Argentina
Getting there
FROM THE UK:
Flights from London to Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires take
13 hours, or around 16 hours via a European city.
British Airways flies from London
Heathrow direct to Buenos Aires. Flights are overnight. This is
definitely the most comfortable option, though not the cheapest.
Aerolineas Argentinas flies
from London to Buenos Aires, changing planes in Madrid (often with
a lengthy gap). Flights are usually overnight.
FROM EUROPE:
Air France,
Alitalia,
Iberia,
Lufthansa, and
LAN all offer scheduled direct
services between Europe and Buenos Aires.
If you're planning to travel around Christmas and New Year, make
reservations for flights well in advance, and over the summer,
it’s best to book internal flights well in advance, to make
sure your itinerary will work. During the rest of the year, you can
usually book just a few days before you travel.
FROM THE UNITED STATES:
From the US, you can fly with American
Airlines, Continental
and United from Miami, Chicago,
New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta or Washington DC.
FROM CANADA:
Air Canada and
LAN fly between Toronto and Montreal
to Argentina, but you may find that you have to change planes in
the US.
AIRPORT:
Argentina’s only international airport for Europe and the US
is Ezeiza, 35km south of Buenos Aires city. Internal flights come
into Jorge Newbery airport (known as Aeroparque), just 4km from the
centre of Buenos Aires.
From Ezeiza international airport to Buenos Aires centre it’s
35km and you can take either the frequent, efficient and safe bus
service operated by Manuel Tienda
Leon, or take a radio taxi with Onda Verde (011 4867 0000) or
another reputable company. There are also remise taxis: purchase a
pre-paid voucher at the desk in the arrivals hall.
back to topGetting Around
BY AIR:
The fastest and most effective way of getting around Argentina is
by air, though there is an efficient long distance bus service,
which is more emissions-friendly. The only national carrier,
Aerolineas Argentinas is
currently losing ground to the entirely preferable
Lan, which offers most of the main
tourist routes, more comfortable newer planes and often cheaper
prices. They have two airpasses, one for LAN passengers, which
gives cheaper internal flights, and another for BA and Iberia
passengers which is cheaper than buying individual tickets if you
buy more than three flights. Some airpasses are no longer a great
deal, since you’re tied to flights that you must book with
your transatlantic ticket, and the prices are not cheaper than
buying them on the ground. Note that Aerolineas Argentinas tickets
are more expensive for foreigners and there is no way of getting
around this.
Buenos Aires is the centre for all internal flights, with the
exception of one direct route between El Calafate and Ushuaia, in
summer only. There are airports serving every major city and
tourist destination, including Bariloche, Córdoba, Salta,
Mendoza, Iguazú, El Calafate and Ushuaia.
Bariloche airport is closed until the end of 2011 due to the
volcanic eruption at Puyehue. Visitors wishing to reach the Lake
District by air should find alternative flights to Esquel or
Neuquén, or to Temuco in Chile. All are within a 4-hour
drive of Bariloche.
BY BUS:
Argentina’s massive expanse is connected by an impressive
system of long distance buses which serve every city and major
tourist area. They’re pretty comfortable for long-distance
travel, as long as you book the most expensive coche cama
(bed) seats, which recline nearly fully. Food and drink is often
included, along with several movies, bathroom facilities, and air
conditioning. Carry water and tissues, just in case, and
vegetarians should bring a sandwich, as the food is inevitably
meaty.
The major companies are Andesmar
and ViaBariloche.
For journeys from Buenos Aires to the northeast, we recommend the
overnight Flechabus coach
which leaves Buenos Aires at 9pm and arrives in Mercedes /
Corrientes the following morning. It's not as bad as you might
think: the bus has fully reclining seats, and shows movies as well
as offering toilets and refreshments. Book ahead in busy
periods.
BY CAR:
Once you’ve reached the region you want to explore, you may
find hiring a car is useful – particularly in the Lake
District, around Salta and Jujuy, and to get to estancias on
Península Valdés. Car hire costs from £40 a day
(in 2009) for a basic vehicle, more if you want a 4x4. We find
Holiday
Autos are usually the cheapest and you can book online or on
the phone. Be warned, though, that lots of roads in Patagonia and
remoter areas are ripio (gravel), so take it very slowly and
gently: hire companies charge expensive excesses for turning over
their cars. There are, however, lots of local buses, and you may
find this a more interesting way to travel and meet local
people.
If you prefer not to self-drive, most of the hotels featured on
i-escape can also arrange private transfers.
BY TRAIN:
Argentina’s train network, built by the British, has now
fallen into ruin, with the exception of local trains around Buenos
Aires, and a long distance train from Viedma on the Atlantic coast
to Bariloche, which also takes cars. There are picturesque steam
train services for tourists: Train to the Clouds in Salta (long and
overrated), and La Trochita (the Old Patagonian Express -
wonderful) from Esquel. There’s also the Tren del Fin del
Mundo from Ushuaia, but this is an unashamedly kitsch experience.
When To Go
Argentina’s seasons are the opposite to the those in the
northern hemisphere.
Summer: December to March
Autumn: April/May
Winter: June to September
Spring: October/November
Within the country, the climate varies considerably from region to
region.
Wherever you go, bear in mind that all hotels and flights will book
up way ahead in the summer months of January and February, at
Easter and in the winter holidays of July and August. Prices are
also higher at these times.
Buenos Aires city: Best in Spring and Autumn. Appallingly
hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 45 degrees, and humidity
is at least 80%. Mild in winter, with sunshine.
Patagonia and the far south, including Tierra del Fuego:
Trekking is best January to March. You can visit from Spring to
Autumn, and April is often a glorious month, when the foliage turns
scarlet and days are clear. Southern Patagonia pretty much shuts
down in the winter, with the exception of the ski resort at
Ushuaia. El Calafate and Ushuaia are way overbooked in January and
the first half of February, so plan ahead.
Whale watching at Península Valdés: Best in
Spring, September to December, and often later. There is marine
life for much of the year, but services close in winter.
The Northeast: The Iguazú falls are tremendous all
year round, but their force depends on recent rainfall, so April is
usually best. However, climate change is making the seasonal
differences unpredictable here.
The Lake District: Glorious Spring to Autumn, and very busy
in January and February. Trekking is best from January, as high
paths may still have snow on them until then, and is generally fine
until the end of March. Fewer crowds March and April.
The Northwest: A great place to go all year round, and your
best option in July and August when the south is inhospitable. Days
are warm and always sunny in the Valles Calchaquiés and
Quebrada de Humahuaca in winter. Rain falls in Salta and Jujuy
cities January to March, and roads can be impassable just
afterwards. The cloudforest regions are best visited April to
November.
Mendoza: Landscapes are lovely all year round, but hiking
around Aconcagua is possible only in the summer, January to March.
The road across the border to Chile is often blocked by snow in the
winter. Skiing at Las Leñas is possible June to October. The
wine harvest festival in Mendoza city in late February is good fun.
As well as the national public holidays listed below, individual
provinces also have their own holidays, though this usually means
extra festivities, rather than extra closures. Check with the local
tourist office if it’s likely to affect your plans.
2010 HOLIDAYS
1 Jan New Year's Day
24 Mar Truth and Justice Day
2 Apr Good Friday
2 Apr Veterans' Day (Malvinas)
1 May Labour Day
25 May National Day
14 Jun National Flag Day (Belgrano Day)
9 Jul National Independence Day
16 Aug San Martín Day
11 Oct Columbus Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
Visas/Entry Requirements
Check visa requirements in advance. Passports are not
required by citizens of neighbouring countries who hold identity
cards issued by their own governments.
Visas are not necessary for the following citizens, who are
given a tourist card on entry and may stay for three months:
US, British, most other western European countries, Canada,
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Barbados,
Jamaica, Malaysia, Israel, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Turkey,
Croatia, Slovenia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore
and Japan.
Visas are necessary for visitors from all other countries.
There are three forms of visa: a business ‘temporary’
visa (valid one year), a Tourist Visa, and a transit visa. Tourist
visas are usually valid for three months and are multiple
entry.
All visitors can renew their Tourist Visas for another three months
by going in person to the National Directorate of Migration,
Antártida Argentina 1365, Buenos Aires, T011-4312 8663 (ring
first to check opening times) and paying a fee: ask for `Prorrogas
de Permanencia’. No renewals are given after the expiry date.
Alternatively, for a 90-day extension of your stay in Argentina,
just leave the country at any land border, and you’ll get
another 3 month Tourist Visa stamped in your passport on return.
Alternatively, you can forego all the paperwork by paying a fine at
a border immigration post (queues are shorter than in Buenos Aires,
but still allow 30 minutes).
back to topOther Essentials
Vaccinations:
See Travel Health Advice for travellers going abroad from the
UK.
No vaccinations are needed, but you’re required to be up to
date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitus A.
Yellow Fever is not obligatory for Argentina, but you might need it
if traveling to other countries in South America.
Malaria:
If you are visiting Iguazú or the Esteros del Iberá,
take insect repellent, and take advice about whether malaria is
currently a danger. Cases are rare, and it’s probably not
worth taking the tablets.
Water:
Make sure you drink plenty of liquids and especially water. Use
bottled water and make sure that the seal on the bottle has not
been broken. Tap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires, but you might
prefer to protect yourself on short trips by using bottled
water.
Sun Protection:
Use sunblock to protect your skin, especially in the south, where
the ozone layer is thin. Always wear a hat.
back to topNeed more Info
Argentine Embassy in London
65 Brook Street
London
W1K 4AH
Phone: +44 (0) 207-3181300
Email: info@argentine-embassy-uk.org
Website:
www.argentine-embassy-uk.org