Tigre Attractions & Things to Do

Tranquil, quaint and slow-paced, Buenos Aires’ favorite day-trip destination Tigre pulls in 80,000 tourists every weekend. Here are the main attractions in the town of Tigre:

Tigre Town Main Attractions

The Puerto de frutos (Fruit Port) is a large riverside market and attracts DIY fanatics from afar for its mix of handcrafted furniture, candlesticks and flowerpots.

Tourists looking for souvenirs rather than the local specialties cane, wicker and reed furniture can also purchase smaller artisan trinkets. The market is open all week, but there are more goods available on the weekend.

Anyone who’s been captivated by mate, national obsession and hot herby drink that Argentines love so much they carry it around with them, should take a tour of the charming El Museo del Mate (Mate Museum).

Guided tours offer insight into the history of the drink, reveal important artifacts like the smallest mate in the world and finish with a taste of the green stuff. As the museum proudly boasts, it is the only mate museum in the world and therefore an experience not to be replicated. Anyone who wants to try mate without learning everything about its history can skip the tour and head straight to the café.

Tigre’s art museum, Museo de Arte Tigre is housed in a magnificent Italian-French style mansion and is a pleasant stroll from town along the picturesque walking route Paseo Victoria.

Worth a trip just to marvel at the building, the resplendent rooms of this two-floored museum were previously used as a club for dancing, gambling and other upper-class amusements. The museum showcases 19^th and 20^th century Argentine figurative art and rotating exhibitions of more modern pieces.

The naval museum – El Museo Naval de la Nacion (National Naval Museum) holds a collection of objects related to Argentine Maritime history, as well as maritime history in general. Exhibits include model boats and arms. Not to be missed for Naval buffs but one to avoid if war ships don´t float your boat.

The Museo de la Reconquista has a well-maintained collection of objects related to the history of Tigre and Argentina, particularly related to their struggle for independence. It is located in a small white house opposite the spot where the military man Santiago de Liniers embarked to go conquer Buenos Aires from the English in 1806. The museum has five exhibition rooms plus a well-stocked library.

For a few thrills after soaking in Tigre’s history the Parque de la Costa is a theme park located close to the Puerto de Frutos. It´s not as modern and shiny as Disneyland, but has roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and water rides. Bring a change of clothes for the latter, and expect to wait in lines for the rides on weekends and holidays.

Next to theme park, gambling junkies can enjoy the three-floored Trilenium Casino, where it is easy to while away hours on slot machines and card games. Non-gamblers can occupy themselves at the theatre or one of the seven restaurants.

To explore Tigre on two wheels, hire a bicycle from one of the companies near the train station and head along the Paseo Victoria, which is signposted from town.

• Puerto de Frutos
Sarmiento 100,
Tel: 4512 4493
Hours: Every day — 10 a.m.-7p.m.

• El Museo del Mate
Lavalle 289, 4506 9594,
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday and holidays. 11am-6pm (autumn/winter) 11am-7pm (spring/summer).
• Guided tours for groups on Tuesdays

• Museo de Arte Tigre
Paseo Victoria 972,
Tel: 4512 4528,
Hours: Wed-Fri 9a.m.-7p.m., Sat & Sun 12noon -7p.m.

•El Museo Naval de la Nación
Paseo Victoria 602
Tel: 4749 0608
Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30-5pm, Sat and Sun 10.30-6.30pm
• Guided tours in the afternoons

Museo de la Reconquista
Avenida Liniers 818, 4512 4496
Hours: Weds-Sun 10-6.30pm.

• Parque de la Costa
Vivanco 1509
Tel: 4002 6000,
Hours: Fridays-Sundays and holidays. 11am-8pm

• Trilenium Casino
Peru 1385
Tel: 4731 7001,
Hours: Mon-Weds 11a.m.-6p.m.
Thurs-Sun open 24 hours

Tigre Tourist office
Juncal 1600
Tel: 4512-4497 / 0800 888 84473

View Wander Argentina’s Map of Tigre Attractions on Land

How to Get to Tigre from Buenos Aires

There are two trains, a couple of buses and a commuter boat that go to Tigre from Buenos Aires.

• Mitre Train

The most economical way to get to Tigre from Buenos Aires is via the Linea Mitre train. This train begins at Retiro station.

This line has a new viaduct which has cut travel time between Retiro and Tigre from almost an hour to about 40 minutes. There are several branches of the Mitre line — make sure that you take the line that has ‘Tigre’ station as it’s ultimate stop.

Those staying in the northern areas of the city can also board at a later stop such as Lisandro de la Torre or Belgrano C.

Tickets cost roughly AR$18.50 with a Sube card and AR$37 without. Trains leave every 10 minutes on weekdays, every 20 minutes on weekends and the journey takes about an hour.

• Tren de la Costa

For those who want to travel in style, the Tren de La Costa (Coastal Train) takes tourists to various stops along the river.

Revamped as a tourist attraction in 1995, this train offers picturesque Delta views and stops at 11 train stations, many refurbished, along the way.

One type of ticket takes you straight to your destination while another allows you to get on and off the train as you please.

To ride the Tren de la Costa, take the Mitre train described above from Retiro via the Mitre line (which has ‘Mitre’ station as the last stop). Once at Mitre station, cross the tracks and head to the Tren de La Costa station.

The standard gauge electric train cabins are climate controlled. The train costs almost exactly eight times more than the very affordable Mitre train outlined above, but it is intended as an half day or day-long excursion in itself.

Some worthwhile stops include Borges Station, named after the writer, and dubbed the ‘Station of the Arts;’ the English-style Barrancas Station; and San Isidro where a small urban center offers leisurely shopping and outdoor pubs and restaurants.

Due to political problems with the train system, the Tren de la Costa is not as exclusive as it once was, with aging upholstery on the seats and graffiti (not the good kind) marring some cars. As tourist use has declined, some locals simply use the Tren de la Costa to get around locally for free – they get away with not paying the fare because the ticket offices along the route are often closed.

map of the Tren de la Costa — Map by Moebiusuibeom (Wiki)

• Buses to Tigre

It is also possible to take the number 60 bus from various points throughout the city but the journey takes at least an hour and a half, usually more.

Another option for those staying in a northern part of the city such as Palermo or Belgrano is to take the 152 bus to Mitre station where you can catch the Tren de la Costa. This option avoids backtracking to Retiro to take the train.

• Commuter Boat to Tigre

Monday through Friday it is also possible to take a commuter boat from Dock Four in Puerto Madero to Tigre, but there is only one boat per day, at 6:30 p.m.

The boat is a good Friday evening option if planning to spend the weekend in Tigre. Tickets need to be reserved at least 20 minutes before launch time and riders need to carry an I.D. SturlaViajes is the company that runs the commuter boat. You can book a $20 round-trip boat ride with them online that includes a hop-on, hop-off bus in Tigre. If you’re having fun in Tigre, there is always the option to ditch the ride back and just hop on the train back to Buenos Aires or stay in the delta overnight and get the boat back the following day.

Getting to Tigre by Bike

One of the most popular longer cycling excursions in Buenos Aires is the trip to Tigre. The bike route goes along the River Plate, and if you get tired you can hop on the train along the way. Since it is an easy, flat ride, most bikers successfully make it to Tigre and return to the city by train.

To get to Tigre by bike, take the bike path along Liberador Avenue heading north to Figueroa Alcorta. The 26 km trip takes about three hours. It’s pretty straight forward but a few twists and turns means it is worthwhile to download the google map before you go.

Another option is to take the slightly longer Super Panamerican Bike lane, but this option doesn’t go along the river, so it’s not as scenic.

• Driving to Tigre from Buenos Aires

To get to Tigre from downtown take General Paz to the Panamericana Highway. Head north until passing over Avelino Rolón and veer onto the ‘Ramal Tigre’ heading northeast. Once you are in Tigre, veer east to reach the city center.

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Tigre’s Delta — Island Architecture, Film & Eco-Projects

Tigre town and the River Delta’s islands are no longer just an enclave for the well-to-do.

Today, small wooden shacks, modern ecological homes and elaborate grand mansions all lie incongruously together on Tigre’s islands, which stretch over 8,700 sq. kilometers.

Many of the houses are ‘dream homes’ thought up by their owners and the result is an architectural hodgepodge of different styles and tastes. Projects range from elaborate eyesores to stunning structural wonders and everything in between.

Some once-splendid mansions lie old and crumbling, a symbol of the downfall of the aristocracy, other buildings are half-built and seemingly forgotten. Many of the fancier houses are also neglected for a large part of the year; these are weekend homes, only visited when their owners need a break from city life.

All the houses have one thing is common — they are built on stilts to avoid flooding when Tigre’s riverbanks overflow during heavy rain.

Services on the Islands of the Delta

Not all of Tigre’s islands are connected by land, some permanent island dwellers can only leave and enter their houses by boat.

All houses have jetties and most islanders have some sort of floating transport.

Islanders can survive without relying on the mainland. Outlying services include schools, churches, garbage collection, doctors and even a floating fire brigade. Locals can also buy a surprisingly large amount of supplies from the shops dotted around the islands or from the ‘boat-shop’ that passes once a day.

There aren’t many restaurants along the delta, and most cater to an upper-class clientele willing to pay a premium for the riverbank setting.

There are no natural beaches along the river, but there are a number of fake-sandy ones to lounge on, usually attached to Tigre’s growing number of spas, hotels and hostels.

Ecological Projects in Tigre

Tigre’s natural beauty seems the perfect setting to inspire people to look after the planet, and a number of ecological projects have sprung up along the Delta.

Some, such as Proyecto Delta, are community living schemes with a focus on conservation and protecting the environment. Others such as Echo-Village are part of a worldwide eco-movement and accept foreign volunteers for a small cost.

The ecological groups have a strong community feel and projects such as Echo-Village reward the hard work of volunteers with wild, weekend-long parties.

Films and TV Programs Set in Tigre

Tigre has also inspired several TV shows and films. The Argentine TV show, ‘Verano del 98’, was popular at the turn of the millennium and was filmed in Tigre. It was similar to the US show, Dawson’s Creek, but with even more soap opera-like drama. The characters, opening sequence and plot lines were almost identical to Dawson’s Creek. The show never became popular outside Argentina, so it seems the producers got away with the probable copyright infringement.

The film ‘Todos tenemos un plan’ (Everyone Has a plan) was shot in Tigre in 2012. It stars Viggo Mortensen – most famous for his part of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Argentines will be proud to discover Mortensen speaks perfect Argentine Spanish – he spent time in the country as a child.

Everyone has a Plan was produced by the same team that shot the Oscar winning ‘El secreto de sus ojos’ (The Secret in Their Eyes) and stars the same leading lady, Soledad Villamill.

It tells the story of twin brothers, both played by Mortensen, one of whom is frustrated by Buenos Aires’ life. When one brother dies, the other takes on his identity. He goes to live in Tigre, and soon becomes wrapped up in his brother’s criminal dealings.

Is Tigre Going Underwater?

It seems that blissful island life may not last forever. As with Venice, Italy and New Orleans, USA rising sea levels threaten to wipe out the islands.

The river Delta also advances southward 50-90 meters each year, which means it is possible that northern suburban areas in metropolitan Buenos Aires, such as Nuñez may become islands later this century.

Perhaps one day the River Stadium — home to popular national football team, River — may be underwater, something that their arch rivals, Boca Juniors would no doubt celebrate.

– by Rosie Hilder

→ continue reading: Tigre from Smugglers’ Paradise to Upper-Class Enclave

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