Dancing Tango in La Boca’s Caminito Street!
If you want to watch expert tango dancers in Buenos Aires ~ look no further than colorful Caminito Street, in the La Boca district. This is not an area to visit at night, as it shuts down around 7PM. But during the day, this is one of the liveliest places to be! And it’s the perfect place to watch tango professionals in beautiful outfits perform their craft. So without further ado, let’s head to Buenos Aires & learn about dancing tango in La Boca’s Caminito Street!
Caminito Street is C-O-L-O-R-F-U-L!!!
Map of La Boca District
Caminito Street
Quick Facts About Caminito Street
- Location: Caminito Street, which translates to “little walkway” or “little street,” is located in the La Boca area of Buenos Aires, south of Plaza de Mayo & San Telmo.
- When to Go: During the day ONLY, before 6PM. My friend & I made the mistake of grabbing a cab to Caminito at 7PM ~ & it was absolutely dead. La Boca is also not safe at night, so we hopped back in the cab & headed for the popular Palermo district.
- Best Way to Get There: Take a taxi or Uber.
- What to See: Colorful shops, street art, & of course: professional tango dancers! If you take a photograph with them, prepare to tip them in cash.
- Is it Touristy? Yes, Caminito Street is quite touristy ~ we definitely saw more tourists than locals. But don’t let that stop you from visiting at least once…it’s still worth it!
- Is La Boca Safe? I walked from the San Telmo neighborhood down to La Boca several times during my stay in Buenos Aires: once with a friend, & other times by myself ~ & always during the day. For the most part, it felt safe, particularly on main roads. If you get lost, & end up on random side streets, it may feel a little dodgier. Your best bet is to take a taxi to La Boca, & have them drop you off right at Caminito Street.
- Would You Stay in La Boca? Personally, I would NOT. I stayed in nearby San Telmo for much of my trip, & loved it. It’s got history, beautiful architecture, & cobble-stoned streets. And plenty of people ~ I felt comfortable walking around anytime, day or night. For more safety & fun, I’d stay in San Telmo, trendy Palermo, modern Puerto Madero, or upscale Recoleta (where Taylor Swift stays) instead.
For a full run-down of Buenos Aires’ best neighborhoods to stay in: read this article.
Photos of Caminito Street…
Cute, outdoor cafes abound on Caminito Street…just make sure to visit during the DAY!!
They were the most gorgeous couple we found tango dancing on Caminito….
The street art in La Boca is a little playful, a little kitschy, & always colorful…
Dancing Tango in La Boca’s Caminito Street
Sooo…when we first visited Caminito, my friend & I didn’t understand the dynamic of how things worked. Basically, each cafe has their own couple performing outside the restaurant. And from time to time, they’ll ask patrons to come up & dance with them & take photos (if you do, expect to tip them)! They may also come around & chat with patrons. Some offer lessons, too ~ so if you’re interested in learning tango, ask them!
Not understanding the dynamic, I was SHOCKED when one of the (beautiful) male dancers stopped mid-dance, gesturing towards me. I looked over at my friend Nina, horrified, thinking he was scolding me for photographing them! Not the case. What he was actually trying to do, was ask if I wanted to dance with him & get a photo.
I soooo didn’t understand what was going on, & thus missed out on an opportunity to dance with a gorgeous man!!
Don’t make the same mistake I did.
Some couples dance in front of a particular cafe. And others just dance out in the street in front of small crowds..
This guy FREAKED me out!!?! I thought he was telling me I couldn’t take a photo of them ~ but he was ACtually asking if I WANTED to take a photo with him!! Oops.
Grab a seat, have a drink, & enjoy the show…
Goodbye….Caminito Street…
I hope this article helps you avoid some of the mistakes we made when visiting La Boca (DANCE with those gorgeous dancers!!). Feel free to ask me any questions about Buenos Aires or La Boca in the comments below!
There are also side streets off Caminito where you can shop & stroll…to fully enjoy your day in Buenos Aires.
xoxo Noelia
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