You must have a valid passport with or without visa depending on your nationality. Inquire at the closest Embassy or Consulate. Visitors coming from countries not bordering Argentina are exempt from all taxes on travelling articles and new articles up to US$ 300 and an additional US$ 300, if purchased at duty free shops within the national territory. No vaccination certificate is required to enter the country.
Electricity and voltage in Argentina
Telephone
Pay phones work with cards that may be purchased in kiosks and telephone companies’ offices, or with legal tender coins. There are also stores with pay phones (open 24 hours a day) where you can pay in cash.
Calling to Argentina from abroad, dial the country code (54) and then the area code of the place you want to call. For domestic calls, dial 0 before the area code. For international calls, dial 00, the country code and city code.
Note that tariffs are reduced from 10.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m.
Maps
Maps may be purchased at the offices of the Automóvil Club Argentino (Av. del Libertador 1850, Tel. 4808-4000, Buenos Aires,
cartogra@aca.org.ar).
Tourist information
National Secretariat of Tourism, Tourist Information Centers: Av. Santa Fe 883, (C1059ABC) Buenos Aires, Tel. 4312-2232 or 0800-555-0016; Ezeiza International Airport and Jorge Newbery Airport;
info@turismo.gov.ar.
Buenos Aires Information Centres: Av. Pte. Quintana 596 (Recoleta), Retiro Bus Station (Local 83), Florida 100. Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 200 (Dock 4, Puerto Madero), Defensa 1250 (San Telmo);
infobue@buenosaires.gov.ar.
Security Prevention and Tourist Assistance
Comisaría del Turista: Av. Corrientes 436, (C1043AAR) Buenos Aires. Tel. 4346-5748, 4328-2135 ó 0800-999-5000, e-mail:
turista@policiafederal.gov.ar.
Defensoría del Turista: Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 (Museo de Bellas Artes de La Boca «Don Benito Quinquela Martín»), (C1169AAC) Buenos Aires. Tel.
4302-7816, Fax: 4302-7816, e-mail:
turista@defensoria.org.ar.
Climate
The country’s territory offers a wide variety of climates: subtropical in the North, sub-Antarctic in the southern Patagonia, and mild and humid in the Pampas plains. Media temperature from November to March is 23° C, and 12° C from June to September.
Population
Argentina’s current population is more than 40 million inhabitants, almost half of which live in the city and the province of Buenos Aires. Population density calculated on a national basis is 14 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Argentine Republic. In Buenos Aires, some “lunfardo” expressions -city slang – are used.
Religion
There is complete religious freedom in Argentina, although Roman Catholicism prevails. Other religions practiced in the country are Protestant, Jewish, Moslem, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others.
Currency
The official Argentine currency is the Peso. There are bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos, and coins of 1 peso and 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents.
GETTING TO ARGENTINA
All airlines flying to Argentina arrive mainly at Ezeiza (“Ministro Pistarini”) International Airport, which is 37 Km away from the City of Buenos Aires. You can reach the city by Teniente General Ricchieri freeway. Company Manuel Tienda León (Av. Madero and San Martín, Tel. 4315-5115) offers a bus service from 5.00 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. This service costs $ 110 (Argentine pesos), and the trip takes approximately 40 minutes. There are also taxis and chauffeur-driven rented cars (from $ 220 to $ 446).
WHEN TO TRAVEL
Remember that in the southern hemisphere seasons are the opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. In general, the summer is the best time to visit Patagonia and the Southern Andes because of the mild temperatures and long days. Wintertime is recommended for travelling to the North and Northwest as rains are less frequent and tropical temperatures drop a few degrees. Autumn and spring are marvelous in Buenos Aires, Cuyo and the pre-mountain range areas of La Rioja and Catamarca.
GETTING AROUND
By Plane
Due to the country’s large size, planes are best to travel long distances, and you can then take overland transportation to get to your final destination. Buying Airpass Visit Argentina in your own country, you’ll obtain more economical prices for flights within Argentina. por Aerolíneas Argentinas / Austral, Andes Líneas Aéreas, LADE, LAER, LAN Argentina and Sol Líneas Aéreas, operate domestic flights. Domestic flights and flights to Uruguay depart from Jorge Newbery Airport, located to the north of the city beside the Río de la Plata.
Domestic flights schedule from Buenos Aires to
| San Salvador de Jujuy |
2 hrs 10 mins |
| Salta |
2 hrs |
| San Miguel de Tucumán |
1 hr 50 mins |
| Puerto Iguazú |
1 hr 45 mins |
| Posadas |
1 hr 30 mins |
| Rosario |
52 mins |
| Mendoza |
1 hr 50 mins |
| Córdoba |
1 hr 15 mins |
| Mar del Plata |
45 mins |
| San Carlos de Bariloche |
2 hrs 20 mins |
| Trelew |
2 hrs |
| Río Gallegos |
2 hrs 55 mins |
| El Calafate |
3 hrs 15 mins |
| Ushuaia |
3 hrs 20 mins |
By Bus
Buenos Aires bus station is located at Av. Ramos Mejia 1680 close to Retiro Station (Tel. 4310-0700). Long-distance buses are equipped with toilets, air conditioning and bar.
By Train
Ferrobaires (Constitución Station, Tel. 4304-0028/31/38); TBA (Retiro Station, Tel. 4317-4407/45); Ferrocentral (Retiro Station, Tel. 4312-2989); Trenes del Litoral (Federico Lacroze Station, Tel. 4554-8018).
Car (Car rental)
All international car rental companies operate in Argentina. The following companies have offices In Buenos Aires: Ai Rent a Car International (Maipú 965, Tel. 4311-1000), Alamo Rent a Car – National (Carlos Pellegrini 1175, 1st Floor “C”, Tel. 4322-3320), Avis Rent a Car (Cerrito 1527, Tel. 4326-5542), Budget Rent a Car (Marcelo T. de Alvear 590, 10th Floor, Tel. 4311-4555), Dollar Rent a Car (M.T. de Alvear 449, Tel. 4315-8800), Hertz – Annie Millet Rent a Car (Paraguay 1138, Tel. 4816-8001), Localiza Rent a Car (Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1180, 2nd Floor, Off. 205 “C”, Tel. 4121-5600).
VAT return
You may obtain a VAT reimbursement to any purchases of local products made for an amount over $70 (per invoice) in shops operating with the “Global Refund” system, as follows:
- Jorge Newbery Airport (in Buenos Aires), at Telecom telephone booths.
- Ministro Pistarini International Airport – Ezeiza, Terminal A, 1st Floor.
- Ministro Pistarini International Airport – Ezeiza, Terminal B, Ground Floor.
- Jorge Newbery Airport (in Buenos Aires), at Telecom telephone booths.
- Ing. Ambrosio Taravella International Airport (in Córdoba), at Telecom telephone booths.
- Ing. Francisco J. Gabrielli International Airport (in Mendoza), at Telecom telephone booths.
- Bariloche International Airport, at Telecom telephone booths.
- Tancredo Neves International Bridge (in Puerto Iguazú), at Telecom telephone booths.
- Buenos Aires Port, Northern Dock, Buquebús Terminal, information desk.
- Buenos Aires Port, New Port, Quinquela Martín Cruising Terminal, from October to April.
Opening hours
Although US Dollars and Euros are generally taken everywhere, foreign currencies can be exchanged in banks and authorized bureaus. American Express, VISA, Diners and Master Card are widely accepted. There may be difficulties in changing traveler’s check outside Buenos Aires.
Payment methods return
Banks and Exchange Bureaus: Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Business Offices: generally from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Stores: in the big cities from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., although in the outskirts and the provinces they generally close at midday. Saturdays, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Cafés, cake shops and pizzerias: open most of the time except between 2.00 and 6.00 a.m.
Restaurants: lunch is served as from 12.30 p.m. and dinner as from 8.30 hours. Fast-food menus are served in many restaurants at all times.
Tips
10% of the amount of the check is usually left in cafeterias and restaurants. Doormen, porters, and ushers in cinemas and theatres are also generally tipped
Buenos Aires Office 