Escape Buenos Aires for a Day | Tigre Delta & Puerto de Frutos

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Some days Buenos Aires just becomes too much. Too hectic. Too noisy. Too loud. Luckily, there is nature and rivers to be found, and it is not so far away. The weekend of your dreams lies just at the end of the Mitre Train line, in a place called the Tigre Delta.

How can I get to the Tigre Delta and the Puerto de Frutos from Buenos Aires?

There are four options:

Car:

The drive is only about 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day. Use rentalcars.com to book a car from the airport if you need one.

Bus:

There are several buses that go to Tigre and the Puerto de Frutos. Put your location into Google Maps to find which is the best route. You can use your SUBE card to ride.

Mitre Train:

The train leaves from Retiro Station, but there are also a few other stops in the city at Lisandro de la Torre, Belgrano C, and Nuñez. You should get off the train at the last stop Estación Tigre. From the Estación Tigre, it’s just a 15 minute walk to the entrance of the Puerto de Frutos. You can use your SUBE card to ride.

Mitre + Tren de la Costa:

If you would like to take the Tren de la Costa halfway (Coastal Train), you’ll need to make the switch at the Bartolome Mitre/Maipu stations. These two stations are just across the street from each other. The Tren de la Costa only operates between Maipu Station and Delta Station. You can use your SUBE card to ride.

Retiro – Tigre: Retiro stn –> Bartolome Mitre –> cross the street –> Maipu stn –> Delta stn
Tigre – Retiro: Delta stn –> Maipu stn –> cross the street –> Bartolome Mitre –> Retiro stn

The Delta Station sits exactly across the street from the Puerto de Frutos.

Side note: There is a super cute cafe on the platform at the Punta Chica stop along the Tren de la Costa tracks. If you have time, it’s worth the stop.

See the Tren de la Costa schedule below:

What is the Tigre Delta and the Puerto de Frutos?

Puerto de Frutos

Contrary to what the name sounds like, it is not only a port for fruit. It is a massive market that weaves its way all around several inlets of water. There are several shops selling home goods, clothing, knives, knitted toys, handmade goods, etc. The item that this market is most famous for, however, is its wicker. Lamps shades, chairs, tables, all made of wicker. There are also several madereros in this area as well (woodworkers) selling furniture on plain pine wood. The prices at the madereros here at the Puerto de Frutos are noticeably lower than the prices you’ll find in Buenos Aires. So if you’re looking to furnish your home with inexpensive items, this is definitely the place to get your shopping done. There are so many shops in this area, it would take several hours to see all of them.

There are several restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and bars in this area, so you will not starve mid-shop.

On the northwestern edge of the Puerto de Frutos, you can find the Parque de la Costa, which is the largest amusement park in South America. It sits right on the edge of the river.

Tigre Delta

The Tigre Delta is a system of small rivers, waterways, and islands. In fact, it is a thriving community with schools, boat taxis, and a floating supermarket. There are several different boats and boat companies that will take you on a relaxing cruise through the delta. Generally the trip takes one hour, but some cruises are longer. You can find the booths of each boat company along the edge of the water inlets, near the Puerto de Frutos. Make sure to check the schedule and prices of each company, as they all charge slightly differently and offer slightly different trips.

When I went, I used the company called Miniturismo Bambi. They had reasonable prices (1400 pesos for one hour) and a favorable schedule. There was a company across the water charging 3x that amount for a similar trip. So just make sure you check each company before making your final decision.

The tour was all in Spanish with Bambi. You may want to ask the companies if they offer bilingual cruises just in case. If not, just try to be satisfied with the views.

Can I spend the night on the Tigre Delta?

Yes! If you do one of the cruises, the guide will point out several different cabins and bungalows that are available for rent. To get a good idea of the available cabins along the Tigre Delta, take a look at Google Maps, and click on the “hotel” tab. I also suggest checking on Booking.com to see what is available, and compare prices.

Spending a night or two out on the Tigre Delta is a very relaxing and peaceful experience. It’s easy to forget you’re so close to the city. Even if you just take a day trip out to Tigre, you will return feeling replenished. If you’re looking for peace inside the city center, check out the best parks in Buenos Aires.

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