ALL the excursions below are included in your study abroad program price!

Excursions are a fundamental part of the abroad experience. We carefully select weekend excursions that allow you to discover more about the country in which you are studying and are selected based on cultural and educational importance or sites of natural beauty. Entrance and transportation fees are always included.

Argentine Cowboy Ranch (Gaucho)

Escape from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires for a weekend excursion to the quiet of the southern Pampas, defined by peaceful villages and breathtaking terrain. This is an ideal excursion to the lands of the mythical Gaucho, or Argentine cowboy, a symbol of the Pampas. We will visit an area offering some of the most diverse and impressive landscapes found anywhere. Here you will experience wild scenery highlighted by valleys, inviting forests, and clear-flowing streams. It is the ideal location for outdoor activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and biking. We will explore local parks and bike trails that wind through pristine forests. Later, we will visit a typical Argentine estancia, or ranch, and enjoy the famous asado, the Argentine barbeque. If time allows we will visit local communities with their small town charm and quaint shops.

Colonia, Uruguay

Cross the immense Río de la Plata, the widest river in the world, into the Uruguayan town of Colonia. Founded in 1680, Colonia, was the only Portuguese settlement ever established along the river. Here it served as a contraband port against the Spanish. Due to its Portuguese past, the town has a very different feel than that of any other Spanish colonial city. Colonia’s narrow cobblestone streets and colonial homes are reminiscent of historic Lisbon, Portugal. This unique flavor has earned Colonia the distinction as a UNESCO world heritage site.

El Tigre River Boat Ride & Old Market

Visit the fascinating river town of El Tigre, located on the banks of the Río de la Plata. Here, the Paraná and Uruguay rivers flow into Río de la Plata, making it the third largest estuary in the world. The region is known as the Delta and El Tigre is the main town. In the Delta, life is the river. People live on the hundreds of islands in the waters around El Tigre and to get anywhere, you must go by boat. We will visit the colonial town of El Tigre, with its famous weekend Fruit Market, and the 200 year-old riverbank mansions of San Isidro. We will also take a boat trip along the mystical river passing countless islands covered with beautiful vegetation and rich in wildlife. Along the way you will see homes built on stilts, typical of the area. This is a unique experience and a voyage into a world unaffected by the bustle of modernity.

Festivals

Festivals abound in Buenos Aires. You can pretty much be assured to find a festival of any type imaginable. Naturally, there are festivals dedicated to tango. For example, Argentines celebrate the death of the Carlos Gardel, the most famous tango singer of all time. The country’s important link to agriculture and ranching can be seen in the numerous festivals dedicated to horses and rural life. Throughout the year the historic neighborhoods of Buenos Aires such as San Telmo or Boca have festivals dedicated to art or to patron saints. In such a diverse city there is always something going on, which is a wonderful surprise for the unsuspecting passerby.