Tour Buenos Aires and Learn to Make Empanadas

WHY IT RATES: Have an awesome culinary adventure and tour the highlights of Buenos Aires with ShoreTrips —Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor

ShoreTrips Buenos Aires Highlights Tour with empanada making class and lunch departs daily at 9:00 am from the cruise pier or Buenos Aires Hotel. In addition to the empanada cooking class and lunch, the tour includes round-trip transportation, an English speaking guide and the highlights tour of Buenos Aires.

The day begins with an introduction to the city which gave birth to the Tango! We'll bring you to all of Buenos Aires' most famous highlights, including a drive along 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue in the world! You'll pass the Colon Theatre, one of the world's best-known opera houses and the cultural pride of the "porteños" (as the inhabitants of Buenos Aires are called).

Visit the famous Avenida de Mayo that runs into the Plaza De Mayo, surrounded by the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (first City Hall, built during Spanish rule). At the other end of Avenida de Mayo the cupola of the Congress building can be seen. We'll make a stop to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Your next stop is La Boca, a colorful area with the famous street Caminito. Continue to the north area driving to Palermo, the green area of the city with its beautiful parks, the City Zoo, Botanical Garden, Argentine Horse Track and National Polo Fields. Palermo is also well known for its artificial lakes.

Before heading to the North Area of the city, it's time for a tasty break from sightseeing. Together we will not only taste Argentinian cuisine but also embrace the local culture.

Learning the ups and downs of Argentine cooking is not just about the food. In this program, you will learn about the etiquette and traditions that hide behind the famous Creole empanada. All cultures have something similar to this small pie. Empanadas can be traced back to Spain, and each segment of Spanish society has their own version.

Here in Argentina, the tradition of empanadas is that it is a food to share. Any guest visiting friends will find that empanadas will be part of their visit. Each family will have its own story about how their personal recipe arrived to their kitchen.

Your class takes place in a well-known restaurant but during the lunch hour when they are closed. Enjoy a relaxing time in a cozy atmosphere, with Argentine music, local food, accompanying drinks and fine art works of many local artists.

Before returning to the cruise pier, we'll bring you to one of the city’s most glamorous spots, the Recoleta area. Here you will see elegant boutiques and excellent restaurants, surrounded by centennial trees. The heart of the neighborhood is Recoleta cemetery, the most relevant personalities of Argentina’s history rest in this place.

The mausoleums and pantheons reflect the architectural diversity emerging from the different cultural tendencies Argentina incorporated in its formation as a nation. The cemetery is considered to be one of the most impressive monuments of Argentina. Our visit will bring you to the grave of Eva Duarte, known as Eva Perón (Evita), the first female president of the country.

SOURCE: ShoreTrips press release.