Top 5 Unusual Activities in Buenos Aires

If you’ve been to all of the main tourist sites in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as an Anuva wine tasting, and want to do something a bit different, here are my top five off-the-beaten path activities.

1. The toilet museum (http://www.aysa.com.ar/index.php?id_seccion=189): The Palacio de Aguas Corrientes (Palace of Running Water) used to be the site of the reservoir that provided water for the city. The beautiful building now houses a museum with an impressive collection of antique toilets as well as an exhibit on how Buenos Aires water infrastructure has developed over history. It is located downtown on 750 Riobamba Street, first floor. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm.

2. The religious theme park: Parque Tierra Santa (http://www.tierrasanta-bsas.com.ar/tsweb/index_code.html) takes you back to the time of Jesus Christ. It has musical shows and dances, food, art, puppets, shops with handmade religious memorabilia and a roller coaster. This quirky park is a fun day to pass a Saturday (they only open on Fridays, weekends and feriados).

3. El Zanjon (http://www.elzanjon.com.ar/) is a 19th century house that was discovered in San Telmo. It gives rich insight into the history of Buenos Aires and is a beautiful archaeological sight. They offer guided tours in English and in Spanish.

4. Museo de Xul Solar (http://www.xulsolar.org.ar/index.html): This lesser-known art museum showcases the works of Argentine artist, writer, and inventor of two artificial languages, Xul Solar (1887-1963). The museum houses his work, his library, and what used to be his home. His paintings were mainly watercolor, although he also experimented with oils. The museum is located on 1212 Laprida Street and is closed on Sunday and Monday.

5. Ayres Viajes (http://www.ayresviajes.com.ar/salidas-por-la-ciudad.html) does a lot of interesting tours, unlike the typical tour of Puerto Madero, downtown, and Palermo. One called Mysterious Buenos Aires is about crimes and urban legends in Buenos Aires and there is another called Romances of the Cemetery of Recoleta about the famous love stories of people resting in the cemetery.