What’s new?
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
From $6,750
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Argentina.
Argentina has the largest Jewish population of any country in Latin America, and the vibrant and sophisticated city of Buenos Aires is currently home to nearly 200,000 Jews, the eighth largest in the Jewish population in the world. Formed from Spanish and Portuguese Jews in the early sixteenth century, and waves of immigrants from countries like France and Italy in the mid-1800s and later Russia and other Eastern European countries, the community also maintains a significant Sephardic presence, many of Syrian descent.
On this unforgettable Jewish heritage tour to Argentina, we will discover the international oasis, storied history, and active Jewish heritage of Buenos Aires with expert scholars and guides. In addition to the city’s numerous synagogues, Jewish organizations, schools, and clubs, and at least 50 kosher restaurants (as well as the only kosher McDonald’s outside of Israel), Buenos Aires boasts many world-class museums and important Jewish remembrance sites.
In Buenos Aires, we will explore the active Jewish neighborhoods of Once and Abasto, visit synagogues and notable locations, stop at several museums, (including the Eva Perón museum) and take a back-stage tour of the famed Colon Theatre. Together, we’ll experience the splendors of the city’s eclectic architecture, explore the pleasures of its colorful neighborhoods — from artsy cafes to street performers to antique fairs— and tap into the pulse of “the Paris of South America.”
We will top off our one-of-a-kind tour with an enriching overnight trip to the spectacular Iguazu falls and nature park on the border between Argentina and Brazil. With more than 275 falls, it is so impressive that upon visiting it, Eleanor Roosevelt is said to have remarked, “Poor Niagara!”
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $6,750* includes:
9 nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels
Full breakfast daily; two lunches; four dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per person, double occupancy; single supplement: $1,950. Fees not included: gratuities: $195. Museum membership for nonmembers.
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Ariel Goldstein, born in Uruguay, studied Latin American history in Montevideo and at the Israel School of Tourism in Jerusalem. After six years working as a tour guide in Israel, Ariel moved to the U.S., where he developed and led trips to South America for adult students at the Spanish in Marin language school in Marin County, California. In 2006 and 2009, he led trips to Tunisia and the Persian Gulf for educational tour operators High Country Passage and World Leaders Travel. In 2007, Ariel founded the Travel Program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, where he directed the program until 2017, leading tours throughout Israel, Europe, Latin America, China, India, Africa, and the U.S. Ariel speaks English, Spanish, Hebrew and Portuguese and has visited more than 40 countries around the world.
Our tour starts in the afternoon. We’ll begin in Recoleta, the most sophisticated neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Here you find some of the best restaurants, cafes, night clubs, and shops.
The name Recoleta is derived from the Order of Monjes Recoletos Descalzos (Barefoot Monks from Recoleta) who, in the early seventeenth century, built a convent, a church and a small graveyard, which currently form the heart of the neighborhood. The Recoleta Cemetery (the old graveyard) is laid out like a small city with ornate burial areas and surprises visitors with its architectural richness and the graves of important personalities from Argentinean political and social life, including Eva Perón. Although a Catholic cemetery, there are Jewish families buried here. We’ll also pass the Buenos Aires Design, a shopping centre dedicated to home decorations and interior design, and the Palais de Glace, used today as a center of temporary exhibitions.
We return to our hotel for rest, followed by a group dinner and a presentation by our scholar.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start our program today in the Jewish neighborhoods of Once and Abasto. Here are located several synagogues, two major clubs — Hebraica and Macabi — and several Jewish schools, as well as kosher pizzerias and restaurants. We make our first stop at the Yesod Hadat Sephardic Congregation, a beautiful Eastern-style synagogue created by a group of Jewish immigrants from Aleppo, Syria.
We continue to the new home of AMIA (Israelite Mutual Association of Argentina), one of the longest-standing institutions in the country and dedicated to encouraging Jewish culture in Argentina, preserving its traditions, and promoting community development. The original AMIA building was destroyed in 1994 in a terrorist attack in which 85 people died. During our visit, we will be met by a director of AMIA who will take us on a tour of the building and give us a briefing about AMIA and its vision for the Jews of Argentina.
We’ll then make a brief stop in the Israel Embassy Square, which suffered a brutal terrorist attack in 1992. The square was built in the place where the embassy once stood.
An included group lunch follows.
Afterwards, we’ll pause at LaValle Square, where we see a monument to the victims of the AMIA attack. The organization Memoria Activa continues to meet there every Monday to demand clarification on the attack.
The afternoon continues with a visit to Libertad Temple, where we will meet with one of the rabbis. This Byzantine-style temple was Buenos Aires’s first synagogue. It has been declared a national landmark and is the largest temple in the city.
Next to the synagogue is the Jewish Museum, where we will see objects related to the Jewish presence in Buenos Aires, including pieces of religious art, menorahs, and various objects belonging to the Sephardic and Ashkenazi cultures of Argentina.
We return to the hotel followed by dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we’ll continue our exploration of Buenos Aires at the Plaza de Mayo, the scene of many important political demonstrations. The plaza is surrounded by the Government House, known as the “Pink House,” home to the seat of the executive branch, the Cabildo museum, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Here, we will see an homage that the Catholic Church has made to the Jewish community. It consists of two glass plates between which there are prayer book pages rescued from the ruins of Treblinka and Auschwitz concentration camps and the Warsaw ghetto. There are also two book covers: one a book of tales in Yiddish found under the rubble of the AMIA’s building and the other the Book of Samuel, found while looking for survivors after the Israeli diplomatic building exploded.
We will then drive along the Avenida De Mayo, which starts from the plaza and along which we will see many wide avenues and green spaces. An example of this will be seen at 9 de Julio Avenue, with its eight lanes divided by small green squares filled with old leaf-filled trees and enriched by sculptures and fountains. In the middle of the avenue, in Plaza de la Replica, arises the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, an icon of the city.
We’ll continue with a visit to the Jewish senior center LeDor VaDor, opened in 2007 and funded by local residents and institutions in Argentina and the United States. The facility can house up to 292 residents and accommodate hundreds more for daily activities.
Our next stop is the Museum of the Holocaust-Shoa, where there are activities designed to spread awareness of the Holocaust, as well as a library, resource films, and permanent and temporary exhibits. During our visit, we will meet with a survivor.
We will end our day with a special visit to the Bentio Quinquela Martin Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts.
Return to our hotel. Dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
Today, after breakfast at the hotel, we will go on an excursion to Tigre river delta. We depart by bus and will drive through residential areas in suburban Buenos Aires. We pass the president’s residence in Olivos and continue to San Isidro and Tigre, a lovely neighborhood situated in the delta of the Parana River. This area was first colonized in 1590 but people only began to move there in the late eighteenth century. The first inhabitants were smugglers who took advantage of the labyrinth of little canals, streams, and islands to hide and enter with goods, evading the customs taxes. In the late 19th century, it became the favorite recreation place for the elite classes of Buenos Aires.
We will explore the delta and its cooling air and subtropical vegetation by boat, allowing us to admire the many stately old residences, which contrast with numerous small wooden houses, and pass by yacht and rowing clubs. In this way, we come to know this unique community that lives in an ongoing relationship with the waters.
We will have lunch at a typical restaurant on one of the islands and relax for a while in this ideal natural environment, away from the bustle of the city.
In the afternoon, we return to our hotel and have the rest of the day for leisure and dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, this morning we will go to the Malba Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires. The Malba houses the Constatini Collection, the first Latin American art collection in Argentina and one of the most important collections in the world. With its 222 masterpieces, it showcases the development of Latin America painting and sculpture throughout the 20th century. Although some older artists are included, the collection starts chronologically with the Latin American vanguards of the second decade of the 20th century. The collection gathers important masterpieces that allow the visitors to clearly see the combination between the different artistic movements in Latin American countries.
We will continue with a backstage tour of the famed Colon Theatre, one of the most important opera houses in the world, followed by a break for lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, we will visit and tour the Eva Perón Museum.
We end our day with evening services at Libertad Synagogue. After services, we will enjoy a Shabbat dinner together.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
Following breakfast at the hotel, you’ll enjoy a day of leisure on your own to explore Buenos Aires. Stroll its enchanting neighborhoods, sit in one of the many sidewalk cafes, find a place for a delicious lunch, and take in the vibrant vibes and personality of “the Paris of South America.”
In the evening, we will have dinner together and attend a tango show, one of Argentina’s most renowned contributions to the arts.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
This morning after breakfast, we’ll start our day in the colorful port neighborhood of La Boca with its famous “Caminito” street, whose characteristics and customs reflect the influence of immigration by sailors who arrived in the late 19th century. We will then visit San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Its colonial houses and cobbled streets have kept untouched most of the architectural patrimony of its immigrant settlers. A bustling antique fair is held in Plaza Dorrego every Sunday, and you will have the opportunity to wander through it with the locals to see the wide array of offerings.
We’ll continue to the modern, high-end district of Puerto Madero, where we will have a group lunch. The rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure and enjoy dinner on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
Today we have an early morning departure from the hotel to the Jorge Newbery City Airport in Buenos Aires for our flight to Iguazu on the border with Brazil.
In Iguazu, we will be met by our local guide for our visit to the Argentine side of the famous falls. The waterfalls are located in the Iguazu National Park and are one of the first protected areas in the Americas. The park and falls were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. The waterfalls have 275 jumps of water that fall from an average height of 70 meters (about 230 feet). In this sub-tropical forest, it is possible to see a wide variety of ferns, orchids, begonias, birds and butterflies, and numerous native species.
We will then go to the Estacion Central (Central Station), where we board a train to take us to the Estacion Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat Station) in just under 20 minutes. An easy 1,200-meter walk (about 3/4 mile) will take us to the great balcony of the most important jumps of the Iguazu falls, the Devil’s Throat. We will also enjoy an easy walk along the Upper Circuit of the falls, a 1.5 mile loop. This protected trail is an elevated footbridge above the ground to avoid impacting the fauna of the forest. From this circuit, it is possible to see the upper parts of the waterfalls. (Please note: These walks have no stairs.) Lunch will be provided during the program at the National Park.
We will arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon and have dinner there.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Iguazú Grand Resort Spa and Casino
This morning, we’ll take breakfast at the hotel, then depart to cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge and Juan D. Peron Bridge that connect the cities of Puerto Iguazu in Argentina with Foz the Iguazu in Brazil. Here we will visit Iguazu National Park, one of the largest nature reserves of Brazil. We arrive at the tourist center and board a coach that will take us to the park and the 950-meter (1/2 mile) walkways that hang over the gully of the River Iguazu.
During our tour, we will have an amazing view of the Isla San Martin and some of the most important jumps of the Iguazu falls such as the Bossetti, the San Martina, and the Tres Mosqueteros. We will also come to a magnificent viewpoint of the Devil’s Throat that we visited the day before. The beauty of this place is unparalleled, with the constant presence of rainbows highlighting its magic. Our tour will end at the Floriano Jump, where you will have the opportunity to take a panoramic elevator. Our coach then awaits us for the ride back to our hotel. (Please note: There are some stairs during this walk. Participants who cannot walk the stairs can take the coach to the viewpoint and take the elevator down for an up-close view of Devil’s Throat.)
After lunch on your own, we will depart for the airport to fly back to Buenos Aires.
Check into our hotel and meet in the evening for a Farewell Dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel
Breakfast followed by leisure time before departing for flights home.
Meals included: breakfast
Payment Reserve your space with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of JHT museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 28 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations All cancellations must be received by Gil Travel in writing. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure: full refund less nonrefundable deposits, per person; 119–90 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after nonrefundable deposits. 89–0 days before departure: no refund.
Trip Cancellation Insurance Gil Travel Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to RoamRight, which many past participants have used. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Roamright or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Gil Travel and Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against Gil Travel or the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. Gil Travel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will Gil Travel, the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
Are Kosher meals available?
While we do not offer Kosher food, we offer fish and/or vegetarian options at every meal included in the trip.
How many people will be on the trip?
On average about 24 people.
What is the age group?
55+
What is the makeup of the participants?
A good mix of singles and couples.
How fit do I need to be? How much walking is there?
You should be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in to get a sense of the schedule for each day. When there is free time, some choose to stay active, others to rest.
If you prefer more activity, many of the hotels we stay in have pools and fitness facilities, and some of our trips do offer the opportunity for more physical activity.
Are the trips accessible for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
People who use a cane to aid their walking have found our trips accessible. You still need to be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Unfortunately, accessibility can be limited in the places we travel, making it too difficult for people in wheelchairs or walkers to participate in our trips.
Is the trip Shabbat Observant?
We normally have a Shabbat dinner together be it at a hotel or restaurant and sometimes at a synagogue. We do not have programming on Saturday other than perhaps a meeting with the scholar. In some destinations we offer walking tours on Saturday. You can refer to the itinerary of your chosen trip for specifics.
When does the program actually begin?
The Itinerary and Program Details section of the trip you are interested in will indicate when to plan to arrive and depart, as well as when the program begins and ends. Every trip includes a welcome session to get oriented and meet each other, the guides, and scholars and a farewell event to celebrate, reflect, and say good-bye to our fellow travelers.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. Taxis, and often other transportation options, are available from all airports.
Are meals included?
The Itinerary of the trip you are interested in will indicate which meals are included on each day. For meals on your own, suggestions are available from the concierge at the hotels we are staying in. We encourage you to explore the diversity of local and international cuisines in the places we visit.
Are the trips only for Jewish people?
While the majority of our travelers are Jewish, our trips are for anyone interested in exploring the Jewish heritage of the destinations we take you to.
I’d like to explore my genealogy at one of the places you are going to. Is that possible?
Our trips are not designed for genealogical research. If you want to undertake genealogical work, it is necessary to do this on your own and would be best to plan for an extra few days before or after one of our trips.
How much free time will I have?
Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in for information on when free time is scheduled for exploring on your own, resting in your room, engaging in conversation with new friends, etc.
Is there Wi-Fi everywhere?
While WiFi is available in most of the world, there are regions or locations where it is not as accessible. Most of the hotels we stay at offer free WiFi.
What Museum Memberships Qualify?
Museum of Jewish Heritage New York: $54
Holocaust Museum LA: $100
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center – Nassau County: $54
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $54
*Membership # will need to be provided upon registration
Accommodation
Discover a sophisticated style and tasteful designs at Buenos Aires Marriott, our downtown hotel. Experience the best of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from our prime location near emblematic monuments such as the Obelisk, the Colon Theater, the Palace of Justice and the famous 9 de Julio Avenue.
Immersed in nature just minutes from the Iguazu Falls, the Hotel Iguazú Grand is a luxury resort that offers elegant modern rooms that overlook lush gardens designed by the renowned French-Argentinian landscape architect Carlos Thays. A stay here provides sophisticated comfort, with full in-room amenities, including WiFi, as well as a gym, wellness center, and a large outdoor pool and deck area. Its haute cuisine restaurants feature dishes crafted with locally produced organic ingredients.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
Start your adventure here
GIL TRAVEL NEWSLETTER
Receive inspiration
in your inbox
Copyright © 2024 Gil Travel Inc. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Tabuzzco
Search for something…
Contact us by sending a message
We always aim to reply within 1 business day.
