Buenos Aires, Argentina

Looking for eco-friendly hotels, authentic travel experiences or urban adventures in the Argentinian capital? Or perhaps a healthy, vegetarian restaurant? Here our recommendations for environmentally conscious, discerning city travelers.

About Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a vibrant city in South America, unique for its European heritage buildings, plazas and palaces. The “porteños” (local people) love cinema and theater (there are over 300 of them, including the famous Teatro Colon – Colon Theater), which means many performances every day, often at very little or no cost.

Tango, of course is what the city is known for around the world, and the dance flourishes in emblematic neighborhoods such as San Telmo and Almagro. Showcases and dance halls (“milongas”) entice you to participate and learn your first tango steps by watching old “tangueros” (people who dance tango as a passion).

Buenos Aires has also plenty of green areas, such as the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), well-known for its groves, lakes, and rose gardens. Next to the new and trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood and only a few steps from downtown area lies the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a great place for walking and cycling close to the Rio de la Plata (Plata River).

Buenos Aires and sustainability

Buenos Aires has been working hard to improve its environmental sustainability. Although there is plenty of work to do, the city has achieved important goals. In 2014, it received the Sustainable Transport Award for its Sustainable Mobility Plan, which includes the EcoBici network, a Metrobus system and a Pedestrian Priority Program. The plan’s purpose is to encourage use of bicycles and public transport over private vehicles.


Eco-friendly Buenos Aires hotels

Palo Santo Hotel

A beautiful eco-hotel in the city center. The hotel was built to LEED standards. Palo Santo’s operations are environmentally friendly, including careful selection of materials, equipment and suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the hotel’s construction and operations. Palo Santo Hotel’s mission is to provide a modern, intelligent, luxurious, green stay and the hotel emphasizes comfort, privacy, elegance and beauty.

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Home Hotel

This boutique design hotel is set in a quiet area of “Palermo Hollywood”, an area with several TV, radio and film studios nearby. The neighbourhood is famous for its art galleries, design furniture shops and some of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires. It is only 15 minutes walking distance from the Botanical Gardens & the Zoo.

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Casa Calma

Casa Calma is a hidden wellness hotel in the heart of the city, next to Plaza San Martín, Santa Fe Avenue and Florida Street. Only 15 minutes walking distance to Plaza de Mayo and trendy Puerto Madero area. The hotel has strong environmental policies and initiatives and informs guests on conservation issues.

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Eco-friendly Buenos Aires tours & urban adventures

Cycling in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is becoming a more bicycle friendly city and was even mentioned in musician David Byrne’s “Bicycle Diaries”, a book about his adventures cycling in cities around the world. As part of the “Sustainable Transport Plan” the city recently developed a “Public Bicycle Sharing System” for both residents and tourists. The service allows you to take a bike free of charge from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM, and on Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM.

There are several companies offering cycling tours and experiences. Want to try a tour on bicycles made of bamboo cane? Visit Urban Biking.


Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve

The perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires downtown area. The Coastal Reserve environment was formed by the entrance of the old Pampa wetland in a former land-fill project that was abandoned in the late 1970s. Once left to itself, plants started to grow between debris, aquatic lilies emerged from the river and birds found a new home. The Reserve has three lagoons and is a good place for bird watching, walking, jogging or cycling.


Palermo

Fairly green, cool and hip: Palermo is our top tip for staying during your Buenos Aires visit. A neighbourhood full of bars, restaurants, boutique shops and more and more co-living and co-working spaces, like Selina Hotel and Hostel.


La Recoleta

This area is easy to explore by walking and includes the famous Recoleta cemetery, the Cultural Centre right next to it, and just across the road the Museum of Fine Arts – all destinations worth visiting. Continue walking and you’ll pass many embassies in one of the city’s nicest and poshest neighbourhoods.


Where to eat in Buenos Aires

Exploring a city on an empty stomach is no fun. Buenos Aires resident, Susana Sandoval, suggests to try the following eateries for an authentic food experience:

Steaks by Luis: More than a restaurant it is a great experience of the “Argentine asado” (barbecue) organized by Luis that estimates has been the grillman of over 1.000 asados!

La Cabrera: typical “Argentine parrilla” with plenty of families and groups of friends.

El Cuartito: “Our way to make pizza”

1810 Cocina Regional: I like it because it is possible to find old recipes coming from different regions of Argentina that became part of our meals like “locro” (pork and beef stew with beans and corn).

Las Pizarras: Bistro, French cuisine with Argentine influences. Nice and simple atmosphere.


Buenos Aires weather & other travel info

For all sorts of useful information on Buenos Aires as travel destination, you might also like to check wikitravel.org.

Visit like a local

Visit and enjoy Buenos Aires like a local: In this post, Buenos Aires local Susana Sandoval shares insider tips on how to make the best of your city trip to the Argentinean capital.

Need travel insurance?

Still need travel insurance for your upcoming trip to Buenos Aires? Here’s why World Nomads is our favorite travel insurance for city trips.


Our thanks to Buenos Aires resident, Susana Sandoval, blogger at ViajeroResponsable.com.ar  for contributing to this article.


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Destination Buenos Aires: Hotels, Activities and Urban Adventures for Eco-Smart City Travelers
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