I am going to be in BA from August 14-19. I was going to do a 3-hour basic tour of BA and then a 5-hour tour of San Isidro and Tigre. Is it worth it to see San Isidro and Tigre at this time-I know it is very cold down there and that this is on the water. I am in my mid-30s, from NYC, want to get a nice overview of BA but not interested in museums or very touristy activities. My itinerary is open.
Monday-Tuesday: open for tours listed above
Wednesday-Thursday: going to Iguazu Falls
Friday: free day for shopping

Any other suggestions? I am using Mayra Brill and she is excellent. The tours seem a bit pricey but I'm traveling solo so I don't mind paying b/c I don't speak Spanish. Has anybody used Urban Explorer and Robert Wright? Also, what about San Telmo?

Thanks for your help in advance.

I should mention that the need for info is immediate b/c I am leaving for Brazil first on Friday and have to book tours ahead of time for BA.

Abby, I can't help you with this question but there are a number of posters on the Argentina forum of www.tripadvisor.com who can.

Robert Wright has an outstanding reputation, though I have not used him personally.

You can't see all of Buenos Aires in three hours. Skip Tigre and focus on finding our more about the various barrios of Buenos Aires. That's what I would do in August becasue it is still winter, as you point out.

Mayra is a good choice.

What about this area called Parque Patricios? I am scheduled to go on a tour with Robert Wright for a few hours to this area? I am doing 3 hour city tour (will explore later more areas on my own), this Parque Patricios tour, and then will visit areas of interest from the city tour on my own. Does this sound like a good idea?

Also, I would like to buy a nice leather jacket with a belt in the middle. Where can I buy this that is not too too expensive and not from a really touristy shop? thanks!

The leather district is on Murrillo street beginning at Scalabrini Ortiz and extending for several blocks. The side streets contain stores as well as Murrillo. The quality of the leather here is good..but the highest quality designs and leathers are found in boutiques in Palermo Soho or in established leather goods stores such as Lopez Taibo.

Parque Patricios is a beautiful park itself. I believe Robert's tour takes you to see some of the things in the area like the "micro-barrio" - a legacy of the Peron era where they built a neighborhood of teeny houses (each the size of about a oen bedroom apartment, very tightly packed together, as part of a plan to make sure that "everyone" had housing. It didn't work, not surprisingly. Most of the Parque Patricios neighborhood is simply residential, a little industrial, and some cheap shopping.

As DD said, you can't remotely see Buenos Aires in 3 hours - you'd be lucky to see all of one neighborhood. The city contains 47 barrios, each of which could take a day to explore or more (though not all hold a lot of interest for touring).

I've decided to do the 3 hour city tour and then revisit areas I like on my own, plus 4 hours with Robert Wright to Parque Patricios. I will have time in the afternoon and on my free day to run around and see what I can plus buy me a leather coat! Just packing now and overwhelmed.