The main expressways of the Metropolitan Area (Panamericana, Acceso Oeste, Ricchieri-Autopista a Cañuelas and the highway to La Plata) stretch like tentacles that invite you to organize a non-stop trip to the ruralarea of the province of Buenos Aires.
In addition to the restorative landscape offered by the huge plots of the countryside, there await several of the most recognized classic getaway destinations, where -depending on the case- walks are made through historical sites, lagoons, rivers and nature reserves.
Here are suggested eight of those classic places, which lately renewed their tourist proposal and added new options for recreation and rest, as to schedule and choose.
1. Tiger
Although, for the most part, the embarked tours offered by tourism agencies and collective boat companies are destined for recreations and restaurants located on the banks of the Capitán, Sarmiento and San Antonio rivers, the offer of excursions to the nature reserves of the corners of the First Section of the Delta grew.
In its continental sector, Tigre has bars overlooking the river on Paseo Victorica, the luxurious Museum of Art, the skills in height of EUCA Tigre in Benavídez, the shopping promenades Boulevard Sáenz Peña and Puerto de Frutos, the recreational options of Parque de la Costa and the growing tourist development -with bars, restaurants, fishing and walks- of the places Villa La Ñata and Dique Luján.
Sarmiento House Museum, in the Tigre Delta.
How much does it cost. Family Passport in Parque de la Costa, $ 6,500 plus $ 500 municipal tax; buy online, $5,280 (www.parquedelacosta.com.ar).
Where to find out. 4512-4080 / turismo@tigre.gov.ar / www.vivitigre.gob.ar
2. San Antonio de Areco
The gaucho life and its customs are reflected in every corner of the urban area and the rural environment of the "Capital of tradition".
That distinctive feature of San Antonio de Areco nuances the walks through the Creole Park, the Ricardo Güiraldes Gaucho Museum, the Usina Vieja Cultural Center and the Old Bridge.
The free guided tours organized by the Directorate of Tourism are very entertaining and didactic. They tour the historic center and the circuit of the arequero artisans (sogueros, silversmiths and saddlers, plastic artists and a chocolatier).
Rural tourism takes place in estancias, country restaurants and the villages Villa Lía, Duggan and Vagues, where there is no shortage of barbecues, guitarreadas with native dances, horseback riding and Creole skills. Lovers of sport fishing can approach the Fishermen's Club and try their luck on the Areco River.
Creole skills in San Antonio de Areco. Photo by Luis Robayo / AFP
How much does it cost. Field day at estancia La Florita, $ 10,000; from 3 to 12 years, $ 5,000. Includes reception of homemade empanadas, juice and wine, horseback riding, roast with salads, drink and dessert, folkloric guitarreada, demonstration of Creole skills and snack (02326- 15400109).
Where to find out. (02326) 453-165 / turismo@areco.gob.ar / www.sanantoniodeareco.tur.ar
3. Lujan
With the Gothic-style Basilica as the main attraction, religious tourism draws crowds.
The visit to the temple is usually combined with historical sites, such as Belgrano Square and the rooms of the Enrique Udaondo Provincial Museum Complex: the Cabildo, the Viceroy's House and the Transport Museum. On the one hand, the banks of the Luján River show its polluted waters; on the other, the recreational proposal of an amusement park.
The rural activities take place in the historic towns of the Luján district -such as Open Door and Cortínez-, although in Carlos Keen the rural tourism offer was enhanced several years ago with the emergence of a gastronomic pole, through a dozen restaurants installed around the old train station.
In Jáuregui a visit to the Cotton Museum is a must, to learn about the pioneering deed of the Belgian immigrant Julio Steverlinck, creator of a cotton fabric factory in 1928 and promoter of the development of Villa Flandria.
The Belgrano de Luján square, in front of the Basilica and the museums.
How much does it cost. Token for each game at Argenpark amusement park, $300; promotion for six tokens, $1,500; Car race track, $350 (www.argenpark.es.tl).
Where to find out. (02323) 427-082 / (02323) 15312532 / turismo@lujan.gov.ar / www.lujan.gob.ar
4. Chascomús
In recent years, the paving of the 35-kilometer ring road was completed, which facilitates access to the maximum attraction of Chascomús. Around the famous lagoon there are cabins, fishing clubs, campsites, recreation, the centennial stays La Alameda and La Margarita and the villas and gardens of the Parque Girado neighborhood.
More silverside fishing and rest possibilities offer the chained lagoons Adela, Chis Chis, del Burro, Vitel and La Tablilla.
The historical circuit includes the Casa de Casco (from 1811), the Plaza Independencia, the Cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Merced (from 1832), the headquarters of the Banco Nación, the Municipal Palace, the Basque Pelota Club, the Brazzola theater, the Chapel of the Blacks and the Pampeano Museum.
Another option to immerse yourself in the Chascomunense identity is to retrace the Raúl Alfonsín circuit, which has as its starting point the legendary Social Club, inaugurated in 1929.
A classic postcard of the sunset in the lagoon of Chascomús.
How much does it cost. Train from Constitución to Chascomús with change at Alejandro Korn, $ 189 one way; with SUBE, $ 141.51.
Where to find out. (02241) 15603414 / (02241) 15471442 / turismo@chascomus.gob.ar / www.chascomus.gob.ar / Facebook: Chascomús Turismo.
5. Wolves
The tradition of rural tourism in Lobos has its best expression in estancias that, together with the barbecue, horseback riding and Creole skills, also offers the practice of polo, an increasingly widespread passion in these payments.
But the most attractive attraction is still the lagoon, surrounded by fishing clubs and nautical activities, recreation and camping.
On the north coast, the Villa Loguercio site was incorporated into the Buenos Aires Tourist Villages circuit. From the Aeroclub Fortín Lobos take off baptism flights in paragliding and glider.
And in the urban area of Lobos is open to the public the house-museum and library Juan Domingo Perón. There you could start a very relaxed walk, with stops at the Nuestra Señora del Carmen church, the Municipal Palace, the Lobense Social Club, the Iriart Park, the Italian Theater-Cinema and the train station.
Horseback riding on the shores of the lagoon of Lobos.
How much does it cost. El Gringo cabin for 4 people with cable TV, wi-fi, grill, crockery and microwave oven, $ 16,000; for 6 people, $ 24.000 (02227- 15536804 / 02227- 487-383).
Where to find out. (02227) 422-275 / (02227) 15500405 / turismo@lobos.gov.ar / www.lobos.tur.ar
6. San Pedro
Water sports, boat rides along the Paraná and spectacular panoramic views of the river -especially during sunrise and sunset- from the ravines are some of the many alternatives for rest and recreation that unfold in this riverside city.
Further away from the coastal area, the prosperous lands surrounding San Pedro are an invitation to visit nurseries and fruit mountains, as suggested by the very complete guided tour of La Campiña de Mónica y César, steps from route 9.
The classic option of rural and historical tourism in the place Vuelta de Obligado is extended to the towns of Santa Lucía, Gobernador Castro and Río Tala.
In the city, the Circuit of 14 Museums was shaken by a fact revealed in recent months: a fossil found in the area of a giant armadillo cub, whose age is estimated at about 500,700 to <>,<> years, exhibited in the very complete and didactic Paleontological Museum.
Paleontological Museum of San Pedro.
How much does it cost. Entrance to the Paleontological Museum, $500; complete circuit of Museum and site of Campo Spósito (2 hours), $ 2,000 (03329- 15537187 / 03329- 423-860 / www.gcfsanpedro.wordpress.com).
Where to find out. (03329) 422-050 / directoraturismo@sanpedro.gob.ar / www.visitesanpedro.com
7. Junin
Although the fame of this city is due, above all, to the abundant silverside fishing in the lagoons of Gómez, El Carpincho and Mar Chiquita -these days, with little water flow-, other places of interest are added in the center of Junín.
The Evita Circuit allows you to know the School No. 1 -where María Eva Duarte studied her primary studies-, the Italian Theater, the train station and the Ordiales Notary, headquarters of the Civil Registry that established the link between Evita and Juan Perón.
Other places to take into account are the scales of the Railway and Sculpture circuits, the National Bank, the Municipal Palace, the Ranchería Theater, the 9 de Julio and 25 de Mayo squares, the Social Club, the San Ignacio de Loyola church and the imposing building of the National Bank.
Fishing from the coast in the Laguna de Gómez, in Junín.
How much does it cost. Eight-hour embarked fishing excursion with guide Claudio Visentín in El Carpincho lagoon, Mar Chiquita or Gómez (includes bait), $ 30,000 the group of four people (02226- 15689843).
Where to find out. (0236) 154631622 / turismo@junin.gob.ar / www.junin.tur.ar
8. Mercedes
The Pulpería de Cacho Di Catarina -an unmissable historical site, preserved on the banks of the Luján River since 1830- can be the first stop of a tour that combines historical landmarks with the Buenos Aires countryside.
Mercedes suggests sports activities, paragliding baptism flights at the Aeroclub and visits to the Municipal Astronomical Observatory and the Ameghino and Regional Historical Natural Science museums.
A tentative historical tour may include the Cathedral Basilica Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes -work of French neo-Gothic style, completed in 1900-, the San Patricio parish and the municipal headquarters, colonial style, which in the late nineteenth century functioned as a Cabildo.
10 km from Mercedes, Tomás Jofré mutated from a quiet rural village into a busy pole of country restaurants, which give off the aroma of roast from early and serve exquisite country snacks.
The façade of the old grocery store of Cacho Dicatarina, in Mercedes.
How much does it cost. A kilo of field salami (about three or four units) in the Don Quico warehouse, $ 6,300 (02324- 15644174).
Where to find out. 0810-3330997 / turismomercedes@gmail.com / www.mercedes.gob.ar
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