Getting There

All international flights to Argentina arrive at Ezeiza (Ministro Pistarini) International Airport, which is about 37 Km from the City of Buenos Aires. You can reach the city by Teniente General Ricchieri freeway. An important note: there is a departure tax when leaving the country (approximately $18-20 US). There is a bus service from the airport into central B.A. available from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.and the price is around $10 US (Manuel Tienda León (Av. Madero and San Martín, Tel. 4315-5115). 8.30 p.m. There are also taxis and chauffeur-driven rented cars. Your hotel can usually arrange pickup by private taxi called a remise. The price is usually around $25 US. If you do take a taxi, be sure to take one that is designated Radio Taxi.

British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, Continental Airlines, LAN Chile, Aerolineas and Iberia

Entry Requirements

As a tourist there is no visa requirement from most countries. If you are travelling on business you do require a visa,  Please check with the Argentine Consulate in your country to ascertain the rules and regulations.

Travelling within Argentina

Domestic flights leave from B.A. to all the major cities of Argentina and these leave from Jorge Newbery Airport, located north of the city beside the Río de la Plata. Once at your destination, the best way to travel is either by rental car, bus or pre-arranged car and driver. The buses offer excellent service (many of them overnight journeys).  Driving in the cities is difficult and not-recommended. Driving in the countryside is easy,  however the roads are often not well signposted. Some of the more remote routes require four wheel drive vehicles.

Domestic Flights: Aerolineas, LAN, Andes

There are several companies which offer bus service within Argentina, which can often be faster and easier than driving a car. Flecha, La Veloz, and Via Barriloche offer a good selection of routes and times. Buenos Aires bus station is located at Av. Ramos Mejia 1680 close to Retiro Station.

Driving Distances from Buenos Aires:

Phones & Contact Information:

Argentina has a decent mobile/cellular network. The best network access is from Personal. Calls from mobile phones tend to be quite expensive, and if you plan to use your mobile phone we recommend getting a SIM chip from a kiosk in the airport, or one of the many mobile stores in the cities. Pay-as-you-go SIM chips are roughly $10 US and will provide you with a local telephone number, making both local and long distance calls from your phone significantly less expensive (**you must have an un-locked phone to do this**). There are also websites which will sell you SIM chips for Argentina pre-departure, allowing you to distribute your phone number to relatives before you leave.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation (fire/ambulance/police), dial 911. For non-emergencies we suggest you contact your hotel front desk.  You may also want to take the telephone number of your Embassy in Argentina.

General Information

Electricity

220 volts (50 cycles) are commonly used in Argentina. Both slanted and round prong plugs are used in outlets. Standard North American and UK plugs won’t work. Buy an adapter before you leave (a European or South American adapter will work).

Tipping

In Argentina, it is customary to tip 10% on meals. Typically you do not tip taxis or remis.

Taxes

21% VAT is added to most goods and services.  On purchases made in Argentina, you may be able to claim your VAT for a refund, provided you keep all receipts, and the purchases total more than a set minimum. Special receipts are required - ask your hotel, and each shop where you make a purchase. There is a standard sign displayed in shops which offer the required receipt.

Personal Safety

Argentina is generally a safe country, however, as is the case in most large cities, petty theft does occur. We recommend paying attention to your surroundings and ensuring that your passport, wallet, and valuables are in a money belt.  Also remember to keep luggage out of sight when leaving your car. Only take taxis designated as "radio taxi". The best way to arrange a taxi is through your hotel reception or restaurant maitre d'H.

Business Hours

Banks, Exchange Bureaus: Weekdays from 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Business Offices: Weekdays  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 smaller towns and villages they generally close at midday. Saturdays, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Informal cafes and fast-food outlets are generally open most of the time except midnight to early morning. Restaurants:  lunch is generally served from 12.30 p.m. and dinner from 8.30 p.m. 

Health

We don't know of any particular health hazards when travelling in Argentina. It can get very hot between October and March so avoid exertion and exposure during peak sunlight hours and carry a water bottle.  Check the internet for Health Advisories in Argentina before travelling.

Further information about Argentina can be found on the official Argentine tourist board website.