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Areas of
Interest:
La Boca Colorful and touristy, this
barrio of Buenos Aires is an
abandoned port populated by brightly-painted
metal houses. Youll want to stroll down the
districts pedestrian street, the
Caminito, and see a Tango show or
purchase some Argentinean leather goods or
Tango memorabilia from the many shops and
outdoor vendors. On game days, fans of the
Boca Juniors, one of South Americas top
football clubs, will be out in droves in La
Boca. As you explore the street, be sure to
note the many plaques and monuments lining
the Caminito that are dedicated to
the history of the area.
San Telmo
Buenos Aires oldest neighborhood, San Telmo,
is renowned for its beautiful old churches,
tango parlors, cafes and antique shops.
Dont miss the Feria de San Telmo, an
outdoor antique fair that runs every Sunday
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Florida Street/Avenue Santa Fe
Shopping is plentiful along these pedestrian
streets, as are cafes and eateries. The
Galerias Pacifico shopping arcade, with
its beautifully painted fresco ceiling, is
located here.
Palermo Hip, vibrant and historical
the barrio of Palermo and its
subdivisions make up Buenos Aires largest
neighborhood. Youll find shopping, a city
park, the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens and
many monuments throughout sections of
Palermo. The subdivisions of Palermo
Hollywood and Palermo Soho are known for
there nightclubs and cafes, while Palermo
Chico is a residential area known for its
many upscale homes.
Recoleta Popular for its parks,
squares and cafes, the Recoleta has several
historic and artistic sites that you wont
want to pass up. Recoleta Cemetery is
located here, as is a statue dedicated to
Eva Peron. The working art monument, the
Floralis Generica, is located in the
United Nations Park in Recoleta. The massive
metallic sculpture opens and closes its
petals based on sun exposure. The Recoleta
is also known for its galleries and outdoor
markets.
Important Sights:
Casa Rosada Seat of the executive branch
of Argentinas government.
The Obelisk Buenos Aires monument built to
commemorate the 400th anniversary
of the first founding of the city.
Avenida 9 de Julio Avenue named after
Buenos Aires Independence Day (July 9,
1816).
The Cabildo Public building used as a
government house during the citys colonial
times.
La Recoleta Cemetery Famous cemetery,
which includes graves of several presidents,
as well as that of Eva Peron.
Plaza de Mayo The main square in Buenos
Aires.
Palmero Gardens Park located in the
neighborhood of Palmero.
Where to Stay:
In the City The five-star Faena
Hotel + Universe (www.faenahotelanduniverse.com),
located in the Puerto Madero district, is
one of Buenos Aires finer hotels. The
Faenas 108 rooms, which include 16 suites
available for rent, combine elegant style
with European tastes. Situated in a historic
brick seven-storey grain building, the hotel
opened in 2004, was designed by Philippe
Starck and is owned by Alan Faena. The
Universe concept of the hotel comes from
the idea that all the rooms, plus its
poolbar, wine cellar, lounge, spa, boutique,
Mercado, dining room and theater, make up
the Faena Universe, where people staying at
the hotel and visitors to the lounge,
theater and Mercado can mix and mingle. Upon
entry, the Faena Hotel + Universe has a
unique, palace-like feel as youre left
gazing down a spacious hallway, lavishly
decorated with curtains and a long bench
running the center. Take a sniff of the air
a hotel staff member sprays perfume
throughout the Faena each day. Each of the
rooms has a view of either the city or the
Rio de la Plata, the river that borders
Buenos Aires. Done up in red and white
dιcor, the guests rooms are modern with
automatic velvet curtains and venetian
blinds, Egyptian cotton linens, a digital
safety box and entertainment system. I was
impressed with the beautiful views of the
city skyline I had from room 414. Dont
forget a trip to the marble Hammam Spa, the
only one in Argentine, where guests can
enjoy a massage or other treatment. The
Mercado serves up great Argentine buffet
breakfasts each morning. Rooms start at $400
a night, depending on the season, and go up
from there.
In the Country A two-hour trip
outside of the city brought me to Estancia
Bella Vista de Guerrero (www.bellavistadeguerrero.com),
a hotel and working ranch located on the
banks of the Salado River. The Estancias 17
rooms have country furnishings, private
bathrooms, Wi-Fi Internet and digital safes.
Rooms range in prices from $155 to $205 for
suites. On the property, guests can
participate in a wide range of activities,
including fishing, tennis, cycling, or they
can have their activities customized by
staff to including partaking in daily farm
activities and visiting local wineries. I
sat down to a typical Argentinean meal with
heaping mounds of beef, including chorizos
(pork sausage), blood sausage and matambre
(think pizza with flank steak instead of
dough). Afterwards it was time for a
horseback ride, where a Gaucho (Argentinean
cowboy) saddled up my horse. A walk through
the peaceful forest next to the Estancia
completed my visit. A trip to the Tower Spa
should also be included in a stay to the
Estancia, where visitors can receive a
hydro-massage or sauna bath.
How to Get There:
Buenos Aires has three international
airports to choose from the Jorge Newbery
Airpark, the Ezeiza International Airport
and the Comandante Espora Aero Station. The
busiest and largest of the three is the
Ezeiza International Airport, located about
14 miles out of the city. American Airlines
flies one daily, nonstop flight to Ezeiza
from Chicago OHare Airport, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Miami and New York-JFK Airport. In
December, the airline will begin offering a
second daily nonstop flight from JFK
Airport, five days a week. The airport is
easily navigable. When flying out on an
international flight, dont forget $18 to
pay the airport tax.
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