Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
166
on the next block over from
Estación Tigre,
at Mitre 305. Many companies run launches
and services on both banks of the river here; you have to know where you want to go, or
simply choose one and go wherever it takes you. Among the many companies are
Cata-
maranes Interisleña
(
&
11/4731-0261
);
Líneas Delta
(
&
11/4749-0537
); and
Cata-
maranes Río Tur
(
&
11/4731-0280
). To reach
Martín García Island,
one of the most
remote parts of the delta, you have to travel with
Cacciola
(
&
11/4749-0329
). Most of
these companies ser vice the v arious islands but allo w you to ride on the boat until the
end of the trip and then simply r eturn. Ticket prices v ary but range fr om less than $1
(70p) and up. I highly recommend that you find out when the last few boats leave from
your destination; toward the end of the day, boats can fill up quickly, leaving some pas-
sengers to wait for the next boat. E xtra boats are dispatched at peak times, but y ou still
may have to wait a few extra hours at the end of the day, especially on Sunday. Build this
time into your plans or you may literally get stuck in the mud. Many tour companies in
Buenos Aires also provide excursions to the Tigre Delta, and I have included that infor-
mation below.
VISITOR INFORMATION
In theory, there are two
Centros de Información Turística
in Tigre. There is one in Estación Tigre, but it never seems to be open. Within Estación
Fluvial Tigre, at Mitre 305 (
&
0800/888-TIGRE
[84473] or 11/4512-4497; www.tigre.
gov.ar), another office is open daily from 8am to 8pm. It is a very busy office, providing
information on the islands, hotels and rentable bungalows, and other activities. You may
have to wait a little while for help , but most of the staff speaks E nglish. Another useful
tourism website is www.puntodelta.com.ar.
GETTING AROUND
Within the town of Tigre itself, where both the train station and
the docks are, one can easily walk along both banks. There are restaurants, playgrounds
for children, and a fe w tourist-oriented shops along the water front and on the str eets
heading to the P uerto de Frutos (see below). To get around and see the delta, ho wever,
you will need a boat. I hav e listed the companies that pr ovide these ser vices above. Of
course, if you have the skills and stamina, swimming is another option.
6
WHAT TO SEE & DO
The main thing to see in Tigre is the delta itself and the v arious islands and resorts that
dot the area. Within the town of Tigre, where the train station and boat docks are, there
are a fe w services and v arious other places of inter est. Many people simply stay in this
area and dine in the r estaurants, sunbathe along the shor eline, or wander the to wn.
Ponies march up and down the eastern shoreline in the city center, near the intersection
of calles Lavalle and Fernández (no address or phone); childr en love riding them. From
this area, head along what is called
Paseo Victórica,
a collection of Victorian mansions
along the waterfront of Río Lujan, until it intersects with Río Conquista. This is one of
the prettiest parts of Tigre, and y ou will find many people sunbathing along the shor e
here. In the midst of all this Victorian splendor is the
Naval Museum,
Paseo Victorica
602, at M artínez (
&
11/4749-0608
). O n the other bank, acr oss fr om her e, is the
Parque de la Costa,
Vivanco, at M ontes de O ca (
&
11/4732-6000
), full of rides for
kids and grown-ups. Just outside of the center of Tigre is the famous
Puerto de Frutos
(
&
11/4512-4493
), at Calle Sarmiento 160, along Río Lujan. Fruit farming was integral
to the early development of the Tigre Delta, and this market is a leftover from those days.
Most people rave about seeing this site, but in general, I have always found it disappoint-
ing, with almost no fr uit. Besides the traditional basket w eavers who cr eate their war es
using the reeds growing in the delta, the market is now mostly full of odds and ends and
