The favourite weekend escape of locals, expats and tourists alike is Tigre, the delta town just 45 minutes outside of Buenos Aires.

The town itself is charming, with its Belle Époque architecture, river-front restaurants and green river banks, perfect for catching a lazy siesta. But the real charm of Tigre lies in its delta canals. No trip to Tigre is complete without taking a boat tour to explore the riverways, dotted with wooden jettys, overhanging trees and an air of tranquility.

Even if you're only in Buenos Aires for a few days, it's worth heading out of the city to explore Tigre.

A view of the canal in Tigre | Tigre The delta town of Tigre is the perfect weekend getaway from Buenos Aires / Source

What to do in Tigre

Whether you go for the day or a full weekend, there are a number of things to do in Tigre. That is, if you want to do more than just laze next to the water with a book or a glass of wine!

Tigre Art Museum

This museum is housed in a gorgeous palatial building and has a collection of Argentine art from the 19th and 20th century.

El Museo del Mate

Learn about the history of mate, the classic Argentine drink, at this museum, culminating in a tasting at the mate-bar.

Puerto de Frutas

The Fruit Port, as it translates directly, is actually a large open market, with everything under the sun, from food to furniture, jewellery, arts and crafts and more.

Parque de la Costa

Tigre's amusement park is a popular spot for families, and fills up with people looking for some thrills on weekends. There is also a new water park in Tigre called Aquafan. Information for both parks can be found on Parque de la Costa's website.

Take a stroll

In the centre of Tigre there are many restaurants and cafés, green embankments and places to sit and enjoy the view. Take a stroll through town enjoying the lively weekend atmosphere, and have a picnic next to the river.

Explore the canals

To really get make the most of your weekend getaway to Tigre, you need to explore the Delta's waterways. From Estación Fluvial, Tigre's main port, you can take a boat cruise or a water taxi, and start exploring the canals and islands.

Adventure Activities

A good option if you're spending the weekend is the Adventure Delta Island Day Trip. This tour will take you from Estación Fluvial on a boat ride through the canals of the Delta, before reaching Deltaventura Island. Here you can choose between activities like rowing, horseback riding, hiking, biking or relaxing on the small beach and swimming. Enjoy an authentic Argentina asado for lunch as you soak in the peaceful natural surroundings.

The Tigre Art Museum | Weekend getaway to Tigre The Tigre Art Museum is one of the places you should visit on your weekend getaway to Tigre! / Source

Where to stay in Tigre

Tigre offers a large range of accommodation options, with everything from camping sites, cabanas, and hostels to B&Bs, hotels and spas. If you want to go for a long weekend, you will need to book in advance, as Tigre is an extremely popular getaway for Porteños looking to escape the city.

A good option is to book accommodation on one of the islands. Most of these places, ranging greatly in price, offer activities, water transfers and more. One such option is Playa Catalina, which has a pool, tennis courts, a club house, bar and more.

[otw_shortcode_button href="http://www.bsas4u.com/en/tours-outside/tigre-tours/adventure-delta-island-day-trip.html" size="medium" icon_type="general foundicon-cart" icon_position="left" shape="square" target="_blank"]Book this Adventure Delta Island Day Tour[/otw_shortcode_button]

How to get to Tigre

  • By train - from Retiro station, you can take the Linea Mitre straight to Tigre for just a few pesos. The journey takes about 45 minutes and takes you straight into the centre of Tigre. There is also the Tren de la Costa (Coastal Train) which runs from Maipu station on the Mitre line. This train is slightly more expensive but more comfortable and more scenic as it runs straight along the coast. It will leave you in Tigre, close to the Puerto de Frutas.
  • By bus - You can also take the 60 from various places in the city to Tigre. This should take you about 90 minutes.
An island in the Tigre delta | Weekend Getaway in Tigre Take a trip down the delta's canals to visit the tranquil islands / Source
Don't have time for a full weekend? Take a day trip to the Delta instead. Book a Tigre Full Day Tour, which includes a tour of the town of Tigre, lunch and a boat ride through the canals and a sunset cruise on the Rio de la Plata back to Buenos Aires.

By Nicole Eberhard