Argentina country travel information & pictures

People of Argentina, Tango, Gauchos, and Argentina beef!

Argentina is one of my favorite countries -- here's why: The people of Argentina are friendly, the food is terrific (Argentina beef is the best in the world!), and this country's scenic landscape has something for every traveller. In the north, it's tropical rainforest jungle (Iguazu). In south Argentina, it's near polar (Ushuaia). In big city Buenos Aires, you can shop till you drop! I have to go back to Argentina -- I still need to check out the beaches!

I purposely planned to travel to Argentina in mid-November, when it's Spring in South America, and the days are very long in the south, and the weather is warm, since I really wanted to see Tierra del Fuego National Park. It's also shoulder (low) season, so it's cheaper to travel, and less crowded.

From Ushuaia, I flew north to Buenos Aires where the weather is generally good for travelling year round (except in their winter (July, August), when it's chilly, and they can get fierce windstorms. I did go to a tango show (you HAVE to tango in Argentina!) and went to see the gauchos at a barbecue.

After several weeks of travel, I was hopelessly smitten with both Argentina and Chile: I loved the foods, the South American lifestyle, and especially, the warm and friendly people.

Argentina Country Travel Information

Do I need a Visa for Argentina? See Links for specific country entry and tourist visa requirements. Double check with the Argentine Embassy, consulate or trade office in your country.

What do hotels cost in Argentina? Check hotel rates at hotels in Argentina and check Argentina travel specials or see recommendations on city pages this site.

What to Pack for Argentina See my Travel Tips for recommendations on general packing tips and what to wear. If you''re traveling to Buenos Aires and Iguazu, you'll need different clothes than if you are going to Tierra Del Fuego. If you are travelling in hot weather, and to the northern beaches areas, you can use the Holidays to Dominican packing list. I did both north and south on the same trip. It took some thinking about, but I still managed with one small suitcase and had everything I needed for both types of climate. If you are spending most of your time down south, or heading for an Antarctic tour, the tour group will advise you on specific travel clothing.

Argentina Airports I came to Buenos Aires via Ushuaia in the far south, so I arrived at the domestic airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). International arrivals come to Ministro Pistarini International Airport, known as Ezeiza (EZE), for the district in which it's located, about 40 minutes driving time from downtown (see Airport Information), though it only took my driver 20 minutes to get to my hotel.

At each of my stops, since time was short and my Spanish sporadic, I arranged to be met to transfer to the hotels. (Reggie at LATA Canada arranged every detail for me. I simply told her where I wanted to go, when, and for how long, and she made it happen. She says she can do the same for anyone, anywhere traveling to South America.)

What Money (Currency) do they use in Argentina? Argentine Peso (ARS) $1 ARS = $.33USD OR $1USD=$3 ARS (See travel currency tips for how to carry travel money safely, wallets etc)

What side of the road do they drive on? In Argentina, they drive on the right.

Argentina Travel Maps and Guidebooks Airports and hotels have usually will have tourism maps in brochures, and they might be all you need. Or get a travel guides, now -- like the Lonely Planet Argentina, Insight Guide, or Frommer's Argentina and Chile. There's also a new Fodor's Argentina.

What are foods like in Argentina? Similar to North American and European, but with Argentina's own special touches. I wish I'd had my copy of Food and Drink in Argentina before I traveled. It's geared to tourists and residents, and small enough to fit into a purse or pocket. I've posted specific food information on the individual destination pages. See also my Blog post about chimichuri.

What Language do they speak in Argentina? The official language of Argentina is Spanish, but with their own Argentine style. For example, consider the word 'llama': in English, it's pronounced 'lamma'; in Santiago, Chile, it's pronounced 'yamma'; in Patagonia, South Chile, it's pronounced 'jamma'; here in Argentina, they say 'shamma'. Get a copy of the Spanish (Latin American) Phrasebook! English is commonly spoken (especially in larger centers), as well as German and Italian, but I heard little French (Many tourism people expressed a desire to learn French, but said they found French pronunciation, especially the 'G' sounds very difficult).

Travel Health and Vaccinations for Argentina Consult a travel health clinic once you know where you'll be going. Argentina is a long country, north to south, and what is a risk in tropical areas like Iquazu Falls is likely non-existant in Ushuaia and Tierra Del Fuego. Generally, the tap water is potable (safe to drink) though once, in Iguazu, recent floods temporarily mandated bottled drinking water. Check current World Health Organization Argentina and make sure your regular vaccinations (see tips here) are up to date.

February 2008: If you will be heading up to Iguazu Falls, where Paraguay meets Argentina and Brazil, be aware that Paraguay has recorded the first death from Yellow Fever in a hundred years; Canada, for one, is recommending vaccinations for Yellow Fever for travel to this area. Also consider OTC (0ver the counter) medications to take along (see travel packing medications).

Argentina Weather and Climate Best time to travel is usually the shoulder seasons in spring and fall (opposite months to northern hemisphere) for fewer crowds and better prices. If you want to ski the Andes, plan to travel in June, July, August. The antipodean summer months of November, December, January, February can be very hot, especially in the north. Layer, layer, layer. (See Travel Packing clothes and other travel packing tips).

Phone home from Argentina See Calling cards page for information and how to buy rechargeable calling cards to call home or make calls to someone in Argentina - pinless, and cellphones.
.

.

See my Argentina Travel Pictures on these pages

• Buenos Aires Historical city builldings, widest street, great shops, hotels and shopping malls

• Argentina Gauchos Recoleta Gaucho barbecue and tour outside Buenos Aires, plus Recoleta, Evita

• Ushuaia The End of the World? Jumping off spot for Antarctica

• Ushuaia Park Tierra del Fuego National Park day trip from Ushuaia

• Iguazu and Puerto Iguazu Famous falls and national park where three countries meet

  .