Another beautiful day in Buenos Aires, and another neighborhood to explore. More than most cities, Buenos Aires is a collection of unique neighborhoods, each with a completely different look and feel. Puerto Madero stands out for its ultra-modern appeal, new glass skyscrapers towering over the city’s old center. But there is more here to discover.
From Plaza de Mayo, getting to Puerto Madero couldn’t be easier. Face the pink facade of the Casa Rosada, and follow the tall buildings that tower behind it. You’ll cross a major street and then arrive at the port itself, the buildings getting ever closer.
Puerto Madero, literally Madero’s port, was constructed in the late 1880s by Eduardo Madero to be Buenos Aires’ cargo port. However, with the early 1900s bringing with them larger ships, Puerto Madero was soon obsolete, and the city was forced to build another new port further up the Rio de la Plata. Puerto Madero fell into disuse with that new port’s opening in 1926.
Today’s Puerto Madero still has some of the warehouses and port facilities from its earlier life, but they have since been repurposed. Warehouse blocks are now attractive flats with hip restaurants and shops at their base. And given their places sitting on both sides of a narrow waterway that was once the port (spanned by a few bridges), they make for nice places to sit and catch a bit of the breeze.
One bridge in particular stands out. The pedestrian Puente de la Mujer is a graceful suspension bridge resembling a sail, with sides built to remind crossers of the railings on a ship. The entire walkway of the bridge is plastic made to look like wooden planks, built of recycled plastic bottles. The bridge opened in 2001, and if you walk to Puerto Madero from Plaza de Mayo, it is likely the route you’ll take.
In the 1990s, construction of high rise buildings in Puerto Madero took off. This was the largest urban renewal project in Buenos Aires’ history, and anchored by the 1999 opening of the Hilton Buenos Aires in the neighborhood, it has been successful. Today, these buildings offer some of the most luxurious addresses in the city, are ripe for foreign investment, and sit less than a thirty minute walk from much of the city center.
But even with the wealth of the residents here, there are some hipster vibes to be found as well. On the Puerto Madero side of the Puente de la Mujer is a food truck lot. While the trucks here seem like permanent fixtures rather than movable kitchens, it gives a dining option for those on a budget and still desiring of good food, with offerings ranging from burgers to new spins on traditional Argentine sandwiches. Add in a beer stall that functions as the central ordering and paying hub, some shaded tables, and it makes for a pleasant casual way to grab a bite for the younger or family crowds.
And on a pretty day, those crowds are in evidence, for just on the other side of the skyscrapers is one of the largest green areas in a city known for its incredible green spaces. The Constanera Sur Ecological Preserve fronts the Rio de la Plata, and consists of 865 acres of riverfront, marsh, lagoons, picnic areas, and miles of trails for walkers and bikers. (There are also accessibility transport vehicles so all the city’s residents can enjoy this beautiful area.) A medium-sized loop takes about 90 minutes, time spent with birds, butterflies, and humans out to enjoy them.
If you only have a few days in Buenos Aires, Puerto Madero is not the place I’d spend that time, as the older neighborhoods of Recoleta (click here to real about it) or San Telmo (click here for that one) offer more traditional culture and architecture, and of course there is also the city center itself. But if you have a week or more here in this incredible city, do yourself a favor and spend a day exploring the beauty and modernity of this cool place.
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