Argentina
Argentina is the best place to learn Spanish, to adventure unforgettable
experiences, to enjoy a lot of fun and to make new friendships.
Argentina is a safe country to visit regarding crime, hygiene
and health standards. Argentina is one of the cheapest travel countries
in South America, owning a very good infrastructure. Argentina
offers beautiful and diverse nature with all climatic zones from
the tropical North to the antarctic South. Experience this great
and unique country and its very friendly people!
Geography
Argentina’s main characteristic is the enormous contrast
between the immense eastern plains and the impressive Andes mountain
range to the west. This is the frontier with Chile and boasts
the highest peak in the Western hemisphere: the 6,959 m high Aconcagua.
From Jujuy to Tierra del Fuego, the Andes present marvelous contrasts:
the Northwest plateaus, the lake region, the forests and glaciers
in the Patagonia.
To the north, Chaco is a forested area linked to rivers Bermejo,
Salado and Pilcomayo.
Between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, the Argentine Mesopotamia
(provinces of Entre Ríos, Corrientes and Misiones) is formed
by low hills, where pools and marshlands evidence the ancient
courses of these great rivers. In some places within the subtropical
rain forest, there are fissures which provide such spectacular
phenomena as the Iguazú Falls.
The Pampas, in the center of Argentina, is the largest and best-known
area of plains. Agricultural and livestock activities are performed
in this area, which includes the province of Buenos Aires, the
northeast of La Pampa, the south of Córdoba and south of
Santa Fe. To the south, the plains give way to small hills in
Tandil and de la Ventana, and to the west, to the Córdoba
hills.
Towards the south, from the Andes to the sea, there appear the
sterile and stony plateaus of Patagonia, swept by the wind during
most of the year. The Atlantic coast, lined with high cliffs,
forms massive indentations like the Peninsula Valdés, with
its spectacular and unique colonies of sea animals.
Population
Argentina’s current population is more than 36 million inhabitants,
almost half of which live in the city and the province of Buenos
Aires. Population density calculated on a national basis is 13
inhabitants per square kilometer.
95% of the population is white and most are descendants of Italians
and Spaniards. As a result of the massive European immigration,
the white and Indian half-castes were slowly reduced and at the
present they amount only to 4.5% of the population. The pure indigenous
population - Mapuches, Collas, Tobas, Matacos and Chiriguanos
- amount to 0.5% of the population.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Argentine Republic. In
Buenos Aires, some “lunfardo” expressions -city slang
- are used.
Religion
There is complete religious freedom in Argentina, although the
official religion is Roman Catholic. Other religions practiced
in the country are Protestant, Jewish, Moslem, Greek Orthodox,
Russian Orthodox and others.
Currency
The official Argentine currency is the Peso. There are bills of
2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos, and coins of 1 peso and 1, 5,
10, 25, and 50 cents.
Constitution and Government
Argentina consists of 23 provinces plus a federal district, the
City Buenos Aires. The Argentine Constitution establishes a Republic
under a representative and federal system, and three separate
branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.
The executive branch is exercised by the President and Vice-president
of the Nation, elected for a 4-year term, and who may be reelected
for a single additional term. The legislative branch is bicameral:
the Senate (composed of three senators from each province and
from the City of Buenos Aires) and the House of Representatives
(composed of representatives elected directly and in proportion
to each district’s population). The judicial branch “is
vested in the Supreme Court and lower courts of justice”.
Each province has adopted its own Constitution in accordance with
the National Constitution, to rule its administration.
The current National Constitution dates from 1853. Nevertheless,
it was amended in 1860, 1898, 1957 and 1994. The last amendment
made in August 1994, allows the President’s reelection for
an additional term.
Two historic dates
May 25, 1810. The first "Gobierno Patrio" or National
Government Assembly was constituted.
July 9, 1816. Proclamation of Independence by the “Provincias
Unidas del Río de la Plata”.
National emblems
The Argentine flag has three horizontal stripes: the one in the
middle is white and bears the golden sun, and the two outside
stripes are light blue. The national flower is the ceibo, and
the national stone is the manganese spar (rodocrosita) or "Inca
Rose".
Getting to Argentina
Most airlines flying to Argentina arrive at Ministro Pistarini
(Ezeiza) International Airport, which is 35 Km away from the City
of Buenos Aires. Company Manuel Tienda León
(Av. Santa Fe 790, Tel. 4314-3636) and Transfer Express (Florida
1045, Tel. 4312-8883) offer a bus service from their offices in
Buenos Aires to Ezeiza airport from 5.00 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. These
services cost about $50 (Argentine Pesos), and
the trip takes approximately 40 - 60 minutes. There are also taxis
and chauffeur-driven rented cars at a price between of about 50 US$.
Some airlines are also flying directly to Córdoba. You can fly with Lan Chile via Santiago de Chile, with Copa Airlines via Panama City or with Pluna via Montevideo/Uruguay directly to Córdoba.
Documents and formalities
Valid passport with or without visa depending on your nationality.
Inquire at the closest Embassy or Consulate. Visitors coming from
countries not bordering Argentina are exempt from all taxes on
travelling articles and new articles up to US$ 300 and an additional
US$ 300, if purchased at duty free shops within the national territory.
No vaccination certificate is required to enter the country, except
for passengers coming from countries where cholera and yellow
fever are endemic.
When to travel
Remember that in the southern hemisphere seasons are the opposite
to those in the northern hemisphere. In general, the summer is
the best time to visit Patagonia and the Southern Andes because
of the mild temperatures and long days. Wintertime is recommended
for travelling to the North and Northwest as rains are less frequent
and tropical temperatures drop a few degrees. Autumn and spring
are marvelous in Buenos Aires, Cuyo and the pre-mountain range
areas of La Rioja and Catamarca.
Getting around
By Plane
Due to the country’s large size, planes are best to travel
long distances, and you can then take overland transportation
to get to your final destination. Buying Airpass Visit Argentina
or Argentina Flypass in your own country, you’ll obtain
more economical prices for flights within Argentina. Aerolíneas
Argentinas and Austral operate domestic
flights.
Domestic flights and flights to Uruguay depart from Jorge Newbery
Airport (Aeroparque), located to the north of the city beside the Río
de la Plata.
By Bus
Buenos Aires bus station is located at Av. Ramos Mejia 1680 close
to Retiro Station (Tel. 4310-0700). Long-distance buses are equipped
with toilets, air conditioning and bar.
Opening hours
Banks and Exchange Bureaus: Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m.
to 3.00 p.m.
Business Offices: generally 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 outskirts and the provinces they generally close at midday.
Saturdays, from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Cafés, cake shops and pizzerias: open most of the time
except between 2.00 and 6.00 a.m.
Restaurants: lunch is served as from 12.30 p.m. and dinner as
from 8.30 hours. Fast-food menus are served in many restaurants
at all times.
Eating and dining
Argentine food could be summed up by one word: "beef".
Not just any beef, but the best in the world, succulent, cherry-red,
healthy - and certainly not mad - meat raised on some of the greenest,
most extensive pastures known to cattle. The barbecue or asado
is an institution, every bit a part of the Argentine way of life
as football, fast-driving and tango. But that's not the whole
story. The produce of Argentina's vineyards, ranging from gutsy
plonk to some of the world's prize-winning wines, are increasingly
available abroad; they make the perfect companion to a juicy grilled
bife de chorizo. Fast food is extremely popular but you can snack
on local specialities such as empanadas and lomitos if you want
to avoid the ubiquitous multinational burger chains.
Argentinians love eating out, even if that only means sharing
a pizza in a shopping mall or grabbing a dozen empanadas. By South
American standards the quality of restaurants is high, with prices
to match.
Payment methods
Foreign currencies
can be exchanged in banks and authorized money exchange bureaus. American Express,
VISA, Diners and Master Card are widely accepted. There may be
difficulties in changing traveler's checks outside Buenos Aires.
Telephone
Pay phones work with cards that may be purchased in kiosks and
telephone companies’ offices, or with legal tender coins.
There are also stores with pay phones (open 24 hours a day) where
you can pay in cash.
Calling to Argentina from abroad, dial the country code (54) and
then the area code of the place you want to call. For domestic
calls, dial 0 before the area code. For international calls, dial
00, the country code and city code.
You can bring your mobile with you to Argentina. Here you can buy an Argentinean sim card for a few dollars.
Internet
You may find almost anywhere small internet cafés. Some cafés or restaurants even have wireless lan (WIFI).
