Copa America 2015 - What you need to know.

Copa America 2015 - What you need to know. 

From the 11th of June until the 4th of July,  the 44^th edition of the Copa América will be held in Chile. Yeah the 44^th!!!  The first game took place in 1916, making Copa América older than the World Cup and the European Championship.

The last Copa América was held in Buenos Aires where the crowned champions from Uruguay were hoping to retain their title. A tough feat for Uruguay since their star player Luis Suárez,  was suspended from 9 international matches after biting an Italian defender at the World Cup in 2014.

The winner of the Copa América will play in the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017. The Confederations Cup is a cup where 8 teams, from 6 different confederations play against each other. The eight teams will be comprised of champions of different Leagues, plus Russia as the host country. The winner of the Copa América will,  just like Germany (winner of the World Cup), and Australia (winner of the AFC Asian Cup) play in the Confederations Cup.

The countries who have won the Copa América most often are Uruguay (15 times), followed by Argentina (14 times) and Brazil (8 times). Venezuela, Chile and Ecuador are the only countries in South America that have never won the Copa América to date. Also many find it strange that Suriname, French Guiana, and Guyana have never participated in the Copa América.

The best 5 teams in the Copa América 2015, are  predicted to be Brazil as a number one, Followed by Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia respectively.

Although Mexico isn’t technically in South America, nor is Jamaica, they are the 2 invitational countries that the CONMEBOL (South America’s football organization) has invited to participate in this year’s cup. (Initially this invite was extended to Japan and Mexico, but after Japan and China both declined, Jamaica was asked to participate. 

If either Jamaica (who many people deem has no chance at all) or Mexico wins the Copa América, the best team from South America will play the Confederations Cup in 2017.

Due to the Copa América all first division football games in Argentina from the 11^th of June until the 4^th of July will be stopped, once the winner is declared all local matches will resume.

Yerba Mate - The Ancient Drink of Health and Friendship

Yerba Mate and why you should start to drink it like the locals.

Do you lack mental alertness and feel like you need a kick? Are you pulling your hair out with stress and can't stay on your diet because of cravings? Mate might be the answer. 

You might be grumbling "Here we go again, another drink that promises but doesn't deliver"

Wait! It can also cleanse the colon, accelerate the healing process, calm allergies, fortify the immune system and increase longevity. 

Are you still a bit suspicious? The Guarani Indians of South America have certainly never been.


Yerba Mate (pronounce 'Sherba Mahtay' is a South American herb related to the holly bush family. The only subtropical region of the world where the plant can grow is the crossways between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. This is an area where the ancestors of the Guarani Indians settled.

It was here the Guarani tribes planted crops, moving from place to place once the soil had eroded and farming became impossible.

There is a Guarani legend that tells of an ageing Indian who was so tired of this continuous moving he refused to move on. His beautiful daughter, Jary, was torn between going on with the tribe, or remaining alone with her father until he died. She stayed with her father. This loving touch didn't go unnoticed. A Shaman appeared and asked Jary what she wanted to feel happy. The girl was silent. so the old man stood and spoke. "I want the strength to continue and take my daughter to the tribe where she belongs" The Shaman gave him a plant. "Plant this, pick its leaves, dry them, add water and drink its infusion" The old man sipped the green sap, regained his youthfulness and took his daughter to the tribe where she belonged. Once there they were told of this plant that the Shaman had introduced to them.

The tribe adopted the beverage that became the most common ingredient in their household cures. Many people say that drinking Mate could be why the Guarani typically lived for greater than one hundred years.

So what is in it that helps you? Scientific studies on Mate have been conducted in the University of Medicine in Buenos Aires, the National Institute in Paraguay, the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Free Hygienic Institute of Hamburg, Germany.

These studies showed that Mate has healthful attributes unlike any other herbal remedy previously encountered. Modern medical science has shown Mate to aid digestion, reduce blood pressure, combat heart disease, increase mental acuity, reduce anxiety and produce deep, restful sleep.

One of Mate's active ingredients is mateine. This is similar to caffeine but without the side effects. It induces better not worse attributes of sleep.

It would take 100 tea bags of Mate in a six-ounce cup of water to equal the caffeine in a six-ounce serving of normal coffee!

Mate also contains: vitamins A,C,E,B-1,B-2, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, manganese, phosphates and chlorophyll. It therefore contains many of the nutrients and vitamins necessary for a healthy, productive life.

Gabriela Lezcano is a Paraguayan who has enjoyed slurping Mate since she possessed her sucking reflex. She said: "But it's not only these ingredients that makes Mate such a healthy option. Mate drinking is such an intense friendship event makes it also good for your soul"

In Buenos Aires, like many parts of the Conosur, you can't walk along any boardwalk or through any plaza without seeing groups of close friends, family members and couples sitting together with a thermos and their Mate equipment. This consists of a Gourd (a vessel that holds the loose Yerba Mate), and a Bombilla (a filter straw used for sipping).

In these public places, when you're invited to drink and join in, it is to be taken as a compliment. On doing so you feel as if you have known everyone for years as conversation breaks out and the time goes unknowingly by.

Yerba Mate is more than just a drink. Its ancient medicinal origins and feelings of well being make it worth taking the risk of including it on your list of herbal wonder teas you have tried before.

How to get the Biggest Bang for your Bucks in Argentina! 5 Things to Know About Exchanging Money in Argentina

How to get the Biggest Bang for your Bucks in Argentina!

5 things to know about exchanging money in Argentina.

Traveling and money should be simple; use your ATM or Charge Card and the bank will give you a favorable exchange rate. Unfortunately, things are a little more complicated in Argentina, so here are five things that will help you get the most for your money.

1. Bring Cash.

Bring as much as you feel safe carrying because otherwise you will end up paying about $6 dollars everytime you take out money from the ATM. Aside from that, you will get a much better exchange rate with dollars or euros. Which brings us to point number two..

2. Argentina has several exchange rates.

The lowest rate by far is the “Official Rate”, which is what you will get if you use your Credit or ATM card. You are much better paying in dollars or exchanging your dollars at the “Blue Rate," the unofficial rate that you can get by exchanging your dollars at a “cueva” (Exchange House). For example, as of today 2/23 the Official rate is 8.63 pesos for 1 US Dollar, a restaurant I walked by was offering 12 pesos per dollar and the “Dolar Blue” was 13.25 to 1! To keep up to date on the daily rate, check out the http://www.dolarblue.net/ site.

3. Bring big bills.

You will get a more favorable exchange rate for $100s than you will for $20s. This could be a difference of 13 to 13.2 for your dollar but if you are exchanging large amounts, the difference can really add up. For anyone with $1 bills, forget about changing them and don’t feel offended when they hand them back to you.

4. Ask Around for a Safe Place to Exchange Money.

Asking never hurt anyody. Check with locals, friends and expats where they exchange money.  Fellow travelers, tour specialists and the front desk at your hotel are also usually great in helping out on the matter. Everyone seems like they have their “guy” to change money with, so instead of going to any which location, just ask around. Although the exchange of pesos for dollars at a rate higher than the official rate is “illegal,” it is impossible to walk down several streets in Buenos Aires without hearing “Cambio! Cambio!”  (Change!). Many exchange houses have a black light that you can look at the bills under, if the silver strip glows, it is pretty sure they are the real thing..

5. If You End Up With too Many Pesos Don’t Panic. 

You will not be able to exchange them back for dollars at anywhere near the rate you got originally you can always shop! The International Airport prices many items in US dollars, however once they ring you up just tell them you are paying in pesos and they will charge you the “Official Rate”. An example of how you can save money at the airport: you exchanged $100 at 13 pesos to 1 dollar and thus, received 1300 pesos; you still have them at the airport so you buy $150 worth of duty free items (which is the equivalent to 1300 pesos at the official rate of 8,6)... instant discount of $50!

You are now ready to see your hard earned money go further!  Just don’t spend it all in one place.

For more information about your tourism needs in Buenos Aires, visit us at www.wandertoursba.com or facebook WanderTours BA.

How, Where & Why to Get a SUBE Card in Buenos Aires

How, Where & Why to Get a SUBE Card in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is big.  I mean, really big.  With around one third of the Argentinean population living here it is easy to get overwhelmed.  Apart from that, there is so much to do in the city, and you want to dip your feet in everything! Try a tango class, hit the San Telmo street market on Sunday, see the historic landmarks in BA and learn about Argentina’s rich history.  You should do all of that!  But don’t let getting around the city get in your way.

So, how does one go about navigating this beast?  Like most people, you put your desired location into your smart phone.  It shows you the little route which says 13 minutes by car and say, “Oh, that’s not too bad.” Then, you switch to see how long it takes walking and it says 1hr and 15 minutes.  Zoom in a little bit on the map you realize that what looks like a small distance is actually about 25 blocks (not including having to cross the world’s largest avenue the 9 de Julio).  Sure, a nice stroll in the city isn’t going to kill anybody but if you’re tight on time you may want to look into public transportation as an alternative.

How to Buy and Charge Your SUBE Card

Luckily, Buenos Aires has excellent public transportation that will get you where you need to go fairly quickly.  The first thing you need to know is that the subway and bus system require that you have a SUBE card.  The SUBE card allows you to get on the Subte (subway) as well as the colectivos (city buses) with ease.  You can get this card at tons of different locations including many small stores and kiosks.  Look for the SUBE logo in the window
 as you’re walking the streets and dive in. The government provides a website- www.sube.gob.ar which allows you to find different locations in which you can buy and reload the card.  Once you go to the page, click "Obtención" and then "Centros de Obtención SUBE" to find a place near you.  Remember to bring your passport and ID when obtaining you SUBE because it is required that you fill out a form so that the card is under your name.  The card itself will cost you 20 pesos and subway/bus fares usually run 3.50 – 4.50 pesos every time you get on, so charge money onto your card according to how much you think you will use it.  Recharge your card either in the Subte itself or in one the small shops you see with the SUBE logo in the window.  Also, if you see that your account is running low, don’t panic because you can run a negative balance of up to 10 pesos.

How to Get There

Now that you have your SUBE card, you are ready to utilize Buenos Aires’ expansive public transportation system.  A very helpful and sometimes necessary tool is the Mapa Interactivo de BuenosAires.  There is also the convenient app for iPhone and Android that is called Cómo Llego.  Input your starting and finishing point and your desired mode of transportation (walk, bike, subway/bus, or car).  It will then show you a detailed list in order of shortest duration of time to get to your desired location.  Arriving to some places will require that you take the Subte AND a colectivo.  This can be tricky at times, because the Subte stops running around 10-11pm depending on the line.  If it happens that you are planning on using public transport after those hours, go to the settings and turn off the option for the Subte.  Now it will only show colectivo routes and you will be able to arrive at all hours of the night. A word to the wise: You won’t be able to access these resources without internet.  If you want to make sure you have this info with you while you are going to your destination (given that you don’t have internet on your phone), it is a good idea to screen shot the directions as well as the drawn out route on the map while you still have wifi. 

How to Use the Subte (Subway)

The Subte is fairly simple.  There are 6 different subway lines: A, B, C, D, E and H that are color coated (see the map below).  Find the one you need, make sure you’re headed in the right direction and you’re good to go.  It costs 4.50 every time you get on (5 pesos to buy a ticket if you don't have the SUBE card), and you can easily transfer from one line to the other once on board.  The Subtes can get very cramped with people so be sure to keep your valuables close to you at all times.

How to Use the Colectivo (Bus)

When getting on the colectivo, you can either tell the bus driver where you are headed or how much you want to pay.  3.25 pesos will take you 3 to 6 km, 3.50 pesos 6 to 12 km, and 4 pesos 12 to 27 km.  Otherwise, just tell the bus driver where you are headed and place your card in front of the machine.  If you do not have the SUBE card, it is possible to pay with coins (only coins no bills) but this can be a hassle as it does not like 2 pesos coins.  Once on the bus, you might want to consider asking the driver to tell you when you’ve reached your destination if you are unfamiliar with the route.  Most are very nice and won’t have a problem with this at all.  

There you have it folks.  You're now ready to navigate the city like a pro and see everything that this amazing place has to offer!