As the temperatures decrease in the northern part of the globe, summer starts to show its sunny face in the south. And that means that’s an ideal time to hit the road in Argentina. It’s easy to fly into Buenos Aires and hop into a rental car to discover parts of this beautiful South American nation that most travelers haven’t seen yet.
Alamo Rent A Car, which has rental car locations around South America, is sponsoring this post — but the recommendations for five great rental car road trips from Buenos Aires are all mine. Read on, get out those maps and hit the road!
Tigre: Buenos Aires locals love heading to the Tigre Delta, a lovely area created by the Paraná River. It’s an easy drive from the capital city, although you’ll board a boat to experience this water-oriented region, where mini-cruises take in the full beauty of what was once one of the nation’s top getaways for wealthy porteños. Top activities here include visits to the Puerto de Frutos, a market overflowing with food and handicrafts, a stroll through the Museo de Arte de Tigre, a museum set in the former Tigre Club, a belle époque building that was home to Argentina’s first casino, decades ago. Today, its walls are lined with Argentinean art. A variety of bars and restaurants offer scenic spots to sit, relax and admire the surroundings.
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Puesto Viejo Estancia & Polo Club: If learning the elegant sport of polo is your dream, there’s no better place to do so that Puesto Viejo, a small hotel that offers polo packages, including the Puesto Viejo Polo Day and Stay Package, which is designed for people who want to learn about polo against the beautiful backdrop of the a traditional estancia. A polo clinic, as well as lunch, dinner and afternoon tea are included.
Estancia Santa Susana: At this estancia, located north of Buenos Aires, you can ride in a traditional one-horse sulky carriage, or go horseback into the countryside. The property’s Gaucho Party includes horseback sport exhibitions, lunch, an empanada-and-wine reception and a tango performance.
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San Antonio de Areco: Located about 70 miles north of Buenos Aires, this charming small town set in the pampas dates to the early 18th century. The destination is known for its gaucho culture and traditions, and it’s graced with a main square that’s wonderful for strolling, with silversmith shops that sell gaucho-inspired souvenirs like belt buckles and spurs. There is also the Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes, a small museum that sheds light on the life of the gauchos.
La Plata: The city of La Plata, which serves as the capital of the province of Buenos Aires, was founded in 1882. Its home to the neo-gothic Catedral de la Plata, which is one of the largest churches in Argentina, as well as the Teatro Argentino de la Plata, an important opera house that opened in 1890. You can also spend some time in the Museo de Ciencias Naturales, a natural science museum that houses thousands of fossils and artifacts, and the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Latinoamericano, which opened in 1999 and features permanent and temporary exhibits of the work of artists from Argentina and beyond.