If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires for a day or more there’s no shortage of things to see and do within an hour or two of the city or less. To the north on the coast of the Rio de la Plata are the attractive towns of San Isidro and Tigre, both easily reached by the Tren de la Costa. Cross the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay and enjoy the quiet pretty colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento, Carmelo or visit Isla Martin Garcia, a small reserve with a somewhat checkered history. Alternatively, spend a few days on an estancia - large ranch - or visit a gaucho town such as San Antonio de Areco. And if you like the beach then just south is the popular seaside resort of Mar del Plata.