A nice little day trip from Buenos Aires is a visit to Tigre, a quaint town on a delta, about 30km north of the capital and about half an hour by train.
As July is the off season it was very quiet the day we visited, barely a soul around, but I liked that. From the train station it’s an easy walk through the streets of the compact town, past the elegant buildings such as the Buenos Aires Rowing Club. With no real destination in mind, we headed towards the river, where we took a look at some of the markets (Puerto de Frutos) that were still open at that time of the year and offer a selection of hand crafts, especially wicker baskets. Stock is brought into the market by boats which are filled to overflowing with merchandise.
Market Boat at Tigre’s Mercado de Frutos
The highlight of the day for me was a one and a half hour leisurely boat trip departing from the markets that takes you through a small section of the delta. Along its canals were many homes. Some were small and other quite opulent with boats docked at their piers. I’m told this area is where many wealthy Argentinians have their holiday homes. It was an interesting insight into lifestyles of the rich. Further along the canals we passed the ‘Crystal Box’ (Museo Historico Sarmiento) a historic building, one of the first in the area to be made of wood panels, is preserved from the elements by a large glass cage. Also fascinating is a ship ‘graveyard’ filled with rusting hulks resting along the channel banks.
Museo Historico Sarmiento
We stopped for a very late lunch at a parrilla near the markets. As a die-hard carnivore, I am a big fan of the parrilla. Freshly cooked meat, served to you on a sizzling grill with the smallest of side salads – what more could a girl ask for! Though I wasn’t as keen on the kidney, the steak was devine.
Parilla lunch
My top 3 in Tigre:
• The riverside markets of Mercado de Frutos
• A river cruise through the Tigre delta
• A walk along Avenida General Mitre