After the Buenos Aires Marathon: Tigre and the Delta

The Route: Buenos Aires (Retiro) → Tigre → Delta boat trip → Tigre → Buenos Aires Logistics: Suburban train on the Mitre line from Retiro station to Tigre. Check the operator's timetable for the day, as Sunday and holiday services differ. Marathon Month: September Duration: Day trip

Retiro station ──(Mitre line, suburban train)──> Tigre
                                                   │
                              Delta boat trip ◄────┘
                                    │
                                    └──> Tigre ──(train)──> Retiro

The marathon finishes in Palermo, and Tigre sits at the end of a suburban rail line to the north of the city. The day asks very little of the legs. The train does the travelling, the boat does the sightseeing, and most of the time is spent sitting down.

September in Buenos Aires: Spring has begun, with city averages running from about 11°C to 20°C. Mornings on the water feel cooler than the figure suggests, so take a windproof layer. Rain showers are possible, and the delta can feel damp when the sky is grey.

Go on a weekday if the schedule allows. Weekend trains and boats fill with day-trippers, and the quieter hours make the walk from the station easier on tired legs. Buy a rechargeable transport card before travelling, or ask the hotel how to pay on the day, because suburban fares are handled differently from the Subte. Check the current arrangements before leaving.

The train north

Retiro is the terminus for the Mitre line. The ride takes the better part of an hour, and the seats are plain but usually available outside peak times. Stairs at Retiro can be steep, so allow time and use the lifts where they exist. Sit on the river side if you can.

Tigre

Tigre's old riverside is short and flat. The walk from the station to the waterfront is level, and a stroll along the river wall needs no more than a few hundred metres. Cafés and craft stalls line the way. Check opening days before planning a stop at a particular museum, as many close on Mondays or Tuesdays.

The boat trip

Boat operators run seated trips through the narrow channels among the islands, with stilted houses, jetties and thick green banks on either side. Choose a covered boat and a short route of about an hour. Ask about boarding steps before paying, because some landing stages have a gap or a steep ramp. Prices vary by route and operator, so use any figure as a guide only.

Lunch on one of the islands is possible by boat, and several restaurants take bookings. Ask the hotel to recommend one, or choose a place back on the Tigre waterfront if the boat times feel tight.

Getting back

Trains run back to Retiro through the afternoon and into the evening. Leave Tigre with daylight in hand, as the platform walk and the Retiro stairs are easier when it is not dark. From Retiro, a taxi or the Subte reaches Palermo. A taxi is the simpler choice for tired legs, and the fare is small compared with the rest of the day.