Tango Tour

Bueños Aires Tango Tour -  May 2011

We are organising our next tango tour of Bueños Aires in 2011.

The dates are to be confirmed. The tour will consist of tango instruction with our favourite teachers, loads of social dancing (with taxi dancers if you require them) tango show, delicious food & wines, visits to tango landmarks including street markets & historic cafes, tango shoe & clothes shopping, with the dedicated and experienced assistance of your hosts Ross & Sandra.

This is a great opportunity to experience with us tango in the Mecca of Tango, and if you want to extend your stay in Bueños Aires after the tour or make an excursion elsewhere in Argentina (eg. Iguazu Falls), it's a good time of year to do it.  It's also a good time to capitalise on the great exchange rate between the Peso and Australian dollar.

The tour will be designed to give you a tango experience of a lifetime! It will be limited to 15 people.

If you'd like to know more, please give us an expression of interest asap, and we will send you more details.

Immerse yourself in Tango and indulge........... Tango classes can be arranged with some teachers who are able to instruct in English. There are many teachers in Bueños Aires and it is a matter of personal taste and the needs of a student when making a selection. Most teachers will agree to give workshops to the touring group. Many teachers organize regular classes held at fixed venues. We are more than happy to recommend suitable teachers for your level of dance (on our past experiences).

The cost varies depending on the teacher(s) and whether these classes are arranged for the tour group or held regularly at independent venues. There are plenty of Milongas to choose from. There are two types of Milongas: the ones that start off in the afternoon or early in the evening and carry on till 11pm or midnight, and the ones which start around 10pm and continue till the early hours of the morning.

Most Milongas start off with a Tango Lesson. These classes are conducted in Spanish (sometimes with English interpreters), some teachers also speak English, and will translate if they realize that foreigners are present in the class. Entry to the Milongas range from 5 pesos to 10 pesos.

Local dancers can be hired to accompany and dance with the group member at the Milongas. These dancers are called "Taxi Dancers". This might be necessary in the beginning to introduce you to the local community. Some of our favourite Milongas are Niño Bien, Club Grisel, Club Español, El Arranque, Dandi, Sunderland, Sin Rumbo, & Salon Canning just to name a few.

Accommodation - to be advised.

El Sol has a warm and friendly ambience, and Fabrizio (owner, tango dancer and teacher) makes you feel at home. El Sol is a French Italian House newly restored and was built in the 19th century. and is only 2 minutes from Plaza Dorrego and 5 mins from the most important Milongas. 14 well equipped spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, shared or private. Rooftop garden, guest kitchen, Tango Dance Studio, and heating in all bedrooms. The Dance Studio is available for private practice or classes. Fabrizio speaks English, and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences in Tango and of Buenos Aires. Special Room rates are negotiated for the group.

Many interesting things to do and see

City Sights: The main area of interest to visitors is the Centro and surrounding area. The lovely green Plaza de Mayo is the city's main square and its political and historical centre.

At the Eastern end of the square is presidential palace, the pink marble and granite Casa Rosada (Pink House), whose balcony has traditionally been the stage for Argentine leaders, most notable Juan and Eva Peron, to address the people in the square below.

On the Northern side of the square is the Catedral Metropolitana, which houses the tomb of Argentina's national hero, Jose de San Martin, and has been the city's main cathedral since the early 17th century.

On the West side of the square is the remaining structure of the colonial town hall, the Cabildo; here the Museo Histôrico Nacional del Cabildo is as interesting for its architecture as for its exhibits on Argentina's history. Café Tortoni is a wonderful café/restaurant with a lovely Art Nouveau décor.  Certainly morning tea here is a must.

Café Tortoni was founded in 1858. It is the oldest shop in the whole country with a very rich history visited at all times by intellectuals, politicians and artists.

At the Northern end of downtown in the Retiro neighbourhood is the elegant green park of the Plaza San Martin, an oasis of trees and open green space that is ringed by beautiful turn of the century town houses and buildings. The park slopes down northward to two more plazas, located here is the Torre Monumental, a replica of London's Big Ben.

Carlos Gardel / Abasto / Shop till you drop

A day to visit Carlos Gardel's Home/Museum near Abasto. After some highly expensive recycling, the gigantic Abasto market was transformed into a shopping centre with a great number of stores. A few steps away from it, on Zelaya between Anchorena and Jean Jaures, the walls of the houses are decorated with giant portraits of the most famous neighbour of the area: Carlos Gardel. The Museo Gardel is just around the corner, in the house where the singer lived with his mother since 1927. Once finished here, then it's time to do factory outlet shopping in Once (Ave Corrientes/Pueyrredôn), where the streets are lined with factory outlet shopping......A pure haven for the shop-a-holic......bargains galore.

Iguazu Falls-Brazil & Argentine Border

Iguazu Falls - 2 hour flight to Iguazu to see the most spectacular Falls. At least 5000 cubic meters of water plunge the 70 mtr into the abyss. There are 275 spectacular falls in total.

Packages are available from $500US which includes air ticket, transfers, 2 nights lodging with breakfast, tour of Argentine San Martin Falls, Mbigua & Bernabe Mendez Falls, Devil's Throat and rapids of Iguazu River.

Dinner/Shows and Tours

There are now many different shows to choose from ie: Señor Tango, Carlos Gardel etc. Shows are available from 120 pesos each, or enjoy Show & Dinner from 300 pesos each. (prices are approx only) Gaucho Party Estaciôn Tour. Learn the aspects of the Gaucho's life, a whole day countryside, participating in Sortija and Cuadrera races. Enjoy fabulous empanadas (meat pies) all served with Argentine wines. Folk Music and Tango performances. Why not take a city tour with MAWA Travel, and have an English spoken tour of the city. A day trip to Uruguay - Visit Colonia an unforgettable day with a round trip ticket, lunch, city tour, historic area and the Coast up to Real de San Carlos (Bullring), with free time for shopping and sightseeing. Cost depends on which ferry you choose.  Passport is required. English tour guide is available.

Sunday Markets / Teatro Colôn

There are two markets we suggest. Start the morning with La Boca, Caminito Street where there is an outdoor museum with sculptures engravings and mural paintings. The streets are alive with art and craft stalls, Tango performances, singing, live statues and much much more.

After you visit La Boca, take a bus to San Telmo where you may wish to visit Plaza Dorrego, just walking distance from El Sol in San Telmo. These markets are full of things to see, street performers, antique shops and general markets. Both markets are a must to see.

Teatro Colôn, only a short walk from El Sol, is one on the world's greatest theatres. You can go to an opera, concert or dance performance here, it will be a memorable occasion. If not, you can visit the theatre's museum, and take a fascinating guided tour of the building. English spoken tours are held. Teatrô Colon took 40 years to build, being completed in 1908. The main theatre has a seating capacity of 2,500

Recoleta Cementerio / North West of the Centre

Recoleta takes its name from a Franciscan convent (1716) but is best know from the Cementerio de las Recoleta (1822). An astonishing necropolis where, in death, as in life, generations of the Argentine elite repose in ornate splendour. Recoleta has Sunday markets which certainly take ½ a day to see. During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1870s, many upper class porteños relocated from San Telmo to Recoleta, now one of the city's most fashionable districts, where shopping is a must. The sprawling acreage of the Jardin Zoologico (zoo), the Jardin Botanico (Botanical Garden), and the Parque 3 de Febrero (park) were once part of the private domain of detested dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 19th century.

What others have to say......

Writing this at Carlos Gardel Show night-sensational !!. One of so many special nights....days, dinners, milongas, lessons, classes with special teachers....all so wonderful !! Thank you both sincerely for your generosity". Regina Lacgalvs (2005)

"As every year, you two are a couple of beautiful fellows and I hope I'll be lucky enough to see you and enjoy you again every year, Un Abrazote".... Fabrizio Forti (El Sol) "Thank you Ross & Sandra for an incredible experience that you have made possible. Muy Bien"... Michael Sheppard "An emotional, learning, growth experience for me, but one I would not have missed for the world". Anne

"Thank you for my quantum leap into Tango. Argentina was way more than I expected and my visit here has fueled my desire for more tango. Thank you both for your care and consideration of all of us in passing on ,your passion for Tango and Argentina". Liz De Plata 

"Many thanks for your time Ross & Sandra, for including me on this wonderful Trip". Ingrid Gilbert.

"Thank you for being the best Tango teaching team in the world ! Your organisation of this Buenos Aires June-July 2005 trip is unbeatable and highly professional. Very exciting and interesting educational trip. I am truly inspired!" Sid Lau

What we have to say......

Each year we travel to Buenos Aires, for our Annual holiday. Where we update out teaching skills and work on our tango. Over the last 8 years we have made many wonderful friends in Bs As, and have met some wonderful Tango Dancers ie: Carlos Gavito, Miguel Zotto, Roberto Herrera, Pablo Nievas & Valeria Zunino, Viviana Maceri, Miguel & Augusto, Fabrizio Forti, Mariana Dragonne, Elina Roldan, Jorge Dispari & Maria "La Turca", Stella Barba, Chiche & Marta, just to name a few. We have enjoyed sharing this wonderful experience with over 106 Tango friends, and would enjoy sharing this holiday with you. We have put together for your convenience 3 different packages to suit your needs. The package will consists of a number of activities ie; Milongas, Shoe Shopping, City Tour, Gaucho Tour, Dinner/Show, Group Dinner, Classes, & Hotel transfers.

Feel free to join the group or us in some of our activities, or to independently do your own thing with the security of knowing we are there to guide you and to answer any questions you may have during you stay in Buenos Aires.

If you'd like to know more, please give us an expression of interest , and we will send you more details. It is possible to make the tour one or 2 weeks later if there is sufficient interest, so please let us know your preferred dates and duration

Ross & Sandra