Jun 11, 2023
So lucky to be able to get a personalized tour from Patrice Vigier from Argentina Elite Transfers & Tours - Qué gran tour "caliente" de Buenos Aires con Patrice.
So lucky to be able to get a personalized tour from Patrice Vigier from Argentina Elite Transfers & Tours after our cruise to Antartica. Started with the symbolic heart of Buenos, Plaza de Mayo. Loved the insight to the origins of this plaza. The old photographs that he shared showed how the plaza looked a couple of hundred years ago. Interesting how they would tear down buildings that were in the way of the road construction/expansion. During Spanish times, this was a bustling marketplace. Many local residents used it was a meeting location.
Today, it is still a center for government and commercial business. Take time to soak in the atmosphere as you explore Casa Rosada (aka the Pink House), the Piramide de Mayo, and the National Bank. Stopped for a short visit to the beautiful Catedral Metropolitana. It is the final resting place for Jose de San Martin who is credited with liberating Argentina, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. His grave is guarded around the clock.
Stopped also to pay respects to those who are mothers of the missing children and the painted stones to remember those who lost their lives during the COVID pandemic.
On the next stop, on one of the hottest days during a heat wave in Buenos Aires where the temperature soared to triple digits, we walked down the cobblestone roads created from stones used as ballast on ships that sailed to the New World to reach San Telmo.
San Telmo is the oldest barrio (neighborhood) of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is filled with charming cafes, antique stalls and bakeries. Love the colonial buildings that lead to the central Mercado or marketplace.
Some of the first homes and elaborate mansions were built in this neighborhood. These homes were quite luxurious with access to gas mains, lighting, sewers, and running water. This led to a growing and thriving community. Unfortunately, this early era ended abruptly when the yellow fever epidemic struck the area in 1871. Although the establishment of new clinics helped slow the spread of the epidemic, it claimed over 10,000 lives. Yellow fever caused many prominent families to abandon their homes with all contents left behind.
Hundreds of properties became vacant. Some of the larger homes and land were converted into parks. Many of the abandoned treasures are now sold at antique shops in the area or the Mercado. Many of the homes became conventillos (tenement housing) for European immigrants.
Explore the Mercado for delicious foods or a fun souvenir. The stalls are full of so many antiques like rotary telephones, China sets, silver platters, old coins and political posters. Love the old Coca-Cola signs.
Puerto Madero is such a beautiful waterfront barrio. Cross the Puente de la Mujer (the Women's Bridge) and turn to the left to visit the Frigate Sarmiento.
ARA Presidente Sarmiento is a beautiful frigate training ship that has been restored as a naval museum. Built in 1897, she is believed to be the last surviving training cruising ship from the 1890s. During her service, she circumnavigated the globe on six tours of duty until she was retired as a seagoing ship in 1938. Today, she is a beautiful historic naval museum and national monument.
Visit the colorful markets in La Boca.
Enjoy a taste of Venice in Tigre. So interesting to walk through Tigre with its waterways reminiscent of the canals in Venice.
Tigre is also famous for its rowing clubs. The Italian Rowing Club is housed in a 1921 palace that resembles the Venetian Doge's Palace.
When the temperature is 43 C (109 F), take an airconditioned boat from Tigre to Buenos Aires.
As we were in Buenos Aires during an unprecedented heat wave, it was so nice to leave from Tigre Fluvial Station in a comfortable boat. The audio guide was in three languages, Spanish, English and Portuguese.
So relaxing to take a cruise on the Lujan River, the Sarmiento River, the Tres Bocas area, the San Antonio River and Canal Vinculation. Notice the upscale homes and water parks next to shipwrecks and dilapidated homes. Fun to see ReMax signs selling properties along the water. According to the audio tour, homes range from $30,000 to $120,000.
So many boats on a Saturday afternoon. Fun to watch people kayaking and sailing in the calm waters.
As we approached Buenos Aires, we entered the RÃo de la Plata through the Costanero Canal. Nice to able to see spires of cathedrals, Puerto de Olivos, River Plate Court, and Jorge Newbery Airport as we neared Puerto Madero with a stunning view of the city of Buenos Aires. We even saw our cruise ship docked prior to its next voyage.
The ride takes about two hours. Snacks and drinks are available, but you can also bring your own onboard. Our guide, Patrice from Argentina Elite Transfer and Tours, dropped us off in Tigre and picked us up at Puerto Madero at the end of the cruise before flying back home.
A nice way to explore while staying cool on a very warm late summer day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 8, 2023
Excellent private tour! - Excellent private tour! Our guide was prompt, friendly, and provided with a great experience. The boat ride was beautiful, peaceful, and full of sites through BA and Tigre. We enjoyed a nice lunch, visited the Puerto de Fruta, Museo de Artes in Tigre, and a beautiful Church in San Isidro. It was a lovely and we were well taken care. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Jan 15, 2023
We highly recommend this tour and this tour guide! - This was a wonderful excursion for us. In a country where few people who deal with the public speak English, having Patrice (with Argentina Elite Transfers and Tours) as our guide made all the difference. He is fluent in Spanish, French and English so can conduct his tours in any of these languages.
He picked us up at our hotel and transferred us to the tour boat, waiting with us until we were safely aboard, and explained he would be waiting for us in 2 hours in Tigre City. The recordings in several languages on the boat were excellent in explaining what we were seeing along the way.
As promised, Patrice met us at the dock in Tigre and we were off for a walking tour, stopping at a lovely restaurant for our first introduction to empanadas and a continuation of our introduction to the history, culture, and peoples of Argentina. Following lunch, we drove to Puerto de Fruitos, an interesting marketplace full of souvenir shops, produce vendors and other merchandisers. We had a specific souvenir we were looking for and Patrice jumped right in searching, negotiating the best price, and helping us understand the currency and exchange rate.
Back in the car, we visited two museums, and a beautiful cathedral, all the while with Patrice leading the way with great commentary and humor. By the time we arrived back at our hotel in late afternoon, we felt well ready for the remainder of our travels in South America.
We can’t say enough about this tour and our positive experience with Patrice Vigier. Before leaving us, he also took the time to advise us about safety when out navigating Buenos Aires on foot. While the advice really applies to any large city one is unfamiliar with, we very much appreciated the care he took in offering it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 17, 2022
Excellent way to spend the day and explore the Tigre delta and surrounds - Great experience with a personal guide who made sure we had a good spot on the boat by picking us up a bit earlier.
Boat trip was very good, it showed us different aspects from Buenos Aires.
After the boat trip, a lovely lunch and on to the markets. Lovely walk, great markets and back to the car for a visit to the museum and church. All in all a perfect day out. Thanks to Patrick who told us lots of things other then about the sights and gave us a better insight to life in BA.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 19, 2022
Tigre River Tour - My wife and I used Patrice ( Pat) for our Tigre River tour. Pat speaks excellent English was professional, punctual , and was very easy to communicate with before the tour. Pat was extremely knowledgable about the area and it’s history and directed us to a great restaurant for lunch prior to our tour.
We took a boat to Buenos Aires and Pat was there to pick us up when we arrived.
I would highly recommend Pat for any tours or transportation needs in and around Buenos Aires.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 9, 2022
Excellent service! - Patrice provided excellent transport and tours. He responds quickly, arrives on time, and is a wonderful guide. He was flexible in doing the tour and taking me straight to the airport afterwards... and he's a pro at navigating the Buenos Aires traffic. I would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 12, 2022
Excellent day tour - Patrice was our guide for the day and he looked after us well. His english was very good and on time pick up and was able to accommodate us in getting some currency exchanged. If your in Buenos Aires this tour is a must.
Review provided by Viator
Feb 27, 2022
Excellent experience. Excellent tour, Excellent driver/guide - Really a fantastic experience. I will recommend that to friends, family and others. Really awesome the driver/guide. This Delta Tour and other activities made were really awesome.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 6, 2021
Great experience !!! - We have already done this tour with the work team a few months ago but this time I did it with my husband and Pat as guide / driver.
Despite the Covid-19 we were able to carry out all the outdoor activities without any problem with all the necessary precautions. We returned by boat touring the delta and the Rio de la Plata with the wonderful view of the city from that other perspective. Really highly recommended for price and quality of service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 11, 2020
A tour you will be happy you took-worth every penny!!!! - Hola!!! I can't say enough great things about Pat. I took this tour solo and had the best time!!! He is a great historian, but more importantly I felt very comfortable with him one-on-one. He went above and beyond to make this one of the best tours that I have ever experienced. People will say that you can go on your own, DON'T-go with Pat and you will not only have the best experience, but see everything that El Tigre has to offer. You won't be disappointed, it was worth every penny!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor