Argentina offers a wealth of different holiday experiences. From sophisticated cities, to great wonders such as Iguazu Falls and Perito Moreno glacier, from the wildlife of Peninsula Valdes to country estancias. There is magnificent, dramatic scenery to enjoy, as well as cruises on the southernmost fjords and channels. We have appointed an excellent local company which will always do its best to ensure your holiday is enjoyable and address any issues that may arise.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Peso. Argentinian pesos are not available in the UK. However US dollars are readily exchanged and accepted. Travellers’ cheques may be exchanged at certain banks, but are not usually accepted in shops and restaurants. See the Financial Times website for up-to-date information.
Visas
Travellers with British/European Community Passports do not require visas for Argentina. However, please ensure that your passport has at least six months to run. Please also take several photocopies of the main page of your passport with you. If you are a foreign national living in the UK, please ensure that you have all the correct papers before leaving the UK. If your paperwork is not in order you will be refused entry back to the UK and fined a minimum of £2,000 per person and we cannot be held responsible for the consequences.
Food
Food varies with the region but is generally of a high standard in all the hotels, hosterias and estancias we use. There are typical dishes in every region, with a wide variety of sweets and fruits. Buenos Aires caters for every palate. Parrilladas, a selection of grilled meats is a speciality of the country, and the north west prides itself on wild boar and venison dishes. Argentinean wine is excellent and inexpensive. Prices depend very much on location, an average being around US$ 15.00 - 20.00 per person for a meal.
Vaccinations/Health
There are no health requirements for Argentina, but you should always check with your doctor or travel clinic as to latest health requirements no later than four weeks before departure.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken.
Getting around
We offer fly-drive options in the North West of the country and in the Lake District. In other areas, and for those who prefer not to self-drive, we base our itineraries on private transfers and internal flights.
Driving
The roads are asphalted, (with the exception of some in Bariloche Peninsula Valdes and the North West) are of good standard and the driving (on the right) even in the larger towns, is civilised. Driving in the NW during the wet season is not recommended. Petrol is approximately 75 cents per litre.
Internal Flights
The best way to see the country usually involves a number of internal flights due simply to the vast distances between the different areas. Internal flights in Argentina are generally reliable and punctual. Aerolineas Argentinas operates the vast majority of routes and they do have a baggage restriction of 15kg per person. Excess baggage charges are usually made but they are very low.
Accommodation
Hotels are graded on the UK system from Deluxe downwards. The Estancias are not graded, but generally are of a good four star European rating. You will find the overall standard of the hotels we feature very satisfactory. All rooms will have private facilities – either bath and shower or shower only. Argentina offers some top class accommodation, suitable for the luxury traveller. We continually seek out small properties with lots of charm to compliment the more expensive alternatives. There are also a number of excellent estancias across the country. We are as honest as possible when recommending hotels and will try to make sure they are suitable for you. Where there is a good choice of restaurants nearby, we will book your stay on bed and breakfast – otherwise, we can include meals where appropriate.
Excursions
Most of the necessary excursions are included within the quote (unless requested otherwise). A multitude of tour companies abound in Argentina tourist areas and choosing one can be time consuming and risky – we have full confidence that we use the best guides and vehicles to save you the trouble of finding your own tours.
Combinations
Argentina combines very well with both Chile and Brazil. Natural crossing points between Argentina and Chile are from Mendoza to Santiago (either by land or air), from Bariloche to Puerto Varas across the Andean Lakes, or from Calafate to Torres del Paine by land. Going from Argentina to Brazil is best done via Iguazu Falls.
Early Morning arrival in Buenos Aires
Please note that some international flights arrive very early into Buenos Aires. Access to rooms is only guaranteed from 14.00 onwards. However, we do appreciate that you will be weary from your long flight and therefore, our local agents will always do their best on your behalf to try and obtain access to your room as early as possible. We recommend, in order to guarantee an immediate check-in, that you ask us to add the previous night’s accommodation (at a supplement).
Weather/When to go
Being such a vast country, weather varies greatly from region to region. Buenos Aires summers (December to February) are very humid with temperatures between 27˚C and 35˚C degrees, spring and autumn can be cooler, but the winter months tend to be the most pleasant as the rainfall is usually very low. In the north west area, especially in the higher mountains, temperatures vary from -20˚C in winter (July to September) to 30˚C degrees in summer (December to February). The hills and valleys have milder weather but are susceptible to heavy rain in the summer months. The Iguazu area is tropical with mild winters (July to September) and hot summers (December to February) with rain falling in short but very strong bursts. The Bariloche area has temperatures of between 10˚C to 25˚C in summer (December to February) and between 0˚ to 11˚C degrees in winter (July to September). May and August tend to be the wettest months. Peninsula Valdes and Calafate, in Patagonia, generally have long summers (November to March) and long winters (June to September). Peninsula Valdes temperatures can reach 40˚C degrees in summer, with very strong winds along the coast in winter. The climate in the glaciers is generally very cold in winter (July to September) and mild in the summer months (December to February). Strong southwesterlies (especially between September and March) prevail in the area of Ushuaia. Daytime temperatures range between 11˚ to 20˚C degrees in summer to 0˚C degrees in winter.
Time
For most of the year, Argentina is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) but this varies depending where you are in the country.
Recommended reading
Argentina travel guides published by Rough Guide and Footprint both serve a useful insight into the country.
For more information please see the Argentine Embassy website >
