I realize that once you’re there it’s very hard to leave the diverse city of Buenos Aires. But sometimes you just need a little breakaway from it all. Since Tigre is technically a (rather rich and lush) suburb of the city, this might convince you to spend some time over there. If only because the porteños like to go there themselves in the weekends :).
Just an hour away by train, the lush avenidas of Tigre make you breathe again on a sunny day. Tigre laid back town is nestled on an island created by several streams and river. The area was founded in 1820 and named after the tigers or jaguars that roamed the area. Shops, museums and big uptown houses have replaced the tigers ever since, unfortunately.
You can easily spend the whole weekend in here if you want to. Or have an early start and try to tick off these boxes below in one day!
Walking the Paseo Victoria
The best thing to do in this town is just to stroll around Tigre. And what better way to start than along the river. If you’re limited in time, make this walk along the quayside your ultimate thing to do.
Start at the Museo del Arte Tigre and walk your way all the way up to the Estación de Tigre along the Luján and Tigre river. Just drink a mate with the locals at one of the green stretches along the quayside and watch how the kayaks are gracefully floating by.
Puerto de Frutos
Asados, juice bars, choripan, gelato; if you’re hungry the Puerto de Frutos will satisfy you for sure with heaps of comfort food. There’s some for everyone over there.
The Puerto de Frutos (fruit port) is now a crafts fair, located where there used to be a fruit market back in the old days. If you’re looking for gifts and souvenirs, there’s a large portion of the market dedicated to wood and crafts. And home appliances for some reason. Although I expected a quaint and cute fería – and this massive block with its open air Walmart clearly is no such thing – I still thought the Puerto was worth a visit. If only for the lovely juice stand smack in the middle of the market.
Do take note however that the market can be swarming with people during the weekend. On the other hand; therefore it makes a perfect place for people watching!
Boat tour
The number one activity in Tigre is cruising into the mysterious waterways of the Delta. The latte-like rivers coming down from the northern jungle can be navigated by boat. Most of the tours run for an hour across the Rio Sarmiento back into the Rio Luján. But there are also a couple of wooden boats that take you along for two hours. On top of that there’s one another which allows you to hop off, so that you can make a small hike around the island, before hopping on to another one taking you back to Tigre.
Inform at the Information Center upon arrival near the Estación de Tigre regarding the best options and hours that suit your needs.
I know that the boat tour all in all is a rather touristy thing to do, but at the same time it’s a really fun one and the waterways and especially the stilted houses and large colonial mansions you’ll come across are just lovely to see. You just really wonder how it must be living here, since you even need a boat just doing some groceries.
Visit that little purple market near the bridge
Don’t expect greatness of this little market, but if you’ve finished the long walk along the quayside, or have arrived by train at the Estación de Tigre, these stands are worth checking out. With some quaint and hand-made products sold in here, you might just find a great souvenir or gift at this spot.
MAT (Museo de Arte Tigre)
This gorgeous building at the crossing of the Rio Luján and the Rio Reconquista used to be a hotel, but has been transformed into a museum. Just the building and the garden itself is worth to have a look upon and if you can spare the time. The museum has an impressive staircase, some statues, old photos and a couple of paintings. All are accompanied by little English explanations though, as ever in South America.
Nonetheless MAT is a great starting point for your walk along the Avenida Victoria. Even better might be to come around (again) here at sunset, as that’s the time when the museum is lightened up beautifully.
Kayaking, canoeing or rowing the Luján river
If you have the time and feel totally comfortable on the water, kayaking is a really fun thing to do at the Luján river!
There are several spots where you can rent kayaks, if only for a little while. At the Avenida Victoria you’ll find a couple for sure. Take Kanoo Kayak for example, close to the Museo de Arte Tigre.
One on the water watch the big boats though as their waves can be quite substantial.
Museo del Mate
So I figured out Argentinians have a couple of obsessions. Football is one for sure, asados another one.. and mate would make this list too. I’d never seen this drink before, so it came as a small culture shock noticing how the people in Argentina bring their mate and these refill systems with them everywhere! I mean literally everywhere. I was surprised I didn’t see the Argentinian football players running with them on the field during the World Cup.
Anyway, mate really is a thing and someone in Tigre decided that it needed a museum. Rightful so, probably. I didn’t get in myself, because I’d read quite my bit about mate as already had been in Argentina for a while. But if you feel like you need a proper introduction into the world of yerba, this might just be your shot :). There’s also a small shop tied to it where you can buy your own cup and bombilla (mate straw).
Tren de la Costa: back to Buenos Aires
There are two train stations within Tigre itself that go all the way to Buenos Aires: Estación de Tigre and Estación Delta. Although the train towards the first station is a bit cheaper and faster, it’s worth to take the “Tren de la Costa” that leaves from Estación Delta.
This train rides all the way along the coast of the river Luján to Mitre. From there you can hop on the Subte.
Although you honestly don’t really see that much of the coast itself, it still is a nice ride in my opinion, if only because it feels like this is the way the porteños must have visited Tigre themselves since ages.
The train stops at several cute and old train stations. Every stop has something else to offer; a nice neighbourhood, street art, a second-hand market. A great way to make it back to Buenos Aires for sure!
