In the Footsteps Of Dictators & the Auschwitz of Argentina -Private Walking Tour
Description
“Become an eyewitness to an obscure period of our history and have a unique experience with the dark side of Argentina” As your guide, Elisa, is a living history, she will tell you the interesting facts you need to know to understand the worst, most brutal and most violent dictatorship in Argentinean history. She will also talk about a couple of the worst aspects of the dictatorship: the systematic theft of babies from their imprisoned mothers and the Nazi ideology that permeated the military and security forces. Take an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and educate yourself on one of the lesser-known horrors of history. Buenos Aires Off the Beaten Path Tours is proud to have received the certificate of Excellence for 2017, 2018 and 2019 from TripAdvisor. Also, we are pleased to say that we have been selected as the winner for : ” Innovative Tour Company of the Year 2018 in Buenos Aires” by Travel and Hospitality Awards.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will explore the following: An ex-Clandestine Center, often called the Auschwitz of Argentina. You won’t be exploring the areas that are closed while archaeological techniques of restoration, conservation, and evidence-gathering work proceeds. We can’t go inside the Ex-clandestine center. We can walk around the place where we can find incredible murals (paintings & graffiti) on the topic. The individuals, history, and struggles they represent. Actually, part of the Ex-clandestine center was dismantled before democracy returned and the areas of the cells were demolished, etc. and the most interesting things, for the most part, are easily seen from the outside. Memorial plaques of the disappeared people. You will hear some recorded testimonies. A Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Annihilation was a place dedicated to the kidnapping and torture of suspected dissidents. They functioned during the last military dictatorship that took place from 1976 to 1983.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not for children
- Come with a few extra pesos if you want to stop for coffee, a drink, bottled water, snacks etc
- This is a private tour/activity. A private tour is run exclusively for your party only. Only your group will participate
- To learn more about the history of our country and to discover the jewels of the city outside of traditional highlights you can also join us on our Jewels Off the Beaten Path tour.
- Note: We only walk about 7 blocks during this experience, but please expect some periods of standing during our in-depth historical discussions. Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. If rain looks possible, dress appropriately and ask your hotel to borrow an umbrella.
- At the end of the tour your guide will be happy to help flag you down a taxi and tell the driver where to take you to get back to your accommodation or wherever you wish to go.
Reviews(38)
Thoroughly enjoyed, guide is knowledgable and happy to answer questions and discuss the topic widely
I’m so glad you thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I truly appreciate your active curiosity. Thank you for your kind words about my knowledge and for making the tour such an engaging experience!
The tour was fantastic. Elisa was so passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, which is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing, but needs to be addressed. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your recommendation! I truly appreciate your kind words. While this part of our history is indeed heartbreaking, I agree that it is essential to address and remember it. I am glad that my passion for the subject helped make the experience both fascinating and impactful for you. Thank you for your interest and for choosing this tour.
Footsteps of Dictators tour - my daughter (21 years) and I did this tour and learned so much. The lived experience of our guide, the actual sites of detention centers, and many details around the city really cemented the history for us. My daughter had not known the history prior to our trip to Argentina. I was about the same age as our guide, and it was surreal when she and I compared memories (I lived in the USA but had heard about the dirty war, etc., while she was living through it). There were also parallels from that time to what is going on now in the USA. The tour does not cover miles and miles, so in other words, you do not have to worry about walking far and getting exhausted. It is a niche tour, so if you already have an idea of Argentina/Buenos Aires/history/culture, it will help. Our guide was EXCELLENT - very knowledgeable, excellent and explaining the history and excellent English so easy to understand. Thanks you!
Thank You for Such a Meaningful Review! It was a privilege to share this experience with you and your daughter. I especially valued our conversation comparing our parallel memories from that time—it is a powerful reminder of how history connects us all, regardless of where we lived. I am so glad the tour helped cement this history for your daughter and that you found the pace comfortable. Thank you for your kind words about my approach to sharing our history. It was truly a pleasure to meet you both.
One of the characteristics of the Argentine dictatorship was torture and detention centers dispersed throughout the city and country. The ESMA museum and memorial park were wonderful, but this was a powerful complement--a tour with someone who's really studied the history, whose English is fluent, and who had friends and relatives personally touched and in some ways disappeared by the dictatorship. Just a really moving experience that also helped give us a sense of Argentina's complicated political history, as well as the dictatorship. Highly recommended.
Thank You for Your Deeply Moving Review I am truly grateful for your kind words and for the opportunity to share this history with you. As someone who has seen how the dictatorship personally touched those close to me, I believe that sharing these personal stories is essential to truly understanding the complexity of Argentina's past. I am so glad that my background and research helped provide that extra layer of insight for you. Thank you again for your recommendation and for your sincere interest in our history.
This was a very interesting tour, albeit very sad. Elisa our guide was very knowledgeable, personable and spoke great English ( although quite fast). We were picked up by car from the meeting point and driven to a spot a few minutes away. We walked a short distance to one of the custody centres where the “desparecidos” were taken for interrogation. The tour was centred around this building so there is a lot of standing up but it was definitely worth it. Elisa explained a lot of the murals and graffiti on the building and gave us a real insight into the history of Buenos Aires in the 1970s. Such sad stories and Elisa had a lot of accounts from people she knew or things she or her family had seen. We had a private tour so just the 2 of us and it was £80 so not cheap but not expensive for 2 1/2 hours. Elisa then sent us a link to some articles to read and films to watch. If you are interested in history it’s a good tour to do and a little different from the standard city tours. We would recommend.
Thank You for Such a Detailed Review! It was a privilege to spend that time with you both. I am so glad that the murals, graffiti, and personal accounts helped provide a deeper insight into the 1970s in Buenos Aires and the stories of the "desaparecidos." Regarding our conversation, please know that I am always happy to adjust my pace; had you mentioned it, I would have had no problem speaking slower to ensure you caught every detail! I’m happy you found the focus on the former custody center worthwhile, as it is such a critical site for understanding our history. I hope the links and film recommendations continue to be of interest as you reflect on your visit. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing a tour that explores a different side of the city.
Elisa was great. Clearly passionate about this part of Argentinas history and well informed. She had great conversations and was willing to share personal experiences that helped me really understand what life was back during the last dictatorship. She is so committed that she offered to send recommendations on books to read and shows to watch after the tour. Very important history to share.
Thank You for Your Kind Review! It was a true pleasure to share those conversations with you. I believe that personal experiences offer a unique window into the past, helping to bridge the gap between historical facts and the reality of daily life during the dictatorship. I am so glad you found our time together meaningful. I hope the book and film recommendations help you continue exploring this important part of our history! Thank you again for your interest and your thoughtful words.
My husband & I really enjoyed the tour. Elise is very knowledgeable & passionate about the history of her country & we learned so much from speaking with her. We would highly recommend booking with her if you want to understand Argentina’s turbulent political past! Cheryl & Grant - Canada
It was a pleasure meeting both of you! Thank you, Cheryl and Grant, for such a kind review. I am so glad you enjoyed our conversation and that my passion for our history helped you gain a better understanding of the events that shaped Argentina. Guiding guests who are as engaged and interested as you were is truly rewarding for me.
In the Footsteps of Dictators & the Auschwitz of Argentina – Private Walking Tour An incredibly powerful and eye-opening tour. Our guide was full of knowledge and shared personal stories that made the history feel real and deeply moving. Thoughtful and very engaging — this is a must-do experience for anyone who wants to truly understand Argentina’s past.
Thank You for Such a Moving Review! I am so touched that the personal stories shared during our time together helped make this history feel real and eye-opening for you. I believe that a true understanding of the past comes from connecting with the human experiences behind the facts. I truly appreciate your recommendation and your deep interest in our history.
In the Footsteps of Dictators & the Auschwitz of Argentina – Private Walking Tour An incredibly powerful and eye-opening tour. Our guide was full of knowledge and shared personal stories that made the history feel real and deeply moving. Thoughtful and very engaging — this is a must-do experience for anyone who wants to truly understand Argentina’s past.
Thank You for such a Thoughtful Review! I am so moved that the personal stories shared during our time together helped make this history feel real and eye-opening for you. I believe that a true understanding of the past comes from connecting with the human experiences behind the facts. I truly appreciate your recommendation and your deep interest in our history.
Fantastic tour, incredibly educational!!! I had learned about this part of Argentina’s history before, but learned so much more
Thank You for Your Kind Words! I am so pleased that I could help you uncover new layers of this history, even with your prior knowledge. Thank you for the wonderful review and for your interest in our past!
