Hello and thanks to everyone, I visit this forum daily. Addicted and have information overload but can't always find or remember all of the great suggestions and information here. Below is our basic itinerary for our upcoming trip to Argentina. (Note to Flintstones- Will do N. W. next time)
We are a mid fifties couple. We have traveled mostly to Europe, we did visit (and loved) Peru last September. We are budget travelers but will splurge for worthwhile experiences. Love architectural and historic sites. We try to keep meal expenses down, always looking for good value eateries.<red> We are looking for suggestions mostly for our time in BA. What sights and tours to take from San Telmo and which to leave for Palermo.</red>
9/20 arrive at 0930 transfer to Hotel Babel in San Telmo (3 nights) -- I am sure we will be tired and jet lagged our first day, want to keep a low profile and rest. As it is a Sunday we will visit San Telmo's market. <red> Any restaurant suggestions for an early meal?</red>
9/21<red> Take a tour? Maybe a tango show in the evening? </red>
9/22<red>Recoleta cemetery + ???? </red>

9/23 fly to Iguazu, 2 nights at the Sheraton- We don't plan on leaving the park unless we can "sneak" into the Brazil side in route to the Hotel.

9/25 fly to Trelew and transfer to hostel in Puerto Madryn 3 Nights
9/26 Tour to Peninsula Valdes tour to see the Whales +
9/27 Punta Tombo to see the Penguin colony-probably on a tour

9/28 fly to El Calafate
9/29 all glacier boat tour
9/30 Mini trekking

10/1 fly back to BA. Staying at a B&B in Palermo
10/2 <red> ??</red>
10/3 <red>Classic music concert?? Where ?</red>
10/4 <red>??</red>

10/4 9.05PM Flight back to USA

Hello,

Ok, to help you fill in the red... San Telmo is best at the weekend - the squares fill with markets, Tango, live music, painters, food etc etc, and its mostly about taking in the atmosphere so you could do a walking Tour around here...
A Tango show is a MUST... what's your budget? would you like lessons too? that will determine where you ought to go...
Tours in BA are a really good option, you could do a museum tour, a cafe tour, a bus sightseeing tour, Eva Peron tour, the possibilities are endless but all affordable and well worth it! "Early" meals arent that easy in BA, lots of places close from 4pm and reopen at 8.30... but in San Telmo there are lots of pizzarias which often stay open the entire day, so that could be good! head for "pizza artisanal" and you cant go wrong! Recoleta cemetry is a MUST! As is the MALBA (museum latin american modern art) and the Fine Arts Museum, I would also recommend you do a bike tour, you can see a lot and there are several routes to choose from, since you're going to be seeing Palermo and San Telmo you ought to visit Plaza de Mayo and that area. Another option could be to escape BA for the day and go to Tigre, a nature reserve about an hour's train ride away and full of islands and rivers where you can go trekking, horse riding... or a day tour to Colonia in Uruguay is also another feasible possibility!

Hope that helps!

I can't help you--seems great because we plan to do the same places in 2010!! I am curious why you chose the order of places of BA-Iguazu-Trelew-Calafate-BA? Was it flight schedules or just personal preference? I have not looked at flight schedules yet (since we are going over a year from now) so wondering what part they have in your schedule. Or maybe since you are going the beginning of October, putting Calafate at the end to get a bit more warmth? I would like to go in October but afraid that it will be too cold in Calafate--please please report back!! I think you are smart to pick two sections of BA so to have different experiences. Why did you choose these two places? We also like to be budget and then splurge where we think it is worth it. Have a great trip and I'll be looking for your trip report!
Sally in Seattle

bsasexpert and others -Pizza seems to be the old standby anywhere in the world. It would be a shame if we cant stay up late enough the first night for a famous Argentinean Parilla meal. We are not dancers but I think We would enjoy a Tango Show, have been reading reviews and need to make a decision. I think we will do the morning BA Free tour on 9/21. Any recommendations for tours or guides for the Recoleta Cemetery? Thanks

Sally in Seattle. We were originally going to do BA-Iguazu- Salta and the NorthWest-BA. At the time we were making plans and booking flights there were no options from Iguazu to Salta except for an inconvenient poorly rated time robbing bus (no full cama seats). I read a couple of trip reports about Patagonia that made me decide I cant miss the glaciers near El Calafate. Someone along the way assured me it wont be too horribly cold. Then the Whales in Peninsula Valdes were also calling. Hopefully We will love Argentina and come back to explore more including the Northwest. Your assumptions about scheduling were correct.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. BA has lots of tours that the hotel can arrange for you. I always like to take a tour the first couple of days just to get the "lay of the land", after that it's fun to explore on your own.

San Telmo fair will be a perfect introduction your first day. There's a nice Italian restaurant, Amici Meie (sp), right across from the main square that's very good and reasonable, try to get a table outside so you may people watch.

If you look for my trip report, you'll see we did El Calafate too, had a great time and the glaciers are awesome, as is Iguazu (that was our first trip).

Have a great trip and enjoy all the amazing sights you'll see!

Hope you come nest time to Salta and you will probably want to stay.
Angie

Hi Angie (Flintstones) Hi, Thanks for all the great information and encouragement you provided in our planning. We will definitely come to Salta and the NorthWest next time and we will look you up and use your services. If AndesAir had announced flights Iguazu-Salta sooner we probably would have opted to visit you on this trip BUT we are very excited with the trip we are taking. THANKS AGAIN!!!! John & Robin

Another option for an early meal is a corner cafe. Beyond coffee and pastries they all have sandwiches etc.

I recommend a guide for Recoleta because it is good to hear the stories to go along with the graves. That said, one could wander for hours especially if you are a photographer.

I would also highly recommend Opera Pampa - a night event that includes a yummy asado dinner and a show that tells the story of Argentina with singers, dancers and horseback riders. It's really fun.

I also love the Museo Xul Solar showcasing the work (and home) of a singular artist.

Hello,
Yeh I agree that pizza is a standby, but... its ESPECIALLY good in BA, due to its Italian heritage so its not really such a cop out! You can always get some pastries from any one of the hundreds of bakeries, "facturas" are the most authentic ones and usually come in a batch of 3 or more. If you're looking for a parilla i REALLY recommend La Lehcuza in Palermo Soho and order "Bife de Chorizo" (thick, boneless steak) its SOOOO good! For the cemetery you can get a guide there, or they sell leaflets outside with a map which tells you the history and the money goes to maintaining the cemetery, or a guide book would do the job!
Good move on your locations... its nice to get an impression of the different districts!

Did I answer these questions here or on TripAdvisor?
I know I answered them somewhere lol ....

Thanks Scarlett, I made a similiar post at the "other guys" and you left some great ideas

crzn1; you will be welcome whenever you decide to come. Empanadas and wine will be available and the warm of people in SALTA.
I will be looking forward to hearing from your next trip!!!
Angie