Exploring Plaza de Mayo area and San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods (with visit to 1 museum and 1 private art center)

• The historic area that houses Plaza de Mayo and the Cabildo

Buenos Aires has been chosen for 3 consecutive years (2014, 2015 and 2016) as the #1 destination to visit in South America by millions of TripAdvisor users in their “Traveler’s Choice” contest... and rightfully so! This cosmopolitan, vibrant, and sophisticated city, commonly called the “Paris of Latin America,” is the best place in the world to enjoy a first-class tango show and to eat some of the tastiest steak, accompanied by celebrated Argentine Malbec wine.

Our expert “porteño” (as locals are called) tour guide will take us on a cultural journey, where we’ll visit the most iconic neighborhoods and learn about the highlights of the city; taking in its architecture, culture, history, and more! This introductory tour is also a great opportunity to start learning from our expert tour guide the necessary information and useful tips to make the most of your free time in the city.

In this outing, we’ll focus on the Plaza de Mayo area, San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods . We’ll dive into the foundational times of Buenos Aires to start unraveling the physiognomy, history, architecture, culture, anecdotes and secrets of Buenos Aires, a city with a European atmosphere embedded with plenty of Latin American pulse & charm. In this first chapter of our city explorations, we’ll focus on the historical and cultural evolution of a simple colonial village that evolved into the mythical South American megalopolis of today.

Our exploration will begin at historic Plaza de Mayo (May Square). The site of this 19th century square has origins dating all the way back to the foundation of Buenos Aires in 1580. It’s the oldest square in Buenos Aires, and has always been the epicenter of political life in the city. Major national revolutions and proclamations were held here (including the revolution that led to Argentina’s independence from Spain in May of 1810, hence the square’s name). Even today, Plaza de Mayo stands as primary location for major political demonstrations and public gatherings alike. And since it’s always been considered the beating heart of political life in Buenos Aires, it's definitely the most suitable place to begin in order to get better acquainted with this bustling metropolis.

We will continue, as we traverse the neighborhood of Montserrat, a historic section of the city which is home to some of the most important public buildings in Buenos Aires, including City Hall and the Libertador Building (which houses the Ministry of Defense). We’ll also have a chance to see Casa Rosada (the Pink House), Argentina's equivalent to the White House in the United States, and the seat of government for the executive branch (the president, as well as ministers of state).

Next, we’ll journey through the oldest neighborhood in Argentina, San Telmo; an area that emanates an eclectic t Bohemian vibe! The old cobblestone streets are lined with colonial buildings, market stalls, and antique stores. We might also see some street performers while we’re here, as it is hotspot for Tango!

From San Telmo, we’ll move on to neighboring La Boca, a traditionally Italian area of the city which is best known for its collection of vibrant colors splashed throughout. One street in particular is especially full of colorful houses: the Caminito (“Little Walkway”). As you walk down Caminito, the hues of blue, green, yellow and just about every color in the rainbow will catch your eye and mesmerize you. This area is also known for being the home of the world-renowned soccer club Boca Juniors, ranked second in the world by the quantity of international titles won. The club plays their home matches in their stadium, La Bombonera ("The Box of Chocolates" in Spanish). You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled here, as sometimes people break out in impromptu tango dances right on the streets!

At La Boca we’ll visit the Museo Quinquela Martín to explore the legacy of La Boca’s most celebrated artist and the man responsible for the bright colors of La Boca neighborhood. The museum’s collection is representative of the history of Argentine art and features several key figurative artists working from the late 19th century to the present day. It houses the largest collection of Quinquela Martín’s oil paintings and etchings in existence, all completed between 1922 and 1967. There’s also a unique collection of ship figureheads, and, on the terrace, a display of Argentine figurative sculptures.

We’ll then spend some free time at Fundacion Proa, a 3-story building private art space in La Boca specialized in contemporary art which includes a wide variety of contemporary disciplines, including photography, cinema, design, electronic music, and the permanent launching of specialized projects throughout the year.

This is a private 5-hour and half tour from 1 to 6:30 PM.