Extra Time in Buenos Aires

[Tbitty]

I will be making a trip to Argentina in Mid August for a vacation/hunt. We will do 6 days/7 nights for blackbuck and wingshooting, plus some additional options both hunting and non-hunting.

I am taking the wife along, who does not hunt, and trying to focus a little more on the vacation than hunting for her. As such, I'm aiming to spend at least a couple days before/after the hunt and away from the hunting lodge.

Does anyone have recommendations for things to do, and/or places to stay (or avoid) in either Buenos Aires or Santa Rosa? I am doubtful to have a rental car, so if there is a good area to stay with walking distance to activities, or at least keep recommendations within reasonable taxi distances of those two cities.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[greyfox]

We went to Argentina last year, got there a couple of days early and stayed in an Air BnB in Palmero. I highly recommend it!!
The International Airport is way out west of the city, it was about an hour in the taxi (Traffic!!) The domestic airport is on the east coast right on the ocean. Palmero (where we stayed) is like downtown in any big city, totally safe there, lots of restaurants, shopping, and whatever you'd need. There are bars but they weren't too loud or late. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.

Plenty of tourist stuff there too.

 

[mdwest]

Estilo Campo - DO NOT miss this… it was recommended to me by @SFRanger7GP … I thought I knew BA steakhouses… I learned that I knew nothing… Estilo Campo was bar none the finest steak I’ve ever eaten in my life.. the wait staff are wonderful as well.. I’ve been blessed and privileged to eat at several of the best steak houses on the planet… Peter Lugers in NY, the original Mortons in Chicago, etc.. and several of the highly acclaimed steak houses in BA… Estilo Campo beats them all… and… it’s affordable… I fed 4 people including appetizers, wine, after dinner coffee, etc.. for less than my wife and I could go eat a basic meal at Outback..

If that’s not enough steak for you.. La Brigada … cool ambiance… it’s more like a sports bar than a fancy restaurant.. their schtick is when they bring your steak to the table they prove to you how tender it is by cutting it for you… with a table spoon…

Peron Peron is a fun place to have dinner one night.. lots of cool, eclectic memorabilia on the walls… every hour they stop and play the Argentine national anthem and everyone sings along… @SFRanger7GP ‘s red MAGA hat is stapled above the bar still from his last visit lol…

If you’re in BA on Sunday, the San Telmo market is cool to visit.. on Sundays in addition to the regular market there are hundreds of street vendors that show up plus artists, tango dancers, etc.. it’s a neat experience..

Catch a Tango Show one evening… read lots of reviews and pick one with a good reputation.. there are dozens of options… some have good food.. some it’s sorta average to only OK… all that I’ve seen have incredibly talented dancers…

 

[Throwback]

We just hunted Argentina at Christmas time in the Entre Rios province and then spent 4 days hanging out in BA. We stayed at Hotel Alvear Palace which is certainly a higher end, classic option which is consistently popular with foreign tourists. You can walk to some places from there and take cabs easily. There are definitely cheaper places to stay as well that are fine.

As for things to do, based on what we did I can recommend a city tour, a food tour and a Tango show (they are sit down dinners with a show).

Your hunting outfitter should be able to link you up with a tour guide company, or your hotel possibly can too.

One cool place specifically is the Bar El Federal in the San Telmo neighborhood. Its been there since 1858. Plenty of character, great beer, wine and food.

There are a ton of great places to eat all over the city, italian and steak options galore.

Cheers

 

[Throwback]

Also, meant to say, I would recommend staying in Recoleta or Palermo neighborhoods. A hotel or vrbo. There are some other areas you could stay in but these two probably have more good places to stay on average than others so harder to go wrong. The stuff you will likely want to do will not all be in one are anyway, just take cabs etc.. You might want to try the hotel option if you have never been there before as you can ask the hotel staff all kinds of questions, have options to eat in the hotel, etc... Good luck

 

[MontanaPat]

I have been to Argentina 4 times, once to hunt and the other times to fish. I have used the same local person to make all our ground transfer, hotel and dinner arrangements. He was recommended on my first trip and since then my hunting outfitter and other fishing outfitters all recommended the same person. His business caters to US sportsmen coming to BA and beyond.

I’m happy to give you his WhatsApp and contact info if you want it, just PM me. He will handle everything soup to nuts, transfers between airports and hotels, dinner reservations, tango shows, local tour guides etc. well worth the money spent for his help. At the airports he knows everyone, gets you right to the front of the line, talks the agents into waiving any extra baggage fees etc

 

[Tbitty]

Thanks to everyone who's added info so far.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I assume BA is as safe as any other large city? You can find trouble if you look for it but generally where us old parts will go will be bueno?

 

[yamoon]

Was in BA January 10 this year, don’t miss seeing the cemetery.
Mike