Running

Many porteños have taken up running, but the largest open spaces suitable for it are in the northern suburbs of Palermo and Belgrano. The major exception is the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur, the former rubbish tip near Puerto Madero.

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Buenos Aires’s densely built city center, ferocious traffic, and monotonous terrain limit recreational cycling, but a surprising number of porteños—even some police officers—get around on bicycles. There is a growing network of paved bicycle trails, and Palermo’s parks and the roads of suburban Buenos Aires Province encourage some riders.

San Telmo’s La Bicicleta Naranja (Pasaje Giuffra 308, tel. 011/4362-1104, www.labicicletanaranja.com.ar) offers bicycle rentals and tours of the city; it has an additional Palermo branch (Nicaragua 4825).

Rental bikes are also available along Avenida de Infanta Isabel in Palermo’s Parque Tres de Febrero (on both sides of the Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori), and at the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur.

Horseback Riding

In addition to tourist-oriented estancias, the city itself offers several riding options: try the Club Hípico Mediterráneo (Avenida Figueroa Alcorta 4800, Palermo, tel. 011/4772-3828), or the Club Alemán de Equitación (Avenida Dorrego 4045, Palermo, tel. 011/4778-7060).

Golf

The 18-hole Golf Club Lagos de Palermo (Avenida Tornquist 1426, tel. 011/4772-7261) is open 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday. Greens fees are low, but reservations are almost essential.

Soccer

Soccer-mad Buenos Aires has six first-division teams, and it seems there’s a match every night. For participants, there are pickup games in Palermo’s parks and elsewhere.

For spectators, entradas populares (standing-room tickets) are cheapest, but plateas (fixed seats) have better security. The most popular clubs are Boca Juniors (Brandsen 805, La Boca, tel. 011/4309-4700, www.bocajuniors.com.ar); River Plate (Avenida Presidente Figueroa Alcorta 7597, Núñez, tel. 011/4789-1200, www.cariverplate.com.ar); and San Lorenzo de Almagro (Avenida Perito Moreno and Varela, tel. 011/4381-8095, www.sanlorenzo.com.ar).

Horse Racing

The country’s major track is the Hipódromo Argentino (Avenida del Libertador 4101, Palermo, tel. 011/4788-2800, www.palermo.com.ar). Races take place any day of the week, but mostly Friday–Monday. General admission costs US$1, with minimum bets about the same.

© Wayne Bernhardson from Moon Argentina, 3rd edition