Traveling to Argentina

All airlines flying to Argentina arrive at Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza) International Airport, which is 35 Km away from the City of Buenos Aires. You can reach the city by Teniente General Ricchieri freeway (Information: Tel. 4480-9538). Please note that when leaving the country, a US$ 30.50 tax must be paid. Company Manuel Tienda León (Av. Santa Fe 790, Tel. 4314-3636) and Transfer Express (Florida 1045, Tel. 4312-8883) offer a bus service from their offices in Buenos Aires to Ezeiza airport from 5.00 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. These services cost $14 and $11 (Argentine Pesos) respectively, and the trip takes approximately 40 minutes. There are also taxis and chauffeur-driven rented cars at a price between $35 and $38.

Best time to travel to Argentina

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.

Transport in Argentina

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. Aerolíneas Argentinas, Austral, American Falcon, LADE and Southern Winds 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. Airport taxes range from $ 7.05 to U$S 20.50.

Domestic flights schedule from Buenos Aires to:

Puerto Iguazú 1 hr 45 mins
Posadas 1 hr 30 mins
San Salvador de Jujuy 2 hrs 10 mins
San Miguel de Tucumán 1 hr 50 mins
Salta 2 hrs
Córdoba 1 hr 15 mins
Mendoza 1 hr 50 mins
San Carlos de Bariloche 2 hrs 20 mins
Trelew 2 hrs
Mar del Plata 45 mins
Río Gallegos 2 hrs 55 mins
Ushuaia 3 hrs 20 mins
El Calafate 3 hrs 15 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); NOA Ferrocarriles S.A. (Retiro Station, Tel. 4312-9506/13); Ferro Expreso Pampeano (Once Station, Tel. 4331-2702); Urquiza Railway (Federico Lacroze Station, tel. 4553-0044).

By 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), Avis Rent a Car (Cerrito 1527, Tel. 4307-5944), Budget Rent a Car (Av. Córdoba 755, 2nd, Tel. 4311-9237), 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 1120, Off. 104 “A”, Tel. 4331-5444), Thrifty Car Rental (Carlos Pellegrini 1576, Loc.24, Tel. 4326-0418).

Shopping hours in Argentina 

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.

Immigration Documents and Formalities

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.

Telephone services in Argentina

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.

Tourist information

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. Buenos Aires Information Centers in Pte. Quintana Avenue and J.M. Ortiz Street, Florida Street and Diagonal Norte, Carlos Pellegrini 217, Dock 4 in Puerto Madero, De la Rivera Theatre (La Boca), Retiro Bus Station, and Abasto Shopping.

http://www.turismo.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

Origine of the name Argentina

It comes from the Latin term “argentum”, which means silver. The origin of this name goes back to the first voyages made by the Spanish conquerors to the Río de la Plata. The survivors of the shipwrecked expedition mounted by Juan Díaz de Solís found indigenous people in the region who gave them silver objects as presents. The news about the legendary Sierra del Plata - a mountain rich in silver - reached Spain around 1524. As from this date, the Portuguese named the river of Solís, Río de la Plata (River of Silver). Two years later the Spanish used the same name. The National Constitution adopted in 1853 included the name “República Argentina” (Argentine Republic) among the official names to designate the government and the country’s territory.

Location, area and frontiers

Located in South America, and thus, in the southern hemisphere, Argentina has an area of almost 3.8 million square kilometers, 2.8 on the continent – approximately 54% are plains (grasslands and savannahs), 23%, plateaus, and the other 23%, mountains - and the remainder in the Antarctic. It is 3,800 Km. long and is located between latitude 22º and 55º. Its border with Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile has a perimeter of 9,376 Km, while the territory bordered by the Atlantic Ocean is 4,725 Km long.

Geography of Argentina

Argentina’s main characteristic is the enormous contrast between the immense eastern plains and the impressive Andes mountain range to the west. This is the frontier with Chile and boasts the highest peak in the Western hemisphere: the 6,959 m high Aconcagua.
From Jujuy to Tierra del Fuego, the Andes present marvelous contrasts: the Northwest plateaus, the lake region, the forests and glaciers in the Patagonia.
To the north, Chaco is a forested area linked to rivers Bermejo, Salado and Pilcomayo.
Between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, the Argentine Mesopotamia (provinces of Entre Ríos, Corrientes and Misiones) is formed by low hills, where pools and marshlands evidence the ancient courses of these great rivers. In some places within the subtropical rain forest, there are fissures which provide such spectacular phenomena as the Iguazú Falls.
The Pampas, in the center of Argentina, is the largest and best-known area of plains. Agricultural and livestock activities are performed in this area, which includes the province of Buenos Aires, the northeast of La Pampa, the south of Córdoba and south of Santa Fe. To the south, the plains give way to small hills in Tandil and de la Ventana, and to the west, to the Córdoba hills.
Towards the south, from the Andes to the sea, there appear the sterile and stony plateaus of Patagonia, swept by the wind during most of the year. The Atlantic coast, lined with high cliffs, forms massive indentations like the Peninsula Valdés, with its spectacular and unique colonies of sea animals.

Climate in Argentina

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 of Argentina

Argentina’s current population is more than 36 million inhabitants, almost half of which live in the city and the province of Buenos Aires. Population density calculated on a national basis is 13 inhabitants per square kilometer.
95% of the population is white and most are descendants of Italians and Spaniards. As a result of the massive European immigration, the white and Indian half-castes were slowly reduced and at the present they amount only to 4.5% of the population. The pure indigenous population - Mapuches, Collas, Tobas, Matacos and Chiriguanos - amount to 0.5% of the population.
Language: Spanish is the official language of the Argentine Republic. In Buenos Aires, some “lunfardo” expressions -city slang - are used.