Argentina

Quick Facts

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Capital

Buenos Aires

Government

Republic

Nationality

Argentine

Population

37,400,000

Languages

Spanish

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Currency

Argentine Peso (ARS)

Calling Code

+54

Time Zone

UTC-3

Daylight Saving

UTC-2

Introduction

Saint Bernard dog

© All Rights Reserved monkyhands

Breathtaking waterfalls, great desert expanses, stunning Andesean peaks, desolate glacial lakes in Patagonia, the haunting steppes of Tierra Del Fuego - Argentina's geography is varied enough to offer a lifetime of delight for the keen traveller. Even the nation's capital city, Buenos Aires, is acclaimed for its elegance.

After a period of unrest at the start of the 21st century, Argentina is currently enjoying a period of significant economic growth and political stability, making it an attractive option for travellers.

The south of Argentina is also the starting point for most tours to Antarctica.

Brief History

Human presence in the Argentine region of Patagonia can be traced back to as far as 13,000 BC through cave art found at Cueva de las Manos.^[1] By around 1000 BC, these nomadic groups had grown too large to survive on hunting alone and made early attempts at agriculture, predominantly focussed on maize and potatoes. From around 650 AD the culture of Tihuanaco from Bolivia started having an influence, evidenced by fine metal objects and ornately decorated ceramics found in throughout the country's Northwest. From around 850 AD small groups of settlers formed communities with individual dwellings and developed more sophisticated agricultural practices. Textiles were first woven around 1200 AD, examples of which can be seen in Salta's archaeological museum.

In 1480, the Inca Empire led by emperor Pachacutec, conquered northwestern Argentina.

European explorers arrived in 1516 and in 1580 Spain established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires, before eventually creating the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776. Many Spanish settlers arrived during this period. In 1810, after King Ferdinand VII had been overthrown by Napoleon, the citizens of Buenos Aires seized the opportunity to create the First Junta during a week that is known as the May Revolution. Immigration and investment from Europe helped modernize agricultural techniques. In one of the sadder points of Argentine history, the indigenous peoples of Patagonia were wiped out by the military during a campaign known as the "Conquest of the Desert".

At the turn of the 20th century, Argentina prospered into one of the richest countries in the world, largely through agricultural exports. The first free-elections was won by the Radicals in 1916. In 1930 they were forced from power by the military. Political change led to Juan Perón's election in 1946, a president who worked to empower the working class. He was deposed during the Revolución Libertadora of 1955. Political unrest continued throughout the next few decades, despite economic growth. Perón, who had been living in exile, returned to his presidency in 1973, but died a year later. His wife Isabel, the Vice President, succeeded him, but was removed by another military coup in 1976. A military dictatorship was in place until 1983 at which point they had lost credibility after losing the Falkland's War, causing economic crisis and abusing human rights.

Economic instability plagued the country for the next two decades until the end of 2002. Since then, the country's economy has enjoyed high economic growth and political stability. In 2007 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was voted in as the country's first female president, replacing her husband Néstor Kirchner who had decided to retire.

Geography

Onelli lake with icebergs

© All Rights Reserved monkyhands

Argentina is one of the biggest countries in the world and as a consequence, its geography is as diverse as you could wish. Travellers will find different sorts of landscapes and geographical zones, from north to south as well as from east to west. In the west for example the Andes mountain chain run for the entire length of the country. The higher parts are in the north and centre, with the Aconcagua being the highest point at 6959 meters, and elevations in the south are more in the 2500 to 4000 meter range. Although there are some perfect and challenging peaks to climb, you can also visit some parts of the Altiplano in the northern parts of the Andes in relative comfort. Here you will find salt flats and lakes teeming with flamingos and of course the occasional condor with a wingspan over 2 meters. Most of the Andes is shared with its western neighbour Chile and also some parts of the border with Bolivia are in the mountains. In the northeast are the other three neighbours of Brazil, Paraguay and a bit more south Uruguay which is just an hour away across the wide rivermouth of the Rio de la Plata from the capital Buenos Aires.

In the northwest you will find semi desert areas, especially around Salta, while in the northeast things can get tropical at some times, with lush and green vegetation for example at the Iguazu Falls.

The majority of Argentina is either low-lying land or midrange mountains, like most of the Pampas and Patagonia. The Pampas are mostly in the northern and central parts where most of the bigger cities, like Buenos Aires and Córdoba, are located. South of the Pampas, crossing the Rio Colorado, you will enter Patagonia, although sometimes Patagonia is also considered that part south of the 40 degrees south line, and therefore also parts of Chile are considered Patagonia. This means that although the stereotypical view many people have of Patagonia is as a flat and cold area, the lower areas of the Andes are also part of Patagonia. In the deep south is Tierra del Fuego, with the most southern city in the world Ushuaia, where boats to Antarctica leave, part of which is Argentinian as well.

Regions

Iguazu Falls

© All Rights Reserved jza80

Argentina's 23 provinces and one autonomous city are often grouped into these six geographical regions.

• Northwest: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja
• Gran Chaco: Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero
• Mesopotamia (or Littoral): Misiones, Entre Ríos, Corrientes
• Cuyo: San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis
• Pampas: Córdoba, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Buenos Aires
• Patagonia: Rio Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego

The portion of Antarctica claimed by Argentina is known as Argentine Antarctica.

Cities

• Buenos Aires - Argentina's capital, largest city and home of the tango.
• Córdoba
• Rosario
• Mendoza
• La Plata
• San Miguel de Tucumán
• Mar del Plata
• Salta
• Ushuaia - the world's southernmost city.

Sights and Activities

Tierra del Fuego

Ushuaia 2

© All Rights Reserved capibara

Apart from Antarctica and some islands, Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost point you can reach by travelling with public transport. Ushuaia is the southermost city in the world and can be reached by bus or plane. The road up the mountains to Ushuaia is beautiful and arriving by bus is the most satisfying way. Tierra del Fuego National Park is a perfect place to make some serious day or overnight hikes and there is even a small railway line, known as the southernmost railway line (logically), albeit a bit touristy and not meant as serious public transport. Also a boat trip on the Beagle Channel is very rewarding and you will get the chance to see seals, sea lions and different species of birds.

Wine tasting

Several places in the country are perfect places to taste some world-class wines. Probably the best and most famous areas are those around Cafayate (a couple of hours south of Salta in the north-west) and around Mendoza, in the central western part of the country, a day by bus from the Chilean capital Santiago. Mendoza is also a good place to base yourself as a serious mountain climber. The Aconcagua is nearby.

Iguazu Falls

One of the most impressive and biggest waterfalls in the world, Iguazu Falls probably has the best subtropical setting you could ever imagine. The Argentinian side of the falls are located in a national park where you can walk for hours: seeing, hearing and feeling the falls up close. There are even some predators like the puma living in this park.

Tango

Main article Argentine Tango

Argentina - Buenos Aires in particular - is renowned for the tango, a dance birthed in 19th century Argentina. While it isn't practised widely by Argentines anymore, the tango is still a major drawcard for tourists. Far from being a clichéd dance style, Tango has a depth of character and innovation that will draw you stepping and spinning into its soulful world.

Other sights and activities

• Patagonia. The southern part of Argentina (and Chile!) has many beautiful parts, mainly consisting of outstanding natural sites, like the Perito Moreno Glacier, the Fitzroy Mountains (popular with mountain climbers) and ski resorts like Bariloche.

• Argentinian Altiplano. Just as beautiful as its Chilean or Bolivian counterparts, the Argentinian Altiplano contains the higher parts of the Andes range in the northwest of the country. There are several salt lakes teeming with flamingos and there is even an option to travel by train to the border area with Chile once a week.

• Peninsula Valdez. This has to be one of the best places in South America and probably in the whole world to watch whales, but also other animals like dolphins, seals, sea lions, penguins and numerous birds.

Events and Festivals

• Gualeguaychú Carnival
• Gaucho Festival
• International Tango Festival
• Mar del Plata International Film Festival - South America's most important film festival, drawing around 150,000 visitors each year. It is held in March.

Sport

Football (soccer) is by far the country's most popular sport. The Argentina national team features some of the most talented players in the world, many of whom play in Europe. Names like Lionel Messi and Carlos Tévez are well-known to football fans, as is the country's most famous footballer: Diego Maradonna.

There are several divisions within the domestic competition, with the Primera División at the top of the rung. It features the country's 20 best teams, including Independiente, River Plate and the infamous Boca Juniors.

There are two single-round tournaments each year. The Clausura runs from February to June while the Apertura starts in August and finishes in December.

If you would like to see first-hand what Argentine football is all about, nothing beats the derby between River Plate and the Boca Juniors, the country's two largest teams. Tickets can be bought online at Ticketek.

Weather

Argentina has one of the most varied climates in South America. Both the highest as the lowest temperatures ever recorded in South America were in Argentina.

The summer months are between December and March, with winter from June to September. Even in summer, temperatures in southern Patagonia (especially Tierra del Fuego) rarely reach more than 15 °C. Meanwhile, in the north temperatures can reach 40 °C or more - even Buenos Aires can be close to 40 °C on some days.

The area around Iguazu Falls has a steady climate throughout the year. Seasons are more a matter of dry or wet, with the hotter summer months being the wettest as well.

The Altiplano rarely has days above 20 °C, but it's usually dry and sunny year round.

The central parts of the country enjoy hot summers and very cold winters, especially at night. That said, the temperature can vary remarkably within the span of several days. It can be as hot as 38 °C during 'winter' in Salta, but on summer days temperatures can drop as low as 18 °C as well. Wind directions are one of the reasons for this.

Generally, the best months for visiting the northern parts are from October to November or between April and May. For the southern parts, the period from December till March is best.

Getting There

By Plane

Buenos Aires is the gateway to Argentina when arriving by air. Its international airport is Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), more commonly referred to as Ezeiza International Airport, is located in the town of Ezeiza, 22 km from Buenos Aires. It offers connections with most capitals in South America and direct flights to major hubs in Europe, North America and Australia/NZ.

The national carrier is Aerolínas Argentinas. Its service is mainly limited to destinations in South America, southern US (Miami) and southern Europe (Spain and Italy), but they offer codeshare flights to many other destinations as well. However, foreign travellers can usually get (much) better deals with the carrier doing the actual transport.

Qantas is the main carrier to Australia and New Zealand. From North America, Delta Air Lines is the main carrier via its Atlanta hub. The main European carriers that service Argentina are Iberia (via Madrid and Barcelona), Alitalia (via Rome) and Lufthansa (via Frankfurt). From Asia, Malaysia Airlines fly from Kuala Lumpur with stops in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa before continuing to EZE. Alternative routes from Asia are to fly via Australia or California.

By Train

Currently, there are no international train services to Argentina. There are talks of a Chile-Argentina line, but this is not expected to be completed until 2010.

By Car

Argentina's road system is quite good, and there are entry points by road from Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. For a full list of the road entry points into Argentina, see this extended article about driving in Argentina.

Driving in Argentina, however, requires you to be a strong, assertive driver, since the Argentine style of driving is generally more reckless than that of the United States and Western Europe. In the countryside, the main roads are 2-lane roads, which can be unpaved, particularly in the south of the country.

See the Getting Around section for more details about driving in Argentina.

By Bus

It is possible to get to Argentina by bus from Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile, using many of the border routes listed above. Long-distance bus trips are much cheaper than flights, but they also take a lot longer. Depending on where you're travelling from, your bus trip could take up to 48 hours.

Argentina's bus network is well-priced and quite comfortable, and there are many companies offering long distance services. There are several levels of service: Regular, Semi-cama (half-bed) and Cama (bed).

By Boat

There are boat connections with both Uruguay and Chile. Boats to Uruguay leave from Buenos Aires or Tigre, just to the north and make the journey to Colonia, the capital Montevideo and a few smaller places like Carmelo. One of the operators is Buquebus.

The boat to Chile is in the far south, from Ushuaia to Puerto Williams on the Isla de Navarino, one of the most southern permanent settlements in the world.

Getting Around

By Plane

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), in Buenos Aires, is the country's main domestic airport. The two main airlines running domestic services are LAN Airlines and Aerolíneas Argentinas.

Flying is generally more expensive option than catching the bus, but it also saves a lot of time. If you want to travel to the far south of Argentina, flying can work out cheaper than the bus.

By Train

Buenos Aires is the central hub of the Argentina train system. The country's largest operator is Ferrobaires, which operates services in three "corridors":

• Corredor Roca - with services between Constitución station (Buenos Aires) and Pinamar, Miramar, Mar del Plata, Tandil, Patagones, Olavarría, Baía Blanca and Daireaux
• Corredor San Martin - with services between Retiro station (Buenos Aires) and Alberdi and Junín
• Corredor Sarmiento - with services between Once station (Buenos Aires) and Pehuajó and Lincoln

Tickets range from $14 ARS to $60 ARS, with price dependent on distance and class. There are four main classes: Coche de cama, or the sleeper compartments, is the most expensive; Pullman is air-conditioned and has reclining seats; Primera is similar to pullman class, but has smaller seats; Turista class is the cheapest.

By Car

Since the driving style in Argentina is quite aggressive, you should only attempt to drive there if you're a confident and assertive driver. Many local drivers ignore red lights, stop signs and speed limits. The further you get from Buenos Aires, the less developed roads become. In the south of the country, many roads are unpaved. When driving in the mountains, it's customary to blow your horn when coming around blind curves.

Renting a car in Argentina is not the most economical way of getting around and requires you to be over 21. Some car rental companies to check out include Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Dollar Rent-a-Car and Thrifty Car Rentals.

By Bus

Getting around Argentina by bus is affordable, but it requires a lot of time.

There are three levels of service: Regular, Semi-cama (half-bed) and Cama (bed).

By Boat

Red Tape

All travellers to Argentina need a valid passport or, in case of Mercosur citizens, a valid identity card. In addition, you may be asked for proof of onward journey and/or sufficient financial means, although you will very rarely be denied entry on that basis.

Requirements for Argentina tourist visa have been changing frequently over the past few years. At present (2008), those with a passport from EU, New Zealand, Israel, Japan or USA do not require a tourist visa. For a full overview of visa requirements by country, refer to the Ministry of External Relations website (Spanish only).

You will receive a Tarjeta de ingreso (entry form) stamped with your date of entry. A tourist visit to Argentina can last at most 90 days, after which one renewal is permitted. Renewals are issued by the Direccion Nacional de Migraciones in Buenos Aires at a AR$50 fee. Overstaying may result in a fine and deportation, and could render you ineligible for any future visa. Although the system used to be far from fool-proof, this situation is changing rapidly now that more and more border stations have on-line access to the central database of DNM.

For visits with purposes other than tourism, contact your embassy in Argentina.

Money

See also: Money Matters

Argentina's currency is the peso (ARS or AR$). Within Argentina the $ symbol is used to denote a peso. To avoid confusion, the symbol for the US dollar is often one of several variations including, US$, U$ or U$A.

One peso is divided into 100 centavos.

Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1, 2 and 5 pesos. Notes come in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos.

Work

Study

Language

Eat

Argentinian food takes most of its cues from the food of Spain, Italy and France, unlike the cuisine of other Latin American countries. Pizza, pasta and sausages are common in the national diet, as is barbecued beef. In short, Argentina is a carnivore's dream.

Besides meat, bread is also in abundance, thanks to the fact that Argentina produces great quantities of wheat.

When dining in restaurants, the standard tip is 10%.

Sleep

Argentina is a large and very centralistically organised country. Although the provinces are autonomous to a certain extent, most government agencies are based in Buenos Aires, as are almost all larger companies. There is a lot of business-related travel to and from Buenos Aires, and given the immense distances, these are typically not daytrips. All these officials have to sleep somewhere; as a result the hospitality sector in Argentina is very well-developed. You will find alojamiento (accommodation) in even the smallest towns.

A note on terminology: a hospedaje is a boarding house, where you can get a room (in some cases, just a bed) and usually meals as well. These institutions typically cater for the group described above, and are not geared towards (foreign) tourists. A hostal used to be an in-between category of lodging between hospedajes and hotels. Nowadays the term is used interchangeably with the English 'hostel', with no clear difference between the two. A hospedaje transitorio or simply transitorio is a typically Argentine invention. It is not meant to spend the night sleeping, but to have extramarital sex (with your own partner: it is not a brothel).

Drink

Argentina is the 4th largest producer of wine in the world. Most of this is grown in the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan. Reds are the national specialty, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

Yerba mate tea is the nation's iconic hot beverage. It is a very distinctive drink that is brewed in hot water (not boiling) and consumed socially. Traditionally, it is drunk from a gourd with a metal straw, although it is now possible to purchase mate in tea bags.

Health

See also: Travel Health

Argentina's public health system provides free services for emergencies and non-emergencies, regardless of your nationality or immigration status. The level of care does vary, however, particularly outside Buenos Aires.^[2]

Travellers are recommended to get vaccinations prior to their trips for the following diseases: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Rabies.

Safety

While Argentina may have had a reputation in the past for being somewhat dangerous, it is now quite a safe destination. Traffic accidents are a concern, so beware if you are a pedestrian or driving.

Crime, while not a huge problem, does happen. In general, it tends to be of the non-violent pickpocket variety, although some criminals will respond with violence if you try to resist. In order to stay safe, avoid wearing expensive looking jewelry or watches, since these only attract thieves' attention. Don't leave your bags or purses unattended.^[3]

In Buenos Aires, local police patrol the main tourist areas. The Argentinian countryside tends to be very safe.^[4]

Following are some key contact numbers:

• Police - 101 (911 is a new number - available in limited areas only)
• Medical emergency - 107
• Fire - 100

If you have been a victim of crime, you can also contact the special Tourist Police Unit on its toll-free number: 0800-999-5000.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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