 traveller information |
 Facts for the Traveler |
Visas: Most foreigners do not need visas and, in theory, are issued free, renewable 90-day tourist cards on arrival.
Health risks: Cholera and dengue fever are hazards in the subtropical north
Time: GMC/UTC minus 4 hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Mostly metric, but rural areas may use the legua (league, about 5 km).
| When to Go |
For residents of the northern hemisphere, Argentina offers the inviting possibility of enjoying two summers in the same year, but the country's great variety and elongated geography can make a visit in any season worthwhile. Buenos Aires' urban attractions, for example, transcend the seasons, but Patagonian destinations, such as the Moreno Glacier in Santa Cruz, are best to visit in the summer months (December to February). The Iguazu Falls in subtropical Misiones province are best in the southern hemisphere's winter or spring when heat and humidity are less oppressive. The winter months also offer the opportunity to go skiing.
| Getting There & Away |
Argentina has excellent worldwide air connections, with Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza, outside Buenos Aires, the main international airport. A departure tax of US$23.50 (plus 21% IVA) is payable on international flights; the tax is US$5 (plus 21% IVA) on flights to Uruguay.
A multitude of land and river crossing points connect Argentina with neighboring Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. Travel from Chile usually involves a hike through the Andes, while overland travel to Bolivia can go through the border towns of La Quiaca, Tarija or Pocitos/Yacuiba. Paraguay can be reached by bus and/or river launch, and the most common crossing to Brazil is via Foz do Iguaçu or Uruguaiana. Uruguay is linked to Argentina by road bridges, and ferries sail between Buenos Aires and Colonia in Uruguay.
| Getting Around |
Five major Argentine airlines attempt to make this big country appear smaller: privatized Aerolíneas Argentinas handles domestic as well as international routes, while Austral covers domestic routes only. Línea Aéreas Privadas Argentinas (LAPA) and Cordoba-city based Southern Winds (SW) compete with Austral and Aerolíneas on many domestic routes. Líneas Aéreas del Estado (LADE), the air force's passenger service, serves mostly Patagonian destinations. Dinar serves smaller domestic destinations. Discount deals and passes are advisable as fares are expensive. In some cases, however, flying can be cheaper than covering the same distance by bus. Domestic flights carry a departure tax of around US$6 (including 21% IVA).
Long-distance buses are fast and comfortable; some even provide on-board meal services. However, fares are expensive and fluctuate wildly. Private operators have assumed control of the formerly state-owned railways, but have shown little interest in providing passenger service except on commuter lines in and around Buenos Aires. The provinces of Río Negro, Chubut, Tucumán and La Pampa continue to provide much-reduced passenger service.
| Calendar of Events: Travel Tips: |
January
1st - New Year's Day
6th - Epiphany
March/April
Good Friday and Easter (dates Vary)
May
1st - Labor Day
25th- May Revolution of 1810
June
10th.- Malvinas Day
20th- Flag Day
July
9th- Independence Day
August
17th- Anniversary of Saint Martin's Death
October
12th- Columbus Day
December
25th- Christmas Day
Entry Requirements
A passport is all that's required of most visitors -although Australians and New Zealanders do need visas. Renewable tourist visas are issued at airports and borders, and are good for 90 days.
Vaccines
Vaccines are not required to enter Argentina.
| Currency
The local currency is the Argentine Peso. At the time of this writing, it had a 1 to 1 ratio with the US dollar.
Language
Spanish is spoken everywhere, though many Argentines also speak the language of their heritage.
Business Hours
Most business open at 8am, then close for lunch until 3 or 4pm. They will then usually stay open until 8 or 9pm. Most government offices, however, work on a 8am - 5pm basis.
| Events |
Surprisingly, Argentina has few festivals and fiestas, and most public holidays reflect the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Things come to a stop over the Christmas to New Year and Easter periods. Saints' days and provincial holidays are other important events, as are 25 May (commemorating the May Revolution of 1810), Malvinas Day (10 June), Independence Day (July 9), and Columbus Day (12 October).
Money & Costs
Currency: Peso ($)
Relative Costs Meals:
Budget: US$4-10
Mid-range: US$10-30
Top-end: US$30 and upwards
| Lodging |
Budget: US$40-60 Mid-range: US$60-100 Top-end: US$100 and upwards
Argentina is an expensive country - so expensive that Argentines have been in the habit of taking their holidays in 'cheap' countries, like the USA. This does not mean that budget travel is impossible, since food, lodging and transportation can be cheaper than in both the USA and Europe. However, budget travelers should expect to spend at least US$50-60 per day; while those staying in more comfortable hotels and eating at restaurants should expect to spend closer to US$100 - 150 per day.
In the past, Argentine money presented real problems to those visitors unaccustomed to hyperinflation. When Argentine economists spoke hopefully of single digit inflation, they meant per month. In the last few years, however, the economy has stabilized and inflation is currently not a problem. Given Argentina's history of economic instability, savvy travelers should keep a watch on the exchange markets and on economic events.
US dollars are currently legal tender almost everywhere and, for the most part, it's unnecessary to change US cash into pesos. If you do need to exchange money, US dollars are the preferred currency - only in Buenos Aires will you be easily able to change European currencies. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards. Tipping around 10% is customary in restaurants if the economy is ticking along nicely. Bargaining is uncommon, except in the artisan markets of the Andean northwest.
| Activities |
Just one example of the prevailing Italian influence is the importance placed on soccer, by far the country's most popular spectator and participatory sport. Argentina also has oodles of activity sports such as trekking, skiing and watersports. Elite sports such as rugby and polo reflect the influence of the country's immigrant societies, and skiing, despite its expense, is gaining in popularity. Argentina actually has some of the best skiing in the world, and many of the resorts have ski schools. There are several major skiing areas: the southern Cuyo region, the lakes district, La Hoya and near Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego.
Wilderness walks are also very popular, with vast and beautiful treks through the Andes, Sierras de Córdoba and the Sierra de la Ventana in Buenos Aires province. Climbers should head for Aconcagua, west of Mendoza, the Fitzroy Range in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares in Santa Cruz province, and the Sierra de la Fentana (for advanced climbing). White-water rafting is becoming increasingly popular on the rivers that descend from the Andean divide: the main possibilities include Río Mendoza and Río Diamante in the Cuyo region, Río Hua Hum and Río Meliquina near San Martín de los Andes and the Río Limay and Río Manso near Bariloche. |
