guard posts were placed strategically along the way.
The Spanish also used the network extensively. The Inca outposts, towns, and cities within direct access of the Inca Trail were the ones most easily conquered. In a sense, the extensive network leading to the key Inca outposts of the Empire was part of its downfall.
However, Machu Picchu, the spectacular citadel high atop the Andes, was spared Spanish colonialization.
Walking the Inca Trail is one of the best experiences you can have in Peru. You arrive at the spectacular Sun Gate, the entrance to the mind-blowing Machu Picchu, at 5:30am, before all the crowds and just as the sun rises.
Until my first visit I always thought Machu Picchu was over-rated, but there is something special about the place. It’s calmness and setting are unique. It´s incredible to think that a civilization that did not even use the wheel was able to build such a city in a place that modern man still struggles to reach.
One top of the mountain, you feel separated from the world below and you are surrounded by great peaks that shoot up from he valley’s ground, with snow capped mountains peaking through in the distance.
I have visited the pyramids and tombs of Egypt and this place compares without any doubt as one of the great wonders of the world.
If you are interested in an Inca Trail Trek or a Cusco to Machu Picchu tour, check out this popular tour, Peru Packages: Heart of the Inca.
Category: Uncategorized
Book your Machu Picchu Peru Hotel early, as Machu Picchu is the number one Peru travel destination. Here’s some of Peru For Less’s recommended Machu Picchu Peru Hotels.
Machu Picchu, one of the few Inca architectural masterpieces to escape the razing of Spanish conquistadors, is now the number one Peru travel destination. If you are planning to travel to Machu Picchu, make sure to book your hotel reservation in advance, as hotel availability can be limited, especially during the high season from June to September.
Whether you are traveling to Machu Picchu via train, taking a tour such as the Special 1: Heart of the Inca , or you are walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the classic 4 Day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you will most likely want to spend one or two nights in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Inkaterra's Machu Picchu Peru hotels, especially Inkaterra El Pueblo, has been named one of the world's best hotels by Travel & Leisure.
Sandwiched between the Urubamba River and the mountains, Aguas Calientes has grown up over the years to accommodate the nearly one million visitors who make the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu each year. The town is named after the hot springs on its outskirts, where, for only a few soles, visitors can enjoy a relaxing bath in the row of naturally-heated pools.
The train PeruRail runs directly from Cusco to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu. Many visitors take the train to Aguas Calientes, spend the night, and wake up early the next morning to get to the Machu Picchu entrance before the crowds. If you get to Machu Picchu early enough, you can also catch the spectacular sunrise.
If you are traveling to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail trek, you will camp in the beautiful Sacred Valley. But after your trek, you most likely will want to rest and spend a night in Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Cusco.
There are numerous Machu Picchu Peru Hotels in town, from luxury resorts to budget hostels.
Read more about Peru For Less's recommended Machu Picchu Peru Hotels
Category: Uncategorized
Imagine you’re on a Peru vacation, marveling at an ancient citadel perched high atop jungle-clad mountains. The sun rises through the morning mist to reveal breathtaking views of vast stone ruins and endless rows of iconic terraces. You’re here witnessing the instantly recognizable views of Peru’s world-famous site of Machu Picchu, right? Wrong.
Mist rises over the terraces of Choquequirao, Peru. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010
Welcome to Choquequirao, a site of equal, if not greater, importance to the more famous ruins of Machu Picchu, as well as significantly larger and incomparably more remote.
Choquequirao, which means “Cradle of Gold” in the native Quechua language, is thought to have acted as the administrative and military capital of the Vilcabamba region, and eventually as the rearguard of the Inca as they retreated from their strongholds in Cusco and the Sacred Valley towards the jungle, desperately resisting the Spanish conquest.
Thanks to its isolation, a full two days hike from civilization, the site receives a fraction of the visitors that make the journey to Machu Picchu. When I arrived at the gates in the late afternoon, there was not another soul on site. Around 8,000 people visit annually – compared to the almost one million visitors that arrive at Machu Picchu each year.
The route begins in the small town of San Pedro de Cachora, a farming settlement surrounded by rolling hills where life seems to have gone untouched by the passing of time. The campesinos here still live in rough adobe-walled homes, the smell of smoke from indoor fires fills the air, and the sight of three gringos passing through is still enough to raise eyebrows and a few friendly smiles.
After loading mules with our equipment, our guide Sergio insisted on marking the start of our journey with a small ceremony. Splashing a few drops of the barely palatable, but enormously popular chicha beer onto the ground, Sergio called on the traditional Andean gods of the mountains and mother earth to give us safe passage. “With the permission of the Apus and the protection of Pachamama,” he called, and then we were off, on the long march to Choquequirao.
Rising away from settled farmland and into an increasingly severe landscape, the ancient trail eventually brought us out onto a perilous ridge, skirting the side of a deep, broad canyon. Several thousand feet below was the thundering Apurimac River (which literally means “talks to mountains” in the native Quechua language). Despite the distance we could still hear its roar, swollen with the melt water running down from the glaciers and snowcapped mountains that towered above our heads.
Eventually our ledge began to descend. Entering a humid, semi-tropical forest we got the first real sense of moving away from the Andean altiplano towards the high jungle, and eventually, several days away, the beginnings of the Amazon: the frontier of the Andean world, where the Inca ultimately sought their final refuge.
The trail to Choquequirao leads from the mountains towards the jungle below. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010
After a long descent we arrived at the valley floor and our first campsite, on the banks of the river. Down here the mosquitoes swarm like they do in the jungle, but there remain echoes of the Andean world that we had left earlier – chicha was still for sale at least. We tried another glass; a lukewarm and milky beer brewed from corn which has been activated and fermented by human saliva. No matter how many times you try it, the taste never gets any better.
The campsites, like route itself, are well-maintained and equipped with facilities not found on most other Andean trails. The campsites all have running water, shower and toilet blocks and even small shops selling snacks and drinks.
Despite this unusual degree of luxury, the sites were all but deserted and we spent the first evening alone, with nothing but the sound of the Apurimac as company.
But no amount of comfort the night before could have prepared us for the sheer physical ordeal of the second day. From the valley floor to what seemed like the roof of the world, a sheer, never-ending uphill struggle to Choquequirao.
To deal with such a steep incline, the trail is forced into an almost infinite series of zigzagging turns and as the strain builds, each turn starts to blend into the last. The distance between ourselves and the river seemed to stay fixed, as though we were merely walking on the spot. As the stinging sweat dripped into my eyes, the climb became less a physical challenge, and more of a mental battle. Just keep walking… Just make the next bend… Just take one more step…
Taking multiple stops to fill up on water, nuts and dried fruit, we dragged ourselves through this purgatory for hours, until eventually we crawled out onto the level track that leads towards the stone gates of Choquequirao.
Stepping into the site’s fully-restored central plaza for the first time made our earlier ordeal well worthwhile. With not a single other person anywhere to be seen, we suddenly found massive reserves of energy to explore the ruins. From the plaza, deep rows of agricultural terraces reach down back into the surrounding valleys, while rising above on a small mound is the ceremonial rock.
“Have you got enough strength to go and see the llamas?” Sergio cried. “Yes!” we yelled back. And back down the mountainside we went. Choquequirao’s llama rockwork is fast becoming the site’s signature feature, and as the setting sun cast its red hue over the terraces, giving the stone llamas a luminous glow, we understood why.
Llama rock work on the terraces of Choquequirao, Peru. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010
“We don’t find designs like this anywhere else in Inca architecture,” Sergio explained. “Who knows why they did it here. Maybe they were trying to restore some glamour to their failing empire, maybe it was the tradition of earlier civilizations like the Chachapoyas who lived here before. I guess we’ll never know.”
It takes at least a full day to fully explore the entire site of Choquequirao and after lunch on the third day we were ready to leave and begin the long downhill journey back.
The fastest and simplest way to leave Choquequirao is to follow the original trail back to San Pedro de Cachora but we chose to vary the route and head in the opposite direction, crossing the Apurimac further downstream at an old colonial hacienda called San Ignacio.
Back in the sub-tropical environment of the valley, the trees of San Ignacio were alive with the screech of parakeets, the branches dripping with mangos and avocados. As we unloaded the mules a commotion broke out among the porters, pointing back across the valley from where we’d walked. Somehow, on that distant wall of rock a porter had spotted a tiny black dot and identified it as one of the region’s most elusive and rare creatures, the spectacled bear.
“I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve only seen four of those!” a porter told me with a flash of excitement that is rare among Quechua-speaking indigenous Peruvians.
As the twilight faded into the night we sat down for one last meal with our guide, the porters even producing a carton of wine, and we enjoyed our memories of the trials and tribulations of the previous days. We had a few more hours of walking until our pick-up at Huanipaca the following morning but the hard trekking was over; finally we could relax and enjoy our achievement.
Sure, we hadn’t toughed it out alone – with our porters, mules and running water campsites, we’d enjoyed the trekking equivalent of a luxury hotel. But we didn’t care. We’d fought our own minds and bodies and hiked to Choquequirao, one of the most important but under-visited sites in the Andes. We were proud.
Category: Uncategorized
Top Five Most Unusual Argentina Tours
With its enormous diversity in landscapes and culture, there are an almost limitless range of Argentina tours to choose from, but here are five ways to see the best sights – in totally unique ways.
Buenos Aires: Tigre Cycling and Kayaking Tour
Take a Buenos Aires tour with a difference, enjoying the “Paris of South America” by bike and kayak along the Tigre River Delta.
Just north of the thriving bustle of the Argentine capital lies the tranquil town of Tigre nestled on the banks of the Tigre River Delta. The summer home for Buenos Aires’s Porteñean elite in the 19th century, Tigre retains its posh flair. Stately mansions decorate the delta, many of them only accessible by boat.
The tranquil waters of Tigre, near Buenos Aires. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010
Take the train from the heart of Buenos Aires to its northern outskirts. From there you can cycle along the backroads and suburbs to the town of Tigre, just north of the capital. Along the peaceful and relaxing biking trail, you will pass the Tigre River’s lush islands and beautiful landscapes. When you reach the town of Tigre, you will hop in a kayak and take a guided tour past the mansions, palaces, and other landmarks.
This full day tour lasts about eight hours total. The guided tour includes all biking and kayaking equipment, train tickets and traveler’s insurance, plus lunch, snacks, and bottled water.
Iguazu Falls: Full Moon Waterfall Excursion
Enjoy a night-time Iguazu tour and enjoy the majestic falls by moonlight.
The thundering Iguazu Falls, Argentina
When the full moon is out, the Iguazu Falls – one of the world’s most impressive set of waterfalls – appears even more striking and powerful than ever. Some 270 waterfalls, a few over 250 feet tall, merge together to cascade down the Iguazu River’s deepest cataracts. The national parks surrounding the falls, in both Argentina and Brazil, are quiet, and it seems as though you are alone with a mighty wall of water.
During this tour, which runs every evening of the full moon, you meet your guide at the park entrance to take a train ride to the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive face of the falls. At the Garganta do Diabo, or Devil’s Throat, water plunges over a 490 by 2300 feet U-shaped catarata, and observers can get close enough to be surrounded by 260° of water thundering with unimaginable power. In the moonlight, toast this remarkable force of nature with a refreshing caipirinha cocktail.
Mendoza: Cooking & Wine Tasting Class
For wine and cuisine fanatics, look no further than this Mendoza tour.
Mendoza’s gorgeous wineries and breathtaking landscapes are not to be missed, but if you want to experience Mendoza wine country in a unique way, take a Mendoza cooking and wine tasting class.
Begin your class by traveling from Mendoz to the Uco Valley, a high-altitude vineyard-rich region backed by the snowy Andes. Here the restaurant Bistro La Tupiña is situated in the midst of the Altus vineyards. This world-class restaurant serves delicious, simple Argentine meals – with some ingredients straight from the farm out back. The chef uses a tupiña, a cast iron kettle for which the restaurant is named, to marinate sausage, carmelized onions, potato wedges, and other appetizers in wines from the vineyard. A wine tasting expert will spill the secrets about the ins and outs of a good glass of wine, and a professional chef will teach you how to prepare – and pair – gourmet Argentine dishes with the best Argentine wines. Recipes may include goat in lemon sauce, barbeque lamb, along with dulce de leche and pastries.
El Calafate: Upsala Glacier Boat Cruise to Estancia Cristina
Cruise across glacial lakes on this Calafate tour to the most remote estancia in the region, perhaps in all of Patagonia.
The rugged landscape of Argentina’s Patagonia attracted rough gauchos who raised their cattle on vast stretches of land. Of all the estancias in Argentina, from the ranches on the eastern pampas near Buenos Aires, to those on the southern steppe, Estancia Cristina near El Calafate is perhaps the most remote.
Walls of ice and glacial lakes in Calafate, Patagonia. Photograph: Matthew Barker 2010
Estancia Cristina is only accessible by boat or by a several day trek. The trip is worth it though, as this 85,000 acre ranch is set on a meadow that glows green in the spring and summer, with the breathtaking Upsala Glacier as its backdrop. The ranch was founded in 1914 by an intrepid Englishman. Now it offers lodging, delicious homemade Patagonian cuisine, guided walks and horseback riding.
From El Calafate, the trekking town accessible by airport or by bus, you will head out on a boat cruise to reach Estancia Cristina. From Puerto Banderas on Lago Argentino, you will cruise north towards the Upsala Glacier. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you weave along the glacial lake to the ranch. You will be greeted by a full lunch cooked in the traditional Patagonia style, and afterwards, you can roam the vast ranch, taking a horseback ride or hike to the Upsala Glacier lookout point. In the evening, tuck into bed in a rustic cabin on the ranch, or return along the lake to El Calafate.
Ushuaia: Tierra Mayor Dog Sled and Snowshoe Trek
Mush Patagonia Huskies on a dog sled and snowshoe Ushuaia tour.
Experience the thrill and chill of the rugged terrain near Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of Argentina, on a full day dog sled and snowshoe trek. From Ushuaia, the picturesque capital of Tierra del Fuego, travel to Tierra Mayor, a trailhead that leads through snowy hills to the breathtaking Tierra Mayor valley. At the trailhead, you will meet your guide, who will introduce you to your dog sled team and explain the art of mushing. Then you will get outfitted with your sled, and take off on a seven kilometer sledding adventure along old logging trails in the snowy forests of Tierra Mayor.
When you reach the woodcutter’s shelter, a small log cabin with a cozy fireplace, you can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or “woodsmen’s coffee.” Then gear up for the next part of the adventure, a one and a half hour snowshoe trek through the snowy hills of Tierra Mayor. Gliding across snow a meter deep, you will arrive at the Alvear icefalls and enjoy terrific views of the Tierra Mayor valley. Return to the shelter, warm up with more hot chocolate, then strap on the snowshoes and descend down the logging trails to the Tierra Mayor trailhead.
The above excursions are just five of the many tours offered by Argentina For Less. Visit us online for many more Argentina travel ideas, or contact a travel advisor at travel@argentinaforless.com for more details.
Category: Argentina
Argentina Travel Guide: 48 hours in Buenos Aires
Move over New York – Buenos Aires is the city that really never sleeps. Argentines eat dinner at 10pm and don’t go out to drink and dance until at least midnight.
Buenos Aires, the city that never sleeps
After breakfast in your Buenos Aires hotel you should head out to explore this huge city.
For a first time visitor, Buenos Aires can be overwhelming, as the city is packed with hundreds of excellent restaurants, dozens of museums, art galleries, and on-going exhibitions.
You should start by making your way to Plaza Mayo, which is where Casa Rosada and the Central Cathedral is located, and was the famous place where Eva Peron spoke to crowds before her death.
From Plaza Mayo you can head up Av. Diagonal Norte to Plaza de la Republic, which is graced by the grand Obelisk. Av. 9 de Julio, the largest avenue in the world, cuts through the heart of Buenos Aires.
By this time, you’re probably thinking about lunch. Nearly every street corner in Buenos Aires has a gourmet restaurant. If you walk up Av. Honduras towards Palermo Hollywood you will find plenty of terrific restaurants. Plaza Serrano, which is at Av. Serrano and Av. Honduras in Palermo, is a nice place to find somewhere to eat.
The trendy Palermo district is split in two by train tracks. The SoHo side is home to Buenos Aires’s young middle class. In Palermo Hollywood are Argentina’s movie and TV studios, as well as a number of smaller cafes and bars. Venturing over the train tracks is definitely recommended.
After lunch spend some time exploring the streets before you head off to the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA)? on Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta. The museum houses an interesting collection of modern as well as pre-Columbian art.
Nearby is the Museo Evita (Av. Lafinur 2988) which is dedicated to the life of Eva Peron, who was immortalized in the movie Evita and was played by Madonna. The film shows what Argentina achieved in the post-war period to tackle poverty, fight inequality, and improve education, as well as the horrible story about what happened to the body of Eva after her death.
A short walk up the street with take you to Plaza Italia which is next to the Buenos Aires Zoo, which is open till late, especially in the summer months. You can spend time meandering the expansive park.
If you are looking to spend the night like a typical porteño, going out late and dancing you should head to Av. Cornel Niceto Vega and Av. Humbolt. Vega Avenue is lined with chic clubs open all night long. Av. Humbolt has a number of restaurants, a cinema, and a British/style pub.
If you happen to wake early after a late night out in the city and it is a Sunday morning, you should make your way to the street market in San Telmo (Av. Defensa) where they sell a range of market goods, food, and what San Telmo is famous for, antiques.
The area of San Telmo is very artsy, with the main plaza in San Telmo having tango and dance shows put on by locals every week. The plaza is also a good place to find something to eat and a small bar to listen to some live jazz.
After exploring the streets around San Telmo, you should make your way over to the residential area of Recoleta.
Recoleta is home to the famous Recoleta Cemetery, the resting place of the Argentine high society. Some of the graves are more like monuments and it is worth having a look around.
From the cemetery you can walk to the nearby chapel and then down to the Recoleta Design Center which is more like a mall, selling the very latest in fashions from Argentina and the world.
There are some great lunch spots around here, just see what you can find. But for a quick lunch, you can pick up an Argentine empanada, a meat-filled sandwich available on nearly every street corner for only a few pesos.
You can then walk down to the Museo Nacional de Bella Artes (Av. Libertador), the museum of fine arts in Buenos Aires.
No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without exploring the stuff that runs through the blood of every Argentine – a passion for soccer.
When the Boca Juniors play in La Bombadero stadium, the city stops and everyone’s attention centers on the game. The stadium, located in the district of La Boca, also has a museum that tells the history of the team and its famous Buenos Aires players.
You can then head down the waterfront in La Boca to see the colorful houses that line the streets. La Boca is a typical ‘working class’ area of Buenos Aires and was home to waves of early immigrants to the city, a very interesting place.
Some final places to make sure you visit if you somehow find the time is the new Puerto Madero development, the newest part of the city, which backs onto the banks of the river and the Buenos Aires ecological reserve.
Also you should visit the area around Retiro station, with the grand clock tower ‘Torre de los Ingleses’ which contrary to recent Argentine British relations, was donated by the British government to commemorate the Argentine May Independence revolution and the closeness between the two nations at the start of the 20th century.
Buenos Aires is a huge city that even residents have not fully explored. 48 hours is not enough to see it all, but you can always try!
Category: Argentina
