IES Abroad Buenos Aires Day Trip: Tigre

In addition to taking us on a day trip to San Isidro, which you can also find a blog post about, IES Abroad Buenos Aires took my cohort to Tigre, a city north of Buenos Aires that lays on the estuary and river delta. The water-centric city is a beautiful one, surrounded by lush greenery and encircled by canals and rivers, Tigre has a lot to offer. Between taking water taxis, exploring a private garden, eating ice cream, and shopping at an old, pretty market, some of my favorite study abroad memories were made on the trip!

Our first stop was the river-waterfront that lay next to a beautiful, aristocratic mansion-turned-museum. We walked along the river and conversed with our tour guide, who was very knowledgeable on the city’s history and contribution to Argentine politics. We learned of how Tigre had historically been separate from Buenos Aires, and how it still officially is, but how Buenos Aire’s growing cosmopolitan engulfed it into its greater area. We also discussed the city’s logistics and transportation due to its water-centricity and its hard navigation. 

Afterwards, we explored Puerto de Frutos, a market by the river that sold handi-crafts, baskets, fruits, and the best strawberries and cream I’ve ever eaten in my life. Following the market and our delicious lunch-break, we hopped on a scenic boat ride and headed to Isla El Descanso which boasted beautiful gardens and contemporary art works created by local, Argentine artists. There, we toured the grounds, snacked on some fruits and chilled drinks, and walked over bridges-of-love and rang bells-of-hope. 

Soon, we headed home on a water-taxi before catching the bus home. Tigre, though being so close to Buenos Aires, is completely different from anything you would find in the city. With canals that carve out the beautiful islands and life that is more laid back, Tigre was a good escape from the bustling city.