Two years ago I spent 24 hours in Buenos Aires and fell in love—with the city. My initial impression was that Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America. The Argentine city has a sophisticated charm and cosmopolitan polish, and coupled with a rich and colorful historical tapestry, it was reminiscent of many European capital cities. One of the best parts about Buenos Aires is that it’s located in close proximity to a variety of other great places—like Iguazu and Puna de Atacama, so you and your family won’t get bored.

Below are some highlights for families visiting Buenos Aires, as well as a few ideas for nearby day trips or long weekends.

In The City

Image courtesy of author

First stop on your Buenos Aires city adventure should include the eclectic community known as La Boca. It is the neighborhood where immigrants first settled 100 years ago.  Today, it has transformed into the mecca of bohemian artistry. Your children can enjoy exploring all the shops housed in colorful buildings, while you take in the sights and sounds of outdoor artists and flamenco music and dancers.

On the other end of the spectrum is Puerto Madero—a super-modern Argentine community. With plenty of parks and outdoor space, the entire family can find something to do—cycling, roller skating, or just walking around. There is also a seemingly infinite amount of cafés to enjoy a beer and watch the sunset while the kids play. Other fun family activities include taking a ride on board the tramway in Caballito, visiting Teatro Colon for a classic Argentinian opera, or making a stop at the antique barber shop where grandpa can get a classic knife shave while the kids listen to the in-shop piano player.

There are two properties that I find best suited for multi-gen family stays in Buenos Aires. L’Hotel Palermo is a good choice because it has a swimming pool surrounded by lush foliage, a sunny patio, and plenty of spots to hide like the library, roof deck, and gardens; it’s also located near a park where the kids can play. Four Seasons in Recoleta is another ideal choice, because it is centrally located in the center of the city and has all of the odds and ends a family might need—from child-sized toiletries to toys to board games and even kid-centric concierge services.

Any or all of these arrangements can be made ahead of time working with a seasoned travel agent like Say Hueque, who specialize in tailor-made flexible itineraries to Argentina.

Day Trips

Colonia, Uruguay

Colonia is a great little town with five kilometers of beach and cobblestone streets—the latter of which you can be see by golf cart—and only takes a quick one-hour boat ride and another passport stamp to get there. You can wander around the UNESCO recognized historical quarter, where you can see ancient buildings and visit museums to learn more about Colonia’s history, all while taking in the beach, which can be seen between streets.

Tigre, Argentina

Tigre, scenically located on the Parana Delta, is another ideal day-trip destination only an hour away from Buenos Aires. The town is situated on various islands, which means that the locals take boats to get just about everywhere: boat taxis, boat ambulances, etc. They even shop at boat supermarkets. You can kayak or take a boat to explore the rivers and learn more about the history. Finally, for something different, take a 45-minute ride up to Estancia San Antonio de Areco, a working ranch where kids can ride horses and learn about the gaucho culture and traditions.

Extended Trip: Ibera Wetlands

The Ibera Wetlands is a short two-hour flight from Buenos Aires, but feels like a world away from the city experience. These wetlands are actually the second largest on the planet and are comparable in size to Belgium. Up until a few years ago, this area was practically unexplored, so you could be stepping down on virtually virgin territory.

Your kids will get to see anacondas, anteaters, hundreds of species of birds, broad snouted caimans and vacares, swamp deer, howler monkeys, and, of course, the infamous capybara, the biggest rodent in the world.

You can spend a few days at a local estancia—or ranch—partaking in traditional asados or barbeque as well as a ton of other activities: horseback riding, exploring safaris with in-depth bird watching, taking boat trips on the lagoon, enjoying nature walks, fly fishing, riding bikes, attending rodeos, visiting a cattle ranch, and even going on air safaris.

My top hotel pick is the Puerto Valle Hotel De Esteros because it has private access to the wetlands and can also provide easy access to river activities, such as cruises and safaris. Another great option is the Estancia Rincon Del Socorro. The entire estate is  a vast protected space with research facilities, so your family can learn about the location and the wildlife without even leaving the property.

Extended Trip: Puna de Atacama, Chile & Argentina

Have you ever been curious what it’s like on Mars? Well, in Northwest Argentina near the Andes, you and your family can visit Argentina’s Highlands, or Puna de Atacama, an area NASA has been studying in order to better understand the conditions of the fourth rock from the sun. Visit Ojos del Mar, where the world’s oldest microorganism lives. It’s not just pretty old, it’s 3,500 million years old. You can also explore miles of sand dunes and see flamingo-filled lagoons, black volcanic rock, ancient volcanoes, salt lakes, pumice stone fields, high altitude vineyards, and multi-colored mountain ranges.

Puna is mostly an isolated desert, so lodging is very simplistic. I suggest the Hosteria Casa Andina, as it is one of the only spots with digital TV to entertain the kids at night. Hosteria De Altura El Penon is another ideal choice. A very comfortable ranch-style hotel, Hosteria De Altura El Penon is actually the only place you can stay in El Penon.

Extended Trip: Bariloche, Argentina

For another outdoorsy getaway, look into an excursion to the mountainous town of Bariloche organized by Mountain Travel Sobek. Getting there takes a little over two hours on a flight from Buenos Aires, and once you arrive you’ll get to enjoy the region’s mild climate and plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor activities.

The tour company organizes a gentle hike to the top of Mount Llao Llao and/or an easy two- or three-hour kayaking excursion in Nahuel Huapi Lake. For the braver members of the family, there are rappelling opportunities. If you’re interested in exploring more areas in this region, you can transfer to Los Alerces National Park and stay at the Lago Verde Wilderness Resort, built along the shore of the lake. The Wilderness Resort is a quiet place to relax or partake in active adventures, like trekking, swimming, boating, bird watching, or riding horses. Besides the National Park, there are other options, such as visiting Leleque museum or walking the streets of El Bolson city. These outdoor excursions provide an ideal escape for the family from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires.

One of the favored resort options is El Casco Art Hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche, because it’s conveniently located next to Nahuel Huapi Lake, only 15 minutes from downtown, and less than 10 minutes from Arelauquen golf course. As El Casco Art Hotel’s name suggests, you’ll see quite a bit of art while you’re there—the hotel features over 500 Argentine sculptures and paintings, so you can sneak some culture into your vacation as well.

Extended Trip: Bahia Bustamante and Iguazu

If you want to take a trip southeast, the Mountain Travel Sobek can drop you right into the middle of the Patagonian wildlife of Bahia Bustamante and Iguazu. The area is a convenient home base to explore the Atlantic Patagonian surroundings, including a sheep farm, petrified forest, a lighthouse, many birds and mammals, and a sanctuary of sea fauna. Because of the abundance of animals, this trip is ideal for budding zoologists.

The activity options include sailing the Malaysian Cove for some exotic bird watching—you might see penguins, steamer ducks, skuas, cormorants, terns, and Oystercatchers. Or, you can visit a Patagonian Ranch for some hands-on experience pretending to be a gaucho for the day. While there, you can venture to the Aristizabal Lighthouse and to Penguin Island, where you can take an easy hike and take in the Argentine scenery.

You might also want to bring everyone to Puerto Madryn to watch the whales. You can stop at the Paleontological Museum to see an interesting display of fossil findings. After, transfer to Iguazu to enjoy Iguazu Falls, a massive panorama of waterfalls located near the Brazilian border.

One of the resorts of choice in this area includes Estancia Patagonica in Pueblo Alguero, Bahia Bustamante for its proximity to the wildlife, including lots of Magellan Penguins, and an abundance of wide open spaces for children to play outdoors. Another great choice is Loi Suites in Iguazu, which is surrounded by jungle and is located a quick 10 to 15 minute drive from Iguazu Falls. The hotel has a pathway to the Iguazu River and a large swimming pool as well.