What is an Estancia?

What is an Estancia?

The word estancia is widely used in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and in the south of Chile to refer to a vast agricultural area, it is quite similar to the notion of ranch in North America. But is it not quite the same.

A little bit of history will be helpful for you to understand the meaning of an authentic estancia in Argentina. 

The first ranches and farms (farms are much smaller than ranches), appeared in Argentina in the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization. The conquerors and explorers were rewarded with large tracts of land. They accepted these lands as “payment” for their efforts.

The lots from the farms were used for agriculture, while the lots from the ranches specialized in breeding. The lots of the stays had to measure at least half a league by a league and a half, which is about 2025 hectares of land. This area was calculated so that between 800 and 1,000 cows fed on natural pastures, which is equivalent to about 2 to 2.5 hectares per animal. But some ranches reached 250,000 hectares.

Originally, the Pampa estancias were used to raise sheep for wool, but also cows for meat, fat and tallow. Tallow, a residual product obtained from the melting of animal fat, was used to make soap to clean, but also to soften and waterproof leather.

From generation to generation, these territories remained within the same families by inheritance, making Argentina a great land of great landed aristocrats. Those aristocrats are very known families in Argentina and they still own many estancias.

Those lands, recently occupied by the Creoles since the 18th century, were still inhabited by different indigenous tribes such as the Tehuelches, the Mapuches and the Araucanians. But the Indians began to fight to defend their land so the ranchers had to resist their regular attacks, building huge wells and placing cannons around their properties.

Throughout the colonial period, the farms were more numerous than the ranches, but from 1820 things were reversed. In fact, in those days large export and breeding farms were developed in the country. Around 1850, ranchers had to acquire the entire Argentine countryside, modernizing barbed wire facilities and corrals, buying sheep shearing machines, building stables…

From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the phenomenon was reversed again. Through the sale of lots and the succession of inheritances, the lands were divided and the size of the estancias was reduced. In order to get as much profit as possible from their farms, these large landowners began to hire gauchos (Argentine cowboys), giving them the opportunity to gradually settle down by allowing them to use their land in exchange for a share of the crops produced on their land.

Since then, the rancher has been in charge of accounting and marketing, while the gaucho has been in charge of production and later receives a part of the profits; half, a third or a quarter following the contracts. Likewise, the production of the ranches became mixed, combining the production of cereals with Pampas livestock, at the same time that sheep farming was developed in Patagonia.

Today, many ranches continue to be active throughout Argentina. Many ranches have opened their doors to tourism and have an additional income from their main activities.

What to Expect on your Estancia Visit

While some are known more for their horseback riding activities and facilities, all estancias invite guests to experience their unique culture. You’ll get a giant-sized taste of asado, traditional Argentine barbeque, empanadas (stuffed bread or pastry) and plenty of other local specialties, which often include dishes for which Argentina is not as well known for such as finest freshwater fish offerings.

Every estancia has its own special character and history; they offer several alternatives in authentic estancias to spend a day in the Pampas countryside see the vastness of the land and learn about the traditions and activities of these working.

Some fun activities you can do at an Argentine Estancia:

  • Take polo lessons
  • Go horse-back riding
  • Take a cooking class
  • Wine tasting
  • Witness Gauchos do their daily activities such as herding, cutting, roping and taming animals
  • Play Taba and other gaucho games
  • Have a Reiki and Shiatsu massages
  • Learn how to dance Tango
  • Relax by the pool
  • Play Tennis or Pickle ball

Specialized Estancias: Horseback Riding and Showmanship

Some estancias specialize in breeding horses and offer ideal conditions for travelers wanting the ultimate horseback riding vacation. Ranging from beginner to expert levels, these ranches usually offer guided trail rides, polo lessons, and a chance to ride along with the gauchos as they go about their daily ranch activities. There are even a few that will let small groups of guests take on roles almost to the point of being a gaucho for a week or more. At the other extreme, some ranches also have their own tack shops and will outfit a guest in gaucho apparel and equipment whether he or she ever rides a horse. Those estancias that cater more to serious riders tend to be located to the north and far south of Buenos Aires while dude ranches can be found on the outskirts of almost all major cities in Argentina.

Other estancias, while offering horseback riding for guests, also have regularly scheduled events on site that demonstrate the unique skill of the estancia’s gauchos. On these ranches, a visitor usually will see gauchos displaying their world-class horsemanship as they break a young horse or display showmanship of their considerable equestrian talents.

Finding an Estancia near Buenos Aires

For many visitors, a trip to Argentina means a stay in and around Buenos Aires. For those looking for equestrian showmanship or opportunities to soak up the estancia culture without the need to test their horseback riding skills, there are dozens of locations within an hour’s drive west and southeast of the city.

Some of the oldest estancias in Buenos Aires are found in San Antonio de Areco. If you visit Buenos Aires, make sure you make time to get to know the estancias and learn about the typical activities and traditions.

Visitors can learn to cook the typical Argentine barbecue, walk through large areas of the pampas, ride horses, learn to play polo, listen to authentic music from the region, meet silversmiths in their workplaces, visit historic houses and museums

Contact our experienced Travel Advisors and share your thoughts with them. Taking your preferences into account, they will help you plan your visit to the Estancia that will meet your expectations.

What is San Antonio de Areco?

What is San Antonio de Areco?

Many people wonder what there is to do in San Antonio de Areco. This small town, less than two hours from Buenos Aires, is the ultimate destination for all things gaucho, history, and rural Argentine culture.

It’s also one of the most popular day trips from Buenos Aires.

San Antonio de Areco is nearly 70 miles northwest of the Argentine Pampas Region. It’s a great 1½-hour day trip by car from Buenos Aires—or the perfect jumping-off point for those who choose to visit at a nearby estancia, or a traditional large rural ranch and estate.

The town’s only real sights are a couple of museums, the most important of which is the Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes. But what really makes Areco memorable is the harmonious architectural character of the town’s centre: all cobbled streets and faded Italianate and colonial facades punctuated by elaborate wrought-iron grilles and delicately arching lamps. There are also some excellent artisans working in the town in talleres (workshops). Weaving and leatherwork are well represented, but the silversmiths are the highlight.

The must-visit place is Centro Cultural y Taller Draghi, named for the famed silversmith Juan José Draghi, who called both President Bushes and Ronald Reagan clients. The museum is dedicated to the man who revived silversmithing in Argentina. You should see the historic collection of astonishingly detailed belt buckles, knives and containers for making yerba mate tea.

Of their work bench, silver pieces and gold are born; trails, knives and matés are used by neighbors of san Antonio de Areco, it glimpsed a personal, new and different style. This fact doesn’t escape to visitors that arrive to the district of Areco: who begin to converge assiduously to their shop with special orders: candlesticks, marks, alhajeros, pitchers, cutleries, machetes ( gaucho knives) etc.

The machete (or gaucho knife) is a tool made by former gauchos , native to the pampas. Besides being a cutting element as a working tool , it is used to kill animals and remove the skin of the animals,=make thongs and leather working and woodworking used by the gaucho in their crafts. He has also developed as a weapon of self-defense style for protection in such Pampa regions. Along with his poncho and his horse form the best alliance to fend off possible attacks , using it as their own very particular laws and philosophies as in some Western martial arts.

San Antonio de Areco, the national capital of gaucho traditions, hosts the annual Fiesta de la Tradición, the country’s most important festival celebrating pampas culture. Despite its modest promotion as a tourist destination, playing on its appealing setting by the banks of the tranquil Río Areco, the town has retained a surprisingly genuine feel. You may not find Areco full of galloping gauchos outside festival week, but you still have a good chance of spotting estancia workers on horseback, sporting traditional berets and rakishly knotted scarves, or of coming across paisanos propping up the bar of a traditional boliche establishment.

Annual Tradition Day Festivities in Areco

The festival, during which gauchos who still actually work in the fields and those who have desk jobs but keep their skills (and knives) sharp in their spare time, participate in parades, giant cookouts and demonstrations of horse-riding skills.

Areco has a prestigious literary connection: the town was the setting for Ricardo Güiraldes’ Argentine classic Don Segundo Sombra (1926), a novel that was influential in changing the image of the gaucho from that of an undesirable outlaw to a symbol of national values.

Famous Gaucho: Don Segundo Sombra

Just behind Fierro in terms of recognition and fame is Don Segundo Sombra, a fictional character and protagonist of one of Ricardo Güiraldes’ novels written in 1929. Don Segundo has a mythical aura around him and represents in many ways the ideal gaucho as seen by those in search of symbols of Argentine national identity at the start of the 20th century. He is strong, elegant and honest but as his name indicates he has a sombre, lonesome side to him.

The gaucho is a legendary figure of Argentine society, a rebel reminiscent of ‘Che’. His elegance is supposedly inherited from the Spanish conquistadores and his freedom is intrinsically linked to the symbol of the country’s pampas.

Gauchos, the Argentine version of the cowboy, had their heyday in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but much of the culture, from horseback riding to silversmithing to bringing your own knife to dinner, still survives and stirs national pride.  His elegance is supposedly inherited from the Spanish conquistadores and his freedom is intrinsically linked to the symbol of the country’s pampa.

In 1866, an English rancher by the name of Wilfred Latham wrote: “I cannot conceive of anything more exhilarating than a gallop across the plains…. a cloudless sky of deep azure, an atmosphere marvelously light and pure communicating a sense of indescribable buoyancy and pleasurable existence – a soft breeze flowing, as it were, over the vast plain, boundless as an ocean – contribute to engender an irresistible feeling of joy.”

Ricardo Guiraldes Museum

It takes the name of Ricardo Güiraldes to honor the novel Don Segundo Sombra, published in 1926. Definitely worth a visit – recommend a guided tour as it is very interesting to find out some of the stories behind the artefacts. Entry is free. Everything related to the life and work of this remarkable writer is on display there. Visitors will learn about the life, customs and routine of the countryside people from their origins until today.

Pulperias

The “pulperia” (grocery store) was until the early twentieth century the typical commercial establishment of the various regions of Latin finding widespread from Central America to the southern cone countries. Its origin dates back to the XVI century, and provided everything then was indispensable for everyday life: food, beverages, candles (candles or candles), coal, medicines, textiles and others.

It was also the social center of the humble and middle classes of the population, there characters typical of each region would gather to talk and see what’s new. The “pulperias” were places where you could drink alcohol, cockfights were held, were playing dice, card games, etc..

The main square has La Esquina de Merti on a corner and this is a pulperia (a former grocery and bar) that has been converted into a restaurant, but with all the old, genuine interior and items from its former function. There is seating outside and inside, but eat inside to appreciate the full experience. We highly recommend baked meat empanadas and a “picada”.

Picadas, which are consumed at home or in bars, cafés, “cafetines” and “bodegones” are also popular; they consist of an ensemble of plates containing cubes of cheese (typically from Mar del Plata or Chubut), pieces of salame, olives in brine, french fries, maníes (peanuts), etc.; picadas are eaten accompanied by an alcoholic beverage (“fernet”, beer, wine with soda, to give some common examples).

In San Antonio de Areco we invite you to discover:

  • Almacén Los Principios (Moreno y Mitre)
  • Bar San Martin (Moreno y Alvear)
  •  Boliche de Bessonart (Segundo Sombra y Zapiola)
  •  El Mitre (Mitre y Alsina)
  •  La Vuelta de Gato (Camino R. Güiraldes, frente al museo)
  • El Tokio (Mitre y Arellano)
  • La Esquina de Merti (Arellano y Mitre)
  •  La Pulperia de Areco (Bolivar 66

Areco’s traditional gaucho atmosphere extends to the surrounding area, where you will find some of Argentina’s most famous estancias, offering a luxurious accommodation alternative to staying in Areco itself.

Argentine Polo

Argentine Polo

Where can I see the best Polo in Buenos Aires?

Whether you’re a polo enthusiast or not, there’s something thrilling about watching athletes on ponies racing across a field.

Every year, between the months of October and the beginning of December, you can see the best polo in the world. Tournaments start in October and run through mid-December. Both in the city of Buenos Aires and outside of the city there are multiple opportunities to experience polo in different ways.

Below, you will find the best options to watch or learn polo.

Argentine Open Polo

The Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Spanish for Argentine Open Polo Championship) is the most important international polo championship at club level, that has taken place every year since 1893 at the Campo Argentino de Polo of Palermo, Buenos Aires.   

November 1th, 2022, will mark the start of the most important polo tournament in the world, the Argentine Polo Open Championship (129th Abierto Argentino de Polo), or simply “El Abierto”, that will take place until December 2nd, 2017. This tournament, held every year at the Cathedral of Polo, the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo (Av. del Libertador & Dorrego), brings together the best polo players in the world, and it is one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the international polo calendar. It´s also one of the main social events in Buenos Aires.

Other tournaments of the Argentine polo season that bring together the best of polo are:

  • Hurlingham Open, Ayshire Cup: October 11-29
  • Pilar Tournament: Begins on October 13
  • Copa Provincia de Buenos Aires: Begins on November 8
  • Chamber of Deputies Cup: November 3 to 28
  • 129th Argentine Polo Open: November 1 to December 2
  • VI Women’s Open: From November 21st to December 2

Experience Polo in the Pampas

Our Full Polo Day program is designed for you to become a polo player for the day. Any day of the year.

You begin the day with an informative talk about polo and its ponies while you taste some delicious empanadas and excellent argentine wine.

You will be able to visit the stables and learn from our guide how polo ponies are selected for the sport, their bloodlines and how they are trained.

 

You will also learn about the rules of the game, the characteristics of the player and the complex technique that the player must master.

You will attend a live professional polo match of 4 chukkers. More than 30 horses participate per game and you can enjoy a game of pure adrenaline.

Lunch time is part of this unique experience: the visitor will enjoy a complete barbecue that includes “asado”, a selection of grilled meats and beef, accompanied by top quality Argentine wines. You will have the opportunity to try our delicious typical Argentine countryside food (we also have vegetarian options).

After spending some time walking through our beautiful countryside, you will take a polo lesson where you will learn how to ride a horse, hold the mallet and hit the ball. At the end of the class, the participant will end up sharing a mini-polo game that will make you feel like a professional player!

At the end of the day, you will have a relaxing horseback ride through our trails specially designed for you to enjoy the Argentine countryside and its surroundings.

It is not necessary to know how to ride a horse, nor to have previous polo experience. We offer equipment and instruction for all levels.

Polo night tour

A new tour allows visitors to experience Polo at night.

Contact one of our specialists if you want to get tickets for the matches of the polo championships or to join a Polo Day tour. We suggest getting your tickets in advance as due to the popularity of the polo events, tickets always sell out.

Things to do in Palermo: the largest neighborhood of Buenos Aires

Things to do in Palermo: the largest neighborhood of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the perfect city to discover on foot. Although the city is very extensive and there are 48 neighborhoods, it is possible to walk several districts if you explore them on different days.

The favorite neighborhood of many Porteños is the neighborhood of Palermo:  one of Buenos Aires’ most noteworthy neighborhoods. With nearly 350 acres of parks, wooded areas, and lakes, Palermo provides a peaceful escape from the rush of downtown. It’s also the largest neighborhood of the city, and is divided into smaller sub-districts, namely: Palermo Chico, Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood.

Palermo Chico

If you like architecture, leafy parks, monuments and statues (from rudimentary figurines to classical masterpieces), grand avenues and contemporary art you can’t miss out visiting Palermo Chico.

Designed by landscaper Charles Thays (Carlos Thays), it is characterized by its streets that break the grid, its green spaces and its important houses of the aristocracy.

Palermo Chico is a wonderful barrio for walking, especially so if you have an interest in architecture. It is a quiet neighborhood where upper-class families, millionaires and famous Argentines live. You can see large old houses, large houses and even some mansions. Inside these houses, the luxury and the number of maids and employees working in them stand out.

It stands out for the curved and irregular layout of its streets, abundant green spaces, mansions and embassies (Spain, Albania, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Morocco, Slovakia, Portugal, Greece, Canada, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay , Chile, South Korea, Haiti and Indonesia), the area where these embassies are located is popularly known as “The embassy area”.

The district is also popular with art enthusiasts and has some notable galleries and museums. We stop at MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires) on Figueroa Alcorta to see the work of Rafael Barradas and Diego Rivera plus temporary exhibitions from the likes of Andy Warhol and Frida Kahlo.

palermo-lago buenos aires

Where the Grass is Greener: Parks and Gardens of Palermo

  • EL ROSEDAL: Avenida Infanta Isabel and Iraola

El Rosedal is located in the heart of the extensive Parque Tres de Febrero, also known as Bosques de Palermo. The park is home to more than 1,000 species of roses, lining its many winding trails that lead a diversity of visitors to numerous overlooks, picturesque bridges, and a charming lake stocked with rowboats and flocks of geese. If you like literature, be sure to visit the Garden of Poets, one of the main attractions of the park, due to its large collection of statues representing various renowned writers from around the world.

palermo-jardin-japones
  • JAPANESE GARDEN (Japanese Garden) Av. Casares 2966 

     

The Japanese garden has become a symbol of intercultural relations in Buenos Aires. It is one of the largest of its kind outside of Japan. Aside from the general beauty and serenity found within its gates, the garden also offers a number of attractions, including a large cultural center that houses various exhibitions and craft classes, a greenhouse containing an endless variety of bonsai, flowers and plants to buy, a traditional Japanese tea house, gift shop and much more. You can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or even feed the brightly colored carp that inhabit the lake. With its long list of activities and masterful landscaping, the Japanese Garden can be enjoyable for everyone.

Tip: the Japanese garden is right across from Germany Park. If you cross the park you will find our favorite place for lunch: Casa Cavia. A concept store with restaurant, cocktail bar, pastry shop, bookshop, flower shop, perfume shop and publishing house. The building is the villa Bollini Roca which was built in 1920 under the supervision of Norwegian architect and artist Alejandro Christophersen and became patrimony of the city in 2011. The inspiring historic space renovated itself thanks to the artistic direction of its founder Guadalupe Garcia Mosqueda. Mosqueda transformed it into a cultural pole of Argentinian excellence.

 

Casa Cavia is located on 2985 Cavia Street. (It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations are a must).  

  • BOTANICAL GARDEN (Botanical Garden) Av. Santa Fe 3951 

The 17-acre refuge is home to approximately 5,500 species of plants, trees, and shrubs, as well as a number of sculptures, monuments, and greenhouses. If that doesn’t impress you, the garden serves as a great place to escape the heat with its abundant shade and refreshing scent of nature, while blocking out the sounds of the bustling city that surrounds you.

Palermo SoHo

Palermo Soho was part of a prior working class district called Villa Alvear. In the late 1800s, the government commissioned the architect Juan Buschiazzo to modernize and develop the area. Buchaiazzio’s legacy remains with charming passageways and classic Spanish-style architecture throughout Palermo Soho.
Today SoHo has trendy shopping, nightlife  and dining. It is a hip neighborhood that is frequented by young people.

Palermo Hollywood

Palermo Hollywood for its part has become a gastronomic center with more than forty bars and restaurants, which are in the able hands of young and creative chefs.


Dorrego Flea Market:
Avenida Dorrego 1650

The Flea Market is a characteristic point of interest in the Colegiales neighborhood, right where the Palermo Hollywood area ends.

You will find antiques and decoration items. Furniture made from recycled materials. Crockery, armchairs, desks, bookcases, wardrobes, paintings, mirrors, trunks and all kinds of decorative objects. In addition to the sale of products to the public, restaurant services are offered. In the case of furniture, polishing, gluing and luster work is done on the pieces. It is advisable to go with time to fully enjoy it.

There’s nothing better than wandering through the gardens and streets of Palermo. If you’re looking for a really detailed tour and in-depth information, contact us and do a walking tour with a local professional guide.

 

Ideas offers a handful of neighborhood tours that highlight the best of Buenos Aires. The groups are kept small (no more than six people) and they are really focused on providing a lot of information on history, food and culture.

Contact Us and we will plan a customized walking tour for you.

Walking Tours: Recoleta District

palermo-flor tour

Walking Tours: Recoleta District

Buenos Aires has countless places waiting to be discovered. But if a traveler is visiting the city for the first time and asks me where to start, I would definitely recommend starting with a walk in the Recoleta neighborhood.

Recoleta is mainly residential, and it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city to live. The parks, wide boulevards, art galleries, stylish design stores, museums and its famous cemetery make it one of the most important tourist and cultural neighborhoods. It is, by far, one of the best places to visit in Buenos Aires.

recoleta-cementery-tourism

An introduction to Recoleta

The name Recoleta originates from the Monastery of the Recollect Fathers (Convento de Recoletos Descalzos), a faction of the Franciscan Order. The monastery was built on land owned by the barrio’s first mayor, Rodrigo Ortiz de Zarate, after Juan de Garay presented it to him as far back as 1583. At the time, Recoleta was a solitary and desolate area unaware of the changes that were to come.

 

Recoleta is the neighborhood situated directly northeast of Buenos Aires City Center and shares a border with Almagro, Palermo and Retiro. The barrios popularity began towards the latter part of the 18th century when an outbreak of yellow fever (1871) in the southern suburbs forced the city’s residents to seek refuge elsewhere. Whilst the poorer headed south, the wealthier families chose Recoleta due to its higher terrain thus a lack of disease infecting insects.

 

With the migration to Recoleta came inevitable development and the new residents were quick to capitalize on the large estates present in the area by dividing them into smaller plots and building upon them. The transformation into a residential barrio was a quick process and the estates were soon replaced with the luxurious stately homes for which it is famed today.

recoleta-cementery-caba

What to do and see in Recoleta

  • AVENIDA ALVEAR

The name Recoleta originates from the Monastery of the Recollect Fathers (Convento de Recoletos Descalzos), a faction of the Franciscan Order. The monastery was built on land owned by the barrio’s first mayor, Rodrigo Ortiz de Zarate, after Juan de Garay presented it to him as far back as 1583. At the time, Recoleta was a solitary and desolate area unaware of the changes that were to come.

Recoleta is the neighborhood situated directly northeast of Buenos Aires City Center and shares a border with Almagro, Palermo and Retiro. The barrios popularity began towards the latter part of the 18th century when an outbreak of yellow fever (1871) in the southern suburbs forced the city’s residents to seek refuge elsewhere. Whilst the poorer headed south, the wealthier families chose Recoleta due to its higher terrain thus a lack of disease infecting insects.

With the migration to Recoleta came inevitable development and the new residents were quick to capitalize on the large estates present in the area by dividing them into smaller plots and building upon them. The transformation into a residential barrio was a quick process and the estates were soon replaced with the luxurious stately homes for which it is famed today.

  • RECOLETA CEMENTERY

Recoleta cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world and a must see site in Buenos Aires. This famous cemetery is the final resting site of some of Argentina’s most elite citizens, founding fathers, heroes and of course well off families showing off their wealth with increasingly more elaborate tombs. The mausoleums occupy roughly 14 acres divided by alleyways, tree lined streets and brick laid paths.

Many of the cemetery’s older, elaborate tombs were constructed with imported French or Italian materials. The architecture (yes, some of these mausoleums are that big) varies throughout this city of the dead from Art Deco to Baroque and are a photographers dream. For a more in depth experience Contact Us and book a local professional English speaking guide.

  • DEL PILAR CHURCH

Attached to the cemetery is the brilliant-white church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, which symbolizes the heart of the barrio. It is the oldest in our city preserved in its original baroque style. Because San Ignacio, which is older, only retains a tower and the façade from its construction.

  • LA BIELA CAFE

A culinary passion that began in the mid-nineteenth century, and was renamed until finally reaching “La Biela.” Keeping its initial essence, it became the favorite meeting place for Buenos Aires citizens. One of the most historic and prestigious bars in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which is presented as the must-see destination.

The emblematic La Biela coffee store is a place that used to be frequented by icons of Argentine literature, such as Jorge Luis Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares and Ernesto Sábato, as well as old glories of the sport such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Jorge Newbery, among others.

  • CENTRO CULTURAL RECOLETA

Recoleta is also home to the magnificent Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, displaying work by Goya and Rembrandt and offering free entrance from Tuesday to Sunday, and the funky-looking Biblioteca Nacional ( National Library).

 

Opening hours

  • Tuesday to Friday, 11 am to 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm.
  • Monday: closed.
  • Free admission
  • EVITA MONUMENT

It was designed by Argentinian sculptor Ricardo Gianetti and it was inaugurated at the foot of a cliff dubbed Plaza Evita on December 6, 1999. The figure of Mrs. Eva Duarte de Perón stands on a pedestal made of black ceramic in the shape of a Latin cross.

María Eva Duarte de Perón (1919–1952), usually referred to as Eva Perón or by the affectionate diminutive Evita, was the second wife of President Juan Perón (1895–1974) and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 until her death. Over the years, she became a part of international pop culture, most famously as the subject of Tim Rice’s musical, Evita.

  • FLORALIS GENERICA

Designed and paid by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, the Floralis Generica, a giant silver flower, has been a striking city landmark since it opened in 2002.

 

The enormous metal flower blooms anew each day in a pool of water next to the National Museum of Fine Arts, revealing four long stamens inside. Its six 13-meter-long petals open, which takes about 20 minutes, at eight in the morning and slowly close again at sunset, mimicking the actions of a real flower. When the petals are closed, the 18 ton flower is 75 feet tall and 52 feet wide, and when blossomed this amazing man-made flora is an incredible 105 feet wide.

105-foot wide giant metallic flower blooms anew every day in the heart of Buenos Aires.

palermo-flor tour
  • PLAZA INTENDENTE ALVEAR (known as Plaza Francia)

This pleasant green space is the perfect place to stop for a rest. It’s named after its central monument From France to Argentina, which was donated by the city’s French community to mark the centennial of Argentina’s May Revolution in 1910.

  • PLAZA INTENDENTE FOTO DEL DE

This pleasant green space is the perfect place to stop for a rest. It’s named after its central monument From France to Argentina, which was donated by the city’s French community to mark the centennial of Argentina’s May Revolution in 1910.

Monument offered as a gift by the French community in 1910, on the occasion of the Centenary celebrations. It is a work by the French sculptor Émile Edmond Peynot (1850 – 1932). The sculpture’s three central marble figures represent Science, Industry, Agriculture and the Arts

 

More than just a weekend street fair, the Feria of Recoleta is the heart of the district.  The most popular of the Buenos Aires Saturday markets you will find every type of person and thing for sale at the recoleta weekend fair.

 

Open on the weekends and holidays and located at the corner of Pueyrredon Avenue and Libertador Avenue and expanding across Plaza Francia it is the best place to get souvenirs of the city and of Argentina.  A must visit location while you are in Recoleta, make sure you schedule your visit for when the market is open.  Street food, live music and performers such as acrobats can also be found here.  It is family friendly, but you’ll also be savoring the Buenos Aires bohemian spirit which is rich in Recoleta.

 

Opening on Saturday and Sunday, as well as holidays, from 11am or just before noon until 6pm or dusk.

 

Crossing Avenida de Libertador – one of the city’s main avenues – you can kick back in the well-kept gardens of Parque Thays or Plaza Justo Jose de Urquiza, the latter of which houses a rotating sculpture display and stretches to the border of Palermo.

 

If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating neighborhood, Ideas offers the best walking tours of Buenos Aires since 2004. Contact us and we will plan an unforgettable walking tour in Recoleta.

Contact Us if you have any questions or if you want to start planning your trip for 2022.

BOCHA: A New open-air gastronomic market in the glamorous Campo Argentino de Polo de Palermo

BOCHA: A New open-air gastronomic market in the glamorous Campo Argentino de Polo de Palermo

Buenos Aires is taking the food hall concept to a whole new level. Bocha takes the greatest icons of Argentine food, our favorite chefs, to create a unique space for talents and flavors to meet. A space that contains the gastronomic heart of our country, in the center of the city with projection towards the world.

A unique landscape within our city, in which the open countryside merges with the architecture and embraces each gastronomic proposal at the hands of the main chefs of the current local scene. A privileged location in the heart of Palermo, with easy access for vehicles, bicycles and public transport.

What is BOCHA?

In a large open-air space next to the stands of the Campo Argentino de Polo, Bocha was installed, an open-air gastronomic market curated by renowned chef Narda Lepes: “The idea is to create a meeting place for the whole family, to that they eat rich, fresh, that they can try and learn from the kitchen of the best chefs but all year round, not just at a fair”, She explained.

It is located in the central part of the Campo Argentino de Polo, where the two fields meet, and is made up of 15 restaurants: Apu Nena by Cristina Sunae; Ribs to the River; Plant – Vegetable Kitchen; Shaffe; Bardo, the excellent mobile bar owned by Inés de los Santos; Togni’s pizzeria; Dogg; Vika Cocina, special mention because she is a young woman who cooks Armenian in a delicious way and is the favorite of the chefs; and Haiku by Yafuso, to prove a real Japanese proposal. For her part, Narda is in the epicurean restaurant of HSBC, as well as Capital Vinos – Wine Bar and Parrilla Pepe. In addition to Bocha, Imperial Beer house, Nómade and Cruza, which are established names, will continue on the premises throughout the year.

Hand-picked dining: Every dish has been personally taste-tested and approved by local experts.

What can I eat at Bocha?

Most of Bocha’s bars and restaurants are already established elsewhere in the city. This is the case of Apu Nena, the Asian tapas place run by chef Cristina Sunae, who arrives with her dumplings, her steamed bread, her vegan empanadas and her chicken skewers.

There is also Dogg (hamburgers and hot dogs) and Togni’s, the pizza “slice shop” that had already been operating with great success in Belgrano. In addition, Ribs al Río, which has a loyal public that follows them in their place overlooking the river in Costanera. It is a counter with many options: its artisanal smoked ribs and its “addictive” fries are two of the unbeatable of the house.

There are newcomers like Planta, a one hundred percent vegetable and homemade proposal: smoked carrot hotdogs, Caesar salad with crispy tofu and vegan pastries, among other options.

The first experience in front of the public of Vika Cocina, the Armenian dishes place of the young cook Victoria Karamanukian, “sponsored” by senior chefs who admire her work, also generates great expectations. The offer of stalls is completed with Pepe (grill on the go), Shafe (natural store), Haiku de Yafuso (Japanese cuisine) and drinks shops.

Within the promenade there are also bars and conventional restaurants (with tables and chairs in their own rooms). Bardo, the former itinerant bar of Inés de los Santos lands in Bocha with a menu of cocktails, drinks, sandwiches, salads, cheeses, cold cuts, etc. “We are going to have drinks that pair well at an organoleptic and conceptual level with what our neighbors offer,” says the bartender.

Bocha is great for Families with children

During the weekends there is a lot of entertainment for children: face painting by local artists, balloons, live music, puppet show, storytelling, horseback riding on polo ponies, bouncy houses and ping pong tables.

Where is it located?

During the weekends there is a lot of entertainment for children: face painting by local

Argentine Polo Field. Av. del Libertador 4096, Palermo.

Admission is free and free.

Open: Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Holidays from 12:00 to 20:00 and eves from 18:00 to 00:00.

A privileged location in the heart of Palermo, with easy access for vehicles, bicycles and public transport.

In the gastronomic stalls you can pay with cash or any credit card.

Before going to this food market, check opening hours at @bochapolo in Instagram because opening hours may vary. To find out about the events, on the IG @palermopolo.

Tip:
This visit can be combined with other attractions in the area such as Palermo Lakes, Rose garden or special events at Palermo Racetrack.

Contact Us if you have any questions or if you want to start planning your trip for 2022.

La Comarca Andina. North Patagonia, Argentina

La Comarca Andina. North Patagonia, Argentina

Located just 2 hours south of the Bariloche airport, La Comarca refers to a larger place rather than a city in itself: it is a beautiful and still pristine valley, on the southern edge of the Lakes Region in the northern Patagonia. Sheltered by the Andes itself from the cold and humid winds of the Pacific Ocean to the west, and from the very cold and dry winds of the rough Patagonian steppe to the east. That’s why it has a unique microclimate of mild winters and warm, windless summers that have made it famous for its berries and vegetables: the entire area is dotted with small organic farms.

There is also a very interesting story before the arrival of European settlers in the early 1900s: the natives did not settle in this area, nor was it within their travel routes, they only came to this area when they needed healing or to do spiritual work. or offerings The mountain that shelters the valley to the east is the majestic Piltriquitron, which in the native language means: “between the clouds”, we can understand it in two ways. Its summits are usually covered by clouds, but this was also the place where the native peoples climbed with their white offering flags. Therefore, the name can also be understood as “Peaks between the white flags”.

Once you arrived you instantly feel there is a different “speed” to the way the clock ticks. This relaxing, soothing, healing feeling is what has been congregated in this place by therapists and healing oriented activities from all walks of life: Yoga, Taichi, Andean movements & plant medicine, chamanism, ayurveda, massage, accupuncture and Chinese medicine. All this combined with healthy and exquisite food that has practically goes from the veggie garden to the table in a few paces.

I have guided groups of people in the Patagonian Andes and other mountain ranges of the world for over 25 years, and always witnessed the life changing moments of connection with nature that made my work so rewarding. It was this connection that made me go beyond and explore how us humans can reconnect with ourselves, using ancient and modern techniques merged together to make it available to people from all walks of life.

I have been blessed with being able to travel all over the world and visit some amazing places that help in this reconnection with our essence, La Comarca Andina is one of them. I want to invite you to come and stay with us to feel renewed in mind, body and spirit.

Gabriel “Colo” Ziffer

Hola! My name is Gabriel Ziffer. I am a Taichi and Qi Gong instructor, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine certified practitioner; I have also been blessed with the opportunity of guiding trips in the Patagonian Andes and many mountain ranges around the world.

I currently live in a small valley in North Patagonia: La Comarca , known worldwide for its alternative and healthy lifestyle, just 2 hours south of Bariloche International Airport. The landscape is set by a stunning surroundings of mountains, lakes and rivers and many organic farms and small boutique chalets, farms and homesteads.

I want to invite you to this secret spot of the Andes to have a moment to just take a break, a stop from the rushed lifestyle that even holidays can have, and find your center or balance and place a warm smile right there.

Contact Colo and let him help you plan a transformative experience in Patagonia

MERCAT VILLA CRESPO

MERCAT VILLA CRESPO

Mercat Villa Crespo brings the best of the city together in the district of Villa Crespo: its best restaurants, drinks and cultural experiences for friends and families. Shop from dozens of local, sustainable farmers, drop off compost, and more.

Inspired by La Boquería in Barcelona and with the spirit of “Less supermarket, more Market”, Mercat Villa Crespo proposes a creative and innovative experience in the midst of the largest gastronomic and tourist hub in the country.

 

It is a market with restaurants and local gastronomic entrepreneurs. This indoor food court makes Villa Crespo the new trendy neighborhood for eating out in Buenos Aires. Where will the second headquarters be?

 

With an industrial aesthetic, the building located at Thames 747 has 2,700 square meters and is divided into 3 floors: a space for specially selected national producers (some are local for take away and others for on-site consumption), an auditorium and a foyer .

 

Its objective is “to be a meeting place to enjoy a varied gastronomic offer and discover products at affordable prices”.

 

Only at Mercat can you enjoy the exquisite specialty coffee of Grano Santo, from the hand of Germán López, third generation of coffee growers; buy fruits and vegetables without pesticides and by the kilo -or bag- in Organic Land; and access to pastoral meat from Pastizales Nativos, which promotes responsible livestock.

 

For its part, Let it V will offer 100% plant-based and gluten-free fusion food; and Haulani will add its dispatch of ice creams based on milk and coconut oil. There will also be dumplings, baos, buns, ramen and other dishes influenced by Asian cuisine by Koi; and Veggie will be present with its Middle Eastern vegetarian fast food concept.

 

The Italian tradition will unfold in Brocca Pasta, with a wide range of dry and stuffed pasta proposals that can be taken away or eaten on the spot, plus the spin-off of Brocca Pasticcería, with the great pastry milestones of that European country.

The expert cheese connoisseur Remo Valenti returns to serve the public, after several years, at Remo. And he will do it under two well-defined concepts: To the office, where only the cheeses, hams and salami that he considers to be at their right point will be for sale; and To the bar, where – just as his father dreamed – customers and friends can have a little taste on the go without having to wait until they get home.

 

The street food of exotic Transylvania comes from the hand of Erdely’s with its kürto, a crunchy sweet on the outside and fluffy on the inside, which is made at the moment and delivered steaming in its different versions.

 

In Dulce de leche & Co you can find the best milk candies and alfajores from small producers from all regions of the country; and the traditional Tucuman empanadas can be tasted at La Casa de Tafí.

 

The street food of exotic Transylvania comes from the hand of Erdely’s with its kürto, a crunchy sweet on the outside and fluffy on the inside, which is made at the moment and delivered steaming in its different versions.

 

In Dulce de leche & Co you can find the best milk candies and alfajores from small producers from all regions of the country; and the traditional Tucuman empanadas can be tasted at La Casa de Tafí.

 

As for drinks, there will be draft beer at La Choppería and Vico Wine Bar will be present with a boutique selection of the best wines from its portfolio -both by the glass and in the bottle-, plus cocktails, vermouth and other drinks dispensed from dispensers and taps.

 

Mercat can be visited on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to midnight. It will be closed on Mondays.

 

This unique food market arrives in the neighborhood of Villa Crespo to reverse the traditional concept of the market and open the debate on current food. With a very industrial aesthetic, the Mercat building -located at Thames 747, CABA- has 2700m2, is divided into three floors, has a space for specially selected local producers, and an auditorium and a foyer that will set trends due to the range of interesting content that they will present.

Contact Us if you have any questions or if you want to start planning your trip for 2022.

Singular Culinary Experiences in the Sacred Valley

Singular Culinary Experiences in the Sacred Valley

BEST PLACES TO EAT IN SACRED VALLEY IN PERU

Most tourists in Peru go straight from Cuzco to Machu Picchu without stopping. They miss what’s in between: the Sacred Valley where chefs take food and adventure to new heights. In the Sacred Valley chefs pick the region’s purple corn, local herbs (at an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level) and 4,000 varieties of potato by the Andes mountains. Here, the earthy flavors are wholly different from ceviche, the coastal food for which Peru is globally known.

As you tour the sacred valley and explore Inca sites and local markets, take note of these places to eat in the Sacred Valley and elevate your Andean experience. It will be the highlight of your trip. Yummy!!!

Restaurants in Ollantaytambo

peru-culinary-principal

Chuncho

Located in the main square, it has a menu based on the flavors, ingredients and traditions of Ollantaytambo in the Urubamba valley and the Cusco region.
It mainly uses organic ingredients from its farm attached to the El Albergue hotel, while its bar makes the best cocktails in the region, using its own cañazo (a regional liquor made from sugar cane), whiskey and herbal liqueurs. The restaurant has phone charging stations built into the tables and a redesigned bar made from an old truck.

Phone: +51 979 797 638
Address: Chaupi Calle, Ollantaytambo 08676, Perú

El Albergue Restaurant & Café Mayu

Josefina Rimachi's hands are worth gold. The cook who gave temple to the menu of El Albergue Restaurant and who now runs the Chuncho stove, the successful traditional food proposal that Joaquín Randall inaugurated in 2018 in his native Ollantaytambo.
You will find a fusion menu with international dishes (homemade pastas, Ollanta’s best burger and a great brunch) with touches of the Andes (alpaca steak, tacu tacu). It’s a good place to set up a pachamanca lunch at their farm and you can also pick up coffee that they roast on-site, have a local beer while waiting for a train, or pick up a lunch box for Machu Picchu.

Phone: +51 84 204014
Address: Estación de Tren, Av. Ferrocarril 1, Ollantaytambo 08675, Perú

Pachar Taproom - Cervecería del Valle Sagrado

Just outside of Ollantaytambo, this tap room from the region’s best brewery has a menu of draft beers that are produced in the back (ask about a tour), like a red ale made with the seeds of the airampo cactus fruit and an American style pale ale, among others. They have a pub menu with dishes like yogurt fried chicken livers, a BBQ platter, and a few burgers.

Phone: 997-452-050
Address: Carretera Urubamba-Ollantaytambo

Places to eat in Urubamba

peru-culinary-Giancarlo-Aponte02

El Huacatay

Pío Vásquez's farm-to-table restaurant in an adobe building in Urubamba, which little by little has become one of the most creative cuisines in the region. It is not only a place where each dish is an experience for the senses, but also a refuge where the atmosphere and aesthetics are part of the charm.

Phone: +51 84 201790
Address: Jiron Arica 620, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado de los Incas.

Mercado Municipal

The products are more localized at Urubamba’s primary produce market than in Cusco’s Mercado San Pedro. Much of the produce is grown or foraged for in the Sacred Valley and tends to be highly seasonal, so ­­– aside of the standard tubers, corn, and chiles – you might see things here you rarely see elsewhere, like a wild curcubit called acocha or the red berry called capulí.

Address: Jiron Comercio Jiron Sucre, Urubamba Peru
Phone: +51 984 804

Mercado Municipal

The products are more localized at Urubamba’s primary produce market than in Cusco’s Mercado San Pedro. Much of the produce is grown or foraged for in the Sacred Valley and tends to be highly seasonal, so ­­– aside of the standard tubers, corn, and chiles – you might see things here you rarely see elsewhere, like a wild curcubit called acocha or the red berry called capulí.

Address: Jiron Comercio Jiron Sucre, Urubamba Peru
Phone: +51 984 804

Where to eat in Moray

MIL restaurant (Chef Virgilio Martinez)

The experience focuses on eating at 11,700 ft. above sea level. But Mil, Virgilio Martínez's space overlooking the archaeological complex of the Moray terraces, is much more: it is an interpretation center based on complicity with two Andean communities, whose knowledge of the area and the products and their field work become inspiration and 'mise en place' to develop a tasting menu based on high altitude ecosystems.

Each plate and drink pairing aims to tell the stories of the roots, tubers, legumes, fruits and aromatic herbs and the cultures that help bring them to life. Their 8-course tasting menu includes all ingredients Virgilio has discovered at an elevation of 11,706 feet above sea level.

You can learn about Chef Virgilio Martínez and watch on Netflix's Chef Table or National Geographic’s Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, and you’ll start to get the jest of his unbridled passion for native Peruvian ingredients.

Good to know: As for September 2021, the restaurant is not open to the public on a regular basis, as they used to. They will only be attending to special requests.

Phone: 51 926 948 088
Reservations: reservas@milcentro.pe

Restaurant in Pisac

Hornos Coloniales

In one corner of the main square in Pisac and elsewhere in the city there are several colonial-style clay ovens, such as the Horno Colonial San Francisco, which dates back to 1830. Most bake empanadas and breads, although several also cook guinea pig ( guinea pig) and potatoes in the ovens.

Pumachayoc Horno Colonial

This is the only "colonial oven" or traditional oven in Pisac that mixes its own artisan flours that come from the surrounding Andean communities.

Run by Ernestina, her son Federico, and daughter-in-law Scarlet, this is a family business with a love for local culture and traditions. The focus is on organic produce made with local ingredients and the house specialty is empanada, a type of puff pastry that is filled with a selection of sweet and savory fillings cooked in a traditional clay oven.

Good to know: You can also take an empanadas class which is a fun activity for both adults and families traveling with children.
Address: Av. Federico Zamalloa S/N, Pisac
Phone: (+51) 84 203 120

Restaurants in Aguas Calientes

Chullpi

The sister restaurant of the Cusco restaurant of the same name by José Luján Vargas. The menu is quite similar, the Chullpi Machu Picchu is a modern and minimalist restaurant that is known for the delicious food it serves. Situated in an off-the-beaten-path location and bequeathing visitors with views of the train tracks, this restaurant is a one-of-a-kind place to enjoy a satisfying and enjoyable meal. Excellent service and very reasonable prices.

Address: Avenida Imperio de los Incas 140.
Phone: +51 84 211350

Café Inkaterra

The relaxed atmosphere of this upscale hotel restaurant makes it one of the best establishments in the city. Both an experience and a destination, Café Inkaterra offers an intimate setting overlooking the Vilcanota River. It is the ideal place for travelers to relax, away from the crowds, after visiting the ancient Citadel of Machu Picchu and waiting for their train after check out. The prices are almost the same as in other restaurants in the city, but the quality of the Andean novo menu is quite good. Dishes jump between perfectly prepared Peruvian classics like lomo saltado (sautéed beef and potatoes) and casual international dishes like lasagna or burgers. The tea comes from the property's plantation.

Phone: 084/211-122
Address: Km 10, Línea Férrea Cusco-Quillabamba

Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest

Visiting the Amazon basin often appears on a person’s bucket list for the simple mystery of the unknown and a chance to witness life in all its majesty.

Spanning nine South American countries and 2.5 million square miles (roughly the size of the 48 contiguous United States), the Amazon represents over half of the world’s remaining rainforest. Its moist, tropical vegetation stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Andes Mountains in the west, a reflection of the high rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures that prevail in the region year-round. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River. Flowing a length of 4,000 miles, it contains the largest number of freshwater fish species in the world.

Forest Trip

Unrivalled by any other location on the planet for its beauty and contrast to our urban lifestyles, the Amazon is an eye-opener to the world at its most pure.

It has been described as a paradise on Earth, a place depicting the sheer breath of life in all its majesty. The amazon is so much more than a river meandering through the rainforest of South America. The Amazon River starts its journey in Peru, carving its way through several countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, before exiting land into the Atlantic Ocean.

 

It’s this river, alongside its humid climate, that gives way for one of the world’s most breathtaking rainforests. But while it may take your breath away visually, in reality it is a breath giver, delivering 20 per cent of the world’ oxygen. The Amazon rainforest spans an impressive 1.4 billion acres, giving host to one in ten species on earth. As the world’s most biodiverse haven, the Amazon basin has continued to evolve an grow for 60 million years. It’s currently understood that 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,00 fish species, 430 mammal species and more than 2.5 million insect species call the Amazon basin home.

Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest is found in Brazil.

One of the best ways to view the rainforest’s many wonders and rich greenery is to take a boat trip down the Amazon river itself. Stretching 6,992 kilometers, you’ll pass through several countries in the southern hemisphere on your journey. It’s common for squirrel monkeys and the three-toed sloth to make an appearance among trees near the water’s edge. As macaw fly overhead, if you’re lucky enough you might catch a glimpse of one of the Amazon’s most iconic and unique residents, the Amazon River dolphin. A freshwater version of its ocean cousin, the river dolphin is most recognizable for its pink appearance. Through magnificent in its rendition of paradise, the Amazon rainforest has faced devastating deforestation rates in recent times, with 18 percent of the part that lies in Brazil lost in the past 40 years.

Amazon Rainforest: Essential Information

One of the most important considerations to make when travelling to the Amazon are vaccinations. Yellow fever vaccinations are a must, and is required that you carry proof that you have been vaccinated. The rainforests are vast and dense, therefore do not attempt to explore without a tour guide.

When to visit

The rainiest months in the Amazon are February to April, and the driest and hottest months are from September to November. Therefore visiting during May and June is the best time of the year to explore all the Amazon has to offer.

Getting There

The vast rainforest spans nine different South American countries including Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia – although it’s most prominent in Brazil.

 

Planning to visit the Peruvian Amazon? Flights can be arranged into Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado from Cusco. Hoping to experience the Brazilian Amazon? Flying into Manaus in the north is your best option. If it’s the Ecuadorian Amazon you’re after, then you can take a bus from Quito into Tena City (five hours) where you can hop in a pickup truck. Or, if you’re eager to explore the Bolivian Amazon, fly from La Paz to Rurrenabaque (around 45 minutes) and then ride a motor-boat upriver to Madidi.

Where to stay

Staying in the Amazon largely depends on which country you visit. The Amazon has many comfortable lodges with spacious guest bungalows. You can also stay in cities such as Manaus in Brazil and take full day tours to explore the forest and return to the city at the end of the day. Or you can stay at a luxury resort in Puerto Maldonado (Peru) or high-end river cruises in Iquitos for an unparalleled adventure into the wild without losing comfort.

Best Amazon Rainforest Tours

  • Experience canoe trips to appreciate the sounds of the forest and the tropical wildlife and spot small alligators, tapirs and sloths.
  • Visit indigenous communities and discover their habits and customs.
  • Take a trekking in the jungle and learn about the biodiversity of rainforest, savannah and creeks;
  • Dine on line-caught river fish, fresh tropical fruits and delicious Amazonian specialties
  • Sunbathe on sandy river beaches and cool off in clear waters and natural river pools;
  • Take guided forest hikes to see an amazing array of tropical birds and wildlife;
  • Sleep in hammocks under the forest canopy and awake with the sunrise and the morning chorus;
  • Spend time fishing, harvesting Brazil nuts and making handicrafts with the locals.

Fully tailor-made tours

If you are planning a trip to the Amazon rainforest, contact our local travel designers and they will personalize your trip. They are always up to date with the latest news and guidelines. They will provide you with clear, unbiased information and advice to create a trip  of a lifetime.  Contact us and share your questions and ideas with us.