Enjoy the city like a real porteño

In Buenos Aires, we would like to tell you about an original tour that combines electric bikes, mate and tango. Sounds good, right?

As always, in Kallpa we look for and offer original and sustainable experiences that focus on culture and local traditions. That’s how we found Martin and Laura, with whom we share the same ideals and passion for traveling.

On a Sunday afternoon, we met at Recoleta Cultural Center. This spot itself is an attraction, given that we find the famous cemetery and that lots of people are strolling across the park and taking a look at the typical craft fair.

We mount the e-bikes and the tour starts. Without effort, we wander through Recoleta and Palermo neighborhoods and enjoy the city like a real porteño! As we ride, through intercoms we hear the guide telling us the city’s secrets and local traditions.

First, riding across Recoleta we can see French style palaces. Along Figueroa Alcorta Avenue we pass by the Buenos Aires University’s Law School; a monumental architecture building from the 1940’s. Right next, the famous Floralis Generica, a metal sculpture of a huge flower on the United Nations Park, made by the Argentinian architect Eduardo Catalano.

Following Recoleta, we move towards the Bosques de Palermo – Palermo Woods – and its great green parks. We pass by the Japanese Garden, the Palermo Horse Racetrack, the Argentinian Polo Field and the famous Rosedal. Then, we make a stop at the woods to taste and share some mate and pastries, like many locals do here on the weekends, as a traditional friendly and family ritual.

At last, back on the bikes we ride towards Palermo Soho, a trendy and bohemian area of this neighborhood, to visit one of the main milongas in the city. Milongas are the traditional places where locals attend to dance and listen to tango.

Here, a tango expert joins us. Thanks to his expertise, we learn about this intense and passionate dance history, codes and the milonga dynamics. Finally, a live orchestra entertains us with a dazzling tango performance following an instructor that teaches us some steps to introduce us to this dance.

This is the end of this original, fun and enriching experience, but if you want, you can stay and enjoy the milonga to keep on practising your steps until 4 am.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Operation: Sunday at 3:30 pm
  • Duration: 6 hs
  • Languages: Spanish & English
  • Meeting point: Across Recoleta Cultural Center, next to Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church.
  • Ending point: Armenian Center, Palermo
  • Min. 2 pax – Max. 6 pax
  • Min age is 16 and max is 60
  • Highlights: Recoleta – Palermo Horse Track and Argentinian Polo Field – Rosedal and Bosques de Palermo – Palermo Soho – Milonga.
  • Included: Electric bicycle with intercom – Bicycle tour guide – Insurance – Snack (pastries) & Mate – Water – Entrance ticket for the milonga – Tango guide – Live orchestra show – Tango lesson – One soft drink per person.
  • Not included: Roundtrip transfers – Food and extra drinks – Tips.

Comfort & design in Palermo

Welcome to Atempo, a unique hotel where comfort, design and attention to detail combine in a bohemian and culinary surrounding.

Right in Palermo Hollywood, one of the trendiest and renowned design and gastronomic neighbourhoods, we found a special hotel thought and conceived for its guests comfort. Which is great, since this is one of the most chosen areas to stay in Buenos Aires.

From artisanal pastries at breakfast and room service home-made meals, to premium wines and free bikes at your disposal, in room spa service and a fruity welcome drink to begin your experience in the city, Atempo Design Hotel promises a one-of-a-kind service and a warm environment with unique details to make your stay unforgettable.

Born from the combination of noble wood and original design, Atempo has 20 suites and 8 design lofts distributed across 10 floors.

Spacious and luminous rooms with a exquisite and warm design offer superior rest and comfort, usually hard to find in general standard hotel rooms.

All of them have LCD with cable TV and DVD player, individual heating and air conditioning, safe box, telephone with national and international dialing facilities, Wi-Fi Internet connection, full kitchen and room service.

A home-made and artisanal buffet breakfast is served daily, with a few options to choose from. Fresh fruit, artisanal marmalades, bread and pastries, eggs and fried bacon. Everything you need to start the day with full energy and tour around the city.

Whenever you want to relax, a tempered pool on the first floor is available year round. Or maybe you would prefer to treat yourself with a spa day or request one of the in room spa services provided (not included in the rate).

Also, the hotel offers free bikes to pedal around and visit the best touristic spots in the city following a specially designed route. Tip: book your bike in advance!

If you’re planning a visit to Buenos Aires, thinking about resting and enjoying yourself, Atempo Design is definitely the hotel for you.  

 

A WINE TRIP THROUGH ARGENTINA WITHOUT MOVING

Without leaving Buenos Aires, go on a gourmet journey that will enhance your palate and take you through the most important Argentinian wine regions.

It can’t be denied that Argentina is one of the most renowned wine countries in the world and that Buenos Aires, with its faded European touch and Latin passion, is the greatest city to enjoy the best gastronomy and wine that this country has to offer.

Today we want to share with you a Premium wine tasting, to try the best of the best and delight yourself with regional gourmet tapas, specially made for the occasion.

In the heart of Palermo Soho, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, home of many bars, restaurants and top designer stores, we find the prestigious Freud & Fahler; a legend of avant-garde gastronomy. Here we´re invited by Diego, Pol and Jorge to experience this VIP tasting.

They are the warming hosts and front men of this business venture. Wine enthusiasts and foodies themselves, each of them play a fundamental role: Diego is the multilingual sommelier in charge; Pol has been Freud & Fahler´s owner and head chef from 20 years now, innovating in gastronomy since its early days; and Jorge is the spokesperson responsible for spreading the word about this exciting touristic experience.

The tasting takes you on a 1500 miles journey, going over Argentina from north to south across the most important wine regions in the country: Mendoza and its classic and historic vineyards, Salta with its high altitude grapevines and the exotic and southernmost Patagonia, as one of the youngest wine producing regions.

Throughout five specially selected premium wines you will discover the particularities, refined details and differences between the varieties of wines of these whereabouts. Not to be missed: Malbec, Torrontés, Pinot Noir, among others.

The experience is completed with a perfect food match: regional gourmet tapas, specially created by the in house chef Pol Lykan. Each bite was thought to emphasize each wine´s unique taste and characteristic profile. Paired in heaven!

In Buenos Aires, you can enjoy this 5 course wine tasting from Tuesday to Saturday at 6 pm. Make sure to contact your Kallpa Tour executive to book in advance.

Bike Tour & Kayak in Tigre

An adventure day: riding a train, biking and kayaking in Tigre and the Delta.

32 kilometers to the northwest of Buenos Aires we find Tigre town and the Delta of the Paraná river, a special place where nature invites to a unique experience. A cycling tour of Tigre and kayak rowing into the Delta offer a wide range of possibilities to combine both sport and culture in a beautiful setting.

You can pick the kind of bike and maybe choose a bamboo one!

This tour starts at the meeting point at the Botanic Garden in Palermo, where after picking up our bikes and helmets from the shop we have a technical and safety briefing. Then we start pedaling towards the green parks of Palermo until Lisandro de la Torre train station. Here we take the public train and soon we are out of the city of Buenos Aires and into the northern suburbs. The change of scenery is very noticeable along the way!

We get off in La Lucila and ride our bikes to Tigre. On the way we make a few stops to learn about the surroundings such as San Isidro, San Fernando and the Río de la Plata itself.

According to tradition, a jaguar (yaguareté, popularly called tigre) used to live nearby a stream, which later was named Tigre after the local people killed the animal to preserve their homes and lives. This zone used to be inhabited by jaguars but with the forward move of human population they became extinct. Nowadays just a few remain only in the Misiones’ jungle.

The Tigre Delta is one of the largest in the world and also one that doesn’t flows into the ocean but into the Río de la Plata, which separates Argentina and Uruguay. With its islands and canals, Tigre is usually called the “Venice of South America”. Also, during colonial times, this area was used as a smuggling port, where the portuguese passed through their merchandise.

Going over Tigre town, we pass by two classic spots. First, the Puerto de Frutos, which used to be a fruit market in the old days but nowadays is a place where the traditional values and new design concept coexist. This is one of the main attractions in Tigre and can be visited every day. An open air colorful market and shopping mall with diverse and eclectic shops such as antiques, furniture and decoration, artisanal products in leather and wicker, candles, garden centers, fruit shops, pickles and cold cuts.

Then we ride along the Paseo Victorica, a picturesque short street along the edge of the Luján river that provides different gastronomic options, museums and rowing clubs. At one of these clubs we leave our bikes and get into the kayaks for the paddling adventure. After a short briefing and instructions, we get into the Delta waters and row slowly, enjoying the drift, towards an island.

At the island, a tasty asado is waiting for us. We share this Argentine ritual by excellence within a natural environment, at a table by the river. We try different meat cuts, have a drink, relax and enjoy the quietness of the Delta while we rest for a while.

Before getting too comfy, we grab our oars again and return to the kayaks to row back to the club where we left our bikes. With the sun going down, we ride again towards the Tigre train station, where we take the train again towards Lisandro de la Torre station. The bike tour is not over yet! We have a last stretch back to the meeting point in Palermo.

Biking and kayaking are two sporting activities that complement each other perfectly for an active tourism trip. The town of Tigre and the islands of the Paraná river are an oasis of natural landscapes and beautiful scenery unparalleled by other Buenos Aires sightseeing tours.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Full day regular excursion (9 hs).
  • Departs Monday to Friday at 9 am from meeting point in Palermo.
  • Roundtrip Transfers to/from the meeting point not included.
  • Difficulty: Low / Medium, but the activities are done at a peaceful and relaxing pace.
  • Total biking time: 2-3 hs
  • Total paddling time: 1.5 hs
  • Private service available upon request.
  • Weather: Only in the event of pouring rain will biking trips be cancelled or delayed
  • Minimum Age Requirement: 12 years and older. Ages 18 and under accompanied by an adult.

INCLUDES

  • Bike, helmet & Kayak.
  • Mate and snacks.
  • Lunch in Tigre (asado).
  • Bottle of water.
  • Roundtrip train tickets.
  • Insurance.
  • English speaking guide (ask for other languages).