Entering the port district of La Boca is like stepping into a very colourful painting. The buildings in this old and iconic neighbourhood are painted in many cheerful colours. Statues and figurines lean out over balconies in the street of “el Caminito”, evoking the historic portside atmosphere. Enjoy the street’s cafés, galleries and souvenir shops, catch a live tango show, see street artists at work and visit the stadium where Argentina’s biggest soccer stars have trained.
La Boca’s iconic colours date back to the 19th century. It is thought that the working-class immigrants who settled here decorated their “conventillos” (cramped boarding houses) with left over paints discarded at the docks. Murals and sculptures by artist Benito Quinqela Martín show what life was like then.
Try some local cuisine at the cafés along el Caminito. Ask for “parilla”, a selection of meats cooked on a coal-fired barbecue. Sample beef steaks, blood sausage and organs. For the price of a coffee you can enjoy the in-house café tango dancers. Wander through La Boca until you find a costumed couple performing the dance on a street corner.
Spend time admiring the collection of international contemporary art at the Fundación Proa Museum and Cultural Center. The museum’s café has a great view over the Plata River and docks. Visit the Museo Histórico de Cera, where scenes such as Buenos Aires’ founding, clashes during the fight for independence and modern daily life are depicted by wax figures.
Soccer fans will love the guided tour of La Bombonera, where some of Argentina’s biggest names in soccer started out in the Boca Juniors. Visit the stadium museum to see trophies, historic jerseys and memorabilia from soccer greats such as Diego Maradona and Carlos Tevez, who both started here. Join up with an organised tour to watch a game.
La Boca is on the southeast side of the city centre, surrounded by a relatively poor district. Arrive by taxi or take the tourist bus to El Caminito or La Bombonera from Plaza de Mayo. Take some safety precautions: stick to the main tourist streets and take only the cash you need to enjoy your visit.
