HOW TO GET THERE
All the airlines which fly to Argentina mainly arrive at the Ezeiza “Ministro Pistarini” International Airport, situated 23 miles from the city of Buenos Aires, Capital Federal.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
Remember that in the southern hemisphere the seasons are the opposite way round to the northern hemisphere. Generally, the summer is the most favourable season to visit Patagonia due to the mild temperatures and long days. In winter, we recommend that you travel around the northwest and Mesopotamia, seeing as rain is less frequent and the tropical temperatures go down a few degrees. Autumn and spring are magnificent in Buenos Aires and Cuyo.
GETTING AROUND ARGENTINA
Given the enormous proportions of the country, travelling by air is your best option for covering long distances, you can then combine it with overland services.
• Internal flight times from Buenos Aires:
- San Salvador de Jujuy 2 hours 10 mins.
- San Miguel de Tucumán 1 hour 50 mins.
- Puerto Iguazú 1 hour 45 mins.
- San Carlos de Bariloche 2 hours 20 mins.
- Río Gallegos 2 hours 55 mins.
- El Calafate 3 hours 15 mins.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS FOR ENTERING THE COUNTRY
Anyone entering the country is required to have a valid passport, with or without a visa, depending on the case. Check with your nearest Embassy or Consulate office. Visitors who do not come from neighbouring countries are exempt from any tax on your luggage and new articles providing that their value does not exceed US$300 and an additional US$300 if they were purchased in "free shops" authorised in National Territory.
No certification of vaccinations is required upon entry to the country.
SECURITY AND ASSISTANCE PREVENTION TO THE TOURIST
Comisaría del Turista: Av. Corrientes 436, (C1043AAR) Buenos Aires. Tel. 4346-5748, 4328-2135 ó 0800-999-5000, email: 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.
CLIMTE
Argentina is subject to a wide variety of climate changes: warm and humid on pampa plains; cold and damp in the extreme west of Patagonia; subtropical in the northern part of Mesopotamia and hot in the northwest. From November until March, the average temperature is 23° C and from June to September
12° C.
POPULATION
The current population of Argentina exceeds 38 million inhabitants, of which nearly half resides en the Federal Capital and in the province of Buenos Aires
LANGUAGE
The official language of Argentina is Spanish but Buenos Aires also has its own local slang.
CURRENCY
The official currency unit is the peso. There are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 peso banknotes and coin denominations are the following: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and the 1 peso coin.
SHOPPING
VAT refunds: At the airport you will be able to get a refund on the amount you have paid in VAT if you have purchased national products of a value exceeding $ 70 (upon showing your receipt) when you buy products in shops which belong to the “Global Refund” system.
Means of payment: Although the American dollar and the Euro are generally accepted everywhere, you must exchange any currency for local money at a bank or an official exchange agent. The most frequently accepted credit cards are American Express, VISA, Diners and Master Card. You may have trouble exchanging travellers´ cheques outside Buenos Aires.
Tipping:In cafés and restaurants it is customary to leave an additional 10% service charge and to tip doormen, luggage porters and ushers.
