Boat Tour of Tigre Delta

It is safe to say that, despite the dreary weather, we all had an enjoyable Tuesday! Following lunch in Tigre, we boarded a boat large enough to cater a group just a bit bigger than our own.  Captain Mariano led us down the Parana River where we were delighted with the sight of local homes on islands which happen to be a very popular destination for Argentines during the summer and on weekends.

 

Weekends get "intense" on the river as many people enjoy water sports and swimming during the summer months. Even though there are many beaches lining the shore, every grain of sand was put there by human hands. This is because sand is not native to the area.  The river can be up to 5 meters deep but today it was less than 2 meters.  Connecting the small islands were tall bridges next to homes built on the edges of the land. The land is better suited on the edges because towards the center, the land is typically more of a wetland area. The river also boasts a delta to the Rio de la Plata- the largest river in the world. As stated in previous entries, the Argentines are very proud of their world records. 

 

As we travelled further and further down the river, we saw restaurants, a presidential home turned museum, library, and school in addition to the small homes. The people who stay in these homes (about 8,000 of them) do not have the luxury of access to tap water and instead must use water they bring to their home.  Getting supplies such as water is not an easy task; if they don't have their own boat they must use the commuter boat to go to the mainland. Another option they have is visiting a boat with a mobile grocery store. We actually passed one during our boat ride! These home range in price from $30,000 to $120,000 in American currency and will cost "more or less" than $2500 Argentine pesos a month to rent.

 

After two hours and a bit of waves towards the end, we all made it to the Buenos Aires shore ready to recharge for dinner and a full day tomorrow!