Buenos Aires ... has all the elegance of the old world in its buildings and streets. I had not counted on its being charming, on the seduction of its architecture, or the vigour of its appeal.
Paul Theroux, The Old Patagonian Express
Argentina holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Argentina holiday, personal to you.
Argentina, covering most of the southern portion of South America, has a divergent landscape. It includes some of the highest peaks of the Andes, wetlands that rival Brazil’s Pantanal, the ice fields of Patagonia, salt flats, glacial lakes, desert and the breathtaking Lake District.
Most holidays to the country, however, will start in Buenos Aires, which has Argentina’s only true international airport. The capital, and home to the tango, has a real charm – houses are a mix of French-style architecture and others, such as those at La Boca, which are painted in vibrant colours. Aside from a good collection of art galleries, however, there’s not much here for museum fans.
Instead head north to see the spectacular Iguazú Falls and then to Chaco to spot bird and wildlife, in what can be baking hot conditions. Head south from the capital and you’ll soon be in gaucho country and near to luxurious estates that are a good start point for horseback adventures. Turn west to reach Mendoza, the country’s wine capital, whose produce should be taken with the celebrated Argentine beef, and then continue south, through Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego for excellent trekking among volcanoes and glacial lakes.
Contact an Argentina expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.
Argentina facts
Capital: Buenos Aires
Language: Officially Spanish, English widely spoken.
People: Mainly European. Remainder Mestizo, Indian.
Religion: Roman Catholic (90%).
Size (sq km): 2,780,400.
Population: 40,301,927.
Population density/sq km: 14.
Etiquette
Greet friends by kissing cheeks, if going to someone's home bring a homemade dish or dessert. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is informal but conservative away from the beach.
Shopping
Buenos Aires is a shopper's paradise, maybe the best in Latin America. Crafts and leather are best buys.
Food & drink
Beef of very high quality and parrilladas (grill rooms) offer a large variety of barbecue-style dishes. Local food is largely a mixture of Basque, Spanish and Italian, including empanadas (minced meat, puff pastry and other ingredients) and pork and maize stew or locro. Local wines are very good and also inexpensive.
International Airports
Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini (EZE), 42km from Buenos Aires.
Internal travel
Air travel most efficient way to get around but the services are busy and often subject to delay. Long-haul train services have been disrupted since privatisation. Buses are a reliable form of long distance transport and are sometimes quite luxurious. Trunk roads fine, rural roads become impassable after rain.
Red tape
Visas
(UK/US) None required although business traveller's should check with the Argentinian consulate.
Vaccinations
BCG, Hep. A, Hep. B, Malaria, Rabies, Typhoid, Y. Fever3
Driving requirements
International Driving Permit - must be stamped by the Automóvil Club Argentino, and carried at all times.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 65 Brook Street, London, W1K 4AH, tel (020) 7318 1300, email info@argentine-embassy-uk.org US: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel (202) 238 6400, fax (202) 332 3171, email info@embajadaargentinaeeuu.org.
UK/US reps in Argentina
UK: Dr Luis Agote 2412, C1425E0F Buenos Aires, tel (11) 4808 2200, fax (11) 4808 2274, email askinformation.baires@fco.gov.uk US: Avenida Colombia 4300, Buenos Aires, C1425 GMN, tel (11) 5777 4533, fax (11) 5777 4240, email buenoaires-acs@state.gov.
Currency
Peso (P) = 100 centavos.
Finance
US dollars and major credit cards generally accepted. Often difficult to exchange traveller's cheques in small towns.
Business hours
0900-1900 Mon-Fri.
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Beware petty crime (pickpockets, theft).
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 72.6, F 80.24
Useful websites for travel
www.argentine-embassy-uk.org, http://buenosaires.usembassy.gov, www.argentour.com, www.sectur.gov.ar, www.britain.org.ar.
Local media
The Buenos Aires Herald is the leading English-language newspaper.
Tourist boards
UK: 27 Three Kings Yard, London, W1K 4DF, tel (020) 7318 1340, fax (020) 7318 1301, email embar.ru@btclick.com. US: 12 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019, tel (212) 603 0443, fax (212) 586 1786, email ifegarra@turismo.gov.ar.
Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to Argentina. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific Argentina itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6548.
The region around Salta in Argentina’s northwest has some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, from dazzling white salt plains to parched red desert and colourful mountains. The area is rich with Inca and colonial history and refreshingly ligh...
The region around Salta in Argentina’s northwest boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, from dazzling white salt plains to arid red desert and multi-coloured mountains. It’s rich in both Inca and colonial history, is refreshing...
One of the planet’s few advancing glaciers, Perito Moreno is the stunning centrepiece of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The 30,000- year-old spectacular mass of ice is as big as Buenos Aires, which is where you’ll begin this weeklong tour. From the...
Spend a day at the penguin reserve, Argentinas largest with over two million Magellan Penguins then to Valdes Peninsula to see huge sea elephants....
The Los Glaciares National Park, on the boundary with Chile, stretches parallel to the Andes for over 120 miles. The journey from El Calafate to the park is approximately 60 miles through beautiful mountainous landscapes. The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of th...
The gaucho is to the Argentine pampas what the cowboy is to the American west - a figure of almost mythical proportions who helped forge the countrys cattle-breeding heritage and whose customs and traditions are still very much alive today. And no more so than...
Fine wine and excellent cuisine are highlights of this tour that will take you to Argentina and Chile’s top winemaking regions. Enjoy stays at exclusive boutique hotels and opportunities to dine at state-of-the-art wineries as you travel from Buenos Aire... Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.
More information »Dear Clare [Plummer],
Got back from our trip last Thursday and thought you would like to know how it went. The whole trip was just the right mix of cities, big scenery, activity and tours. The only fly in the ointment was the fact that all domestic airlines in Argentina have a luggage restriction of 15 kilos, not 20 – and there’s not a great deal of leeway on this. Fortunately it was not a problem for us as we always travel a bit light (usually so that we can buy things en route). It did mean that we couldn’t go on any spending sprees, but perhaps that was no bad thing. All in all we were absolutely delighted.
Thank you again for a truly memorable holiday.
Maggie Whitley
Subtropical in the north, with rain throughout the year, the far south is sub-arctic. The central mainland is temperate - visit throughout the year.
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Peso (P) = 100 centavos.
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