Buenos Aires Neighbourhoods: Parque Chacabuco

Buenos Aires is a surprisingly green city. The city boasts some of the most green spaces and recreational areas in the world for a city of its size. Whether you are here for a short vacation or an extended stay, there are a few parks which offer the outdoor fix you need to balance out your frantic urban adventure, such as los bosques de Palermo (Palermo Parks) (map), la Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, and  Plaza San Martín, just to name a few.

But there are a number of not so famous green areas to discover. Parque Chacabuco (map) is one of Buenos Aires’ nicest, most underrated, largest neighborhood parks. Located next to the barrio de Caballito, in a neighbourhood that shares the same name, roughly 6 kilometers West of Plaza de Mayo, in the geographical center of the city, the neighborhood has many of the usual downtown amenities, but at a fraction of the cost.

The park spans a good portion of property in the area. This is a true barrio park. It is a popular place for local family picnics, carnaval festivals, dog walkers, local drum groups, and artisans selling hand-made crafts and jewelry.

There is also wide athletic space as well, so don’t be surprised if you see fútbol matches, joggers, and even yoga and tai chi exercises. A smaller garden with roses and blooming bushes is gated off within the park and opened on the weekends. It’s worth a trip through.

The neighborhood’s main avenue, avenida Asamblea (map), runs from avenida La Plata to the actual park. It is known for its bargain clothing stores, as well as restaurants, bakeries, and other various food markets.

While the restaurants here lack the variety of the ones downtown, you can still find some of the best pizzerias and parrillas in the city at a fraction of the cost.

Parque Chacabuco can be reached by subte, just get off at avenida La Plata stop on Linea E, or by one of the many colectivos (buses) lines. Check the Guia T. Taxis from downtown run anywhere between $20 to $30 pesos.

Photo credit: morrissey on Flickr