San Telmo: The Cradle of the City
Hi! We are Rodrigo, Alejandro, Gonzalo and Luke and we want to provide the best tours in Buenos Aires. Rodrigo has been a tour guide for over 10 years in 3 different cities (Buenos Aires, Copenhagen and Berlin). He has also worked in tourism in Sierra Leone and Norway. He studied political science, journalism and is currently studying ecotourism and sustainable development. He considers himself a life enthusiast, easy going and sociable. He is interested in politics, history, architecture, music, soccer, psychology and literature. And that is what his tours are all about. Gonzalo has a degree in Administration and worked for several years generating business. Almost two years ago he realized that what he enjoys most is walking the city, telling its stories and sharing a way of looking at it. An engineer's head, but a heart that loves to tell stories. He studied history and philosophy of art to understand how ideas, spaces and people connect, He focuses on history, architecture and culture beyond data. Luke is from Arizona, USA, lived in Ecuador for a year in 2011 before settling in Buenos Aires. He has a Master's degree in Latin American Studies and specialises in indigenous communities. He has also worked for NGO's and has been working in the tourism industry for nearly 15 years. He has been trying to understand not only the history, but also the thrust of modern Argentine culture for over a decade. Luckily for him, Buenos Aires is anything but boring and his curiosity continues to feed off the ups and downs of this city. Alejandro jumped on the tourism boat around a year ago. Previously he studied Industrial Design and Psychology, lived in England for a while working as a student's group coordinator. He is passionate about telling the history of the city from the small details, searching for those secrets that make Buenos Aires a unique city.
Pickup
I will be waiting in front of the Historic "Cabildo" (White Colonial Building) opposite the Plaza de Mayo. If you are coming by Uber you can use the address Bolivar 65, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.
Description
Uncover centuries of captivating history on our San Telmo Free Walking Tour!
Begin at the iconic Cabildo, delving into Buenos Aires' fiery foundations, from Mendoza's 1536 landing to the 1810 May Revolution. Discover colonial secrets, the powerful legacy of the Jesuits at Manzana de las Luces (and its mysterious tunnels!), and the city's strategic yet contraband-filled past.
Wander along cobblestone streets where tango melodies float through the air, murals come to life on every corner, and every building has a story to tell. This free walking tour takes you deep into the soul of the city — where Buenos Aires was born and where its vibrant heart still beats today.
Stroll through the cradle of tango, filled with antique shops, colorful characters, and artistic rebellion. From the historic San Telmo Market to the whimsical world of Mafalda and the Comic Strip Walk, every stop adds a brushstroke to this living canvas of porteño culture.
This is more than a history lesson — it’s a sensory journey through art, passion, and time.
Sites visited:
- San Telmo
- Monserrat
- Plaza de Mayo
- Manzana de las Luces
- San Ignacio de Loyola Church
- Otto Wulff Building
- Rosario Basilic & Manuel Belgrano Mausoleum
- Peru Street
- Mafalda
- The Comic Strip Walk
- Defensa Street
- Plaza Dorrego
- San Telmo Market
- Street Art & Muralism
- Tango Spots