What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina? A Complete Guide for Visiting
Welcome to a place we call home- a beautiful country that is completely underrated. Argentina is a place that isn't as frequented as other South American countries, simply due to its location.
Many people think that it's super expensive to get to Argentina, or that it's not tourist friendly. However, we're here to share everything you need to know! If you're wondering "what do I need to know before traveling to Argentina?" then you've come to the right place.
In this guide we're going to answer any questions you may be having, and help to prepare you to visit one incredible country. From the best places to travel, to how to stay safe- here is everything you need to know for traveling to Argentina.
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What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina?: Where is Argentina Exactly?
Argentina is all the way in the south of South America. I am from New York, and Fede is from Argentina, so when I talk to family and friends, they never realize why the seasons are the opposite, or why we are always taking overnight flights.
Argentina is actually an enormous country though, and expands as far south as almost touching Antarctica! The country shares borders with Chile to its west, Uruguay to its east, and Bolivia, Paraguay, & Brazil to its north. This means that there is a ton of diversity when it comes to people, landscapes, and weather throughout the country.
Argentina is all the way in the south of South of America.
What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina?: How to Get to Argentina
While Argentina may be far, it truly isn't so difficult to get to as you may think! There are actually quite a few ways to travel to Argentina:
✈️ Flying to Argentina
The easiest way to travel to this country is by flying into the capital city, Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires has a ton of international flights, so you can fly their direct from different countries throughout the Americas, as well as Europe.
International Flights to Buenos Aires
International cities that fly direct to Buenos Aires include Amsterdam, Asuncion, Atlanta, Barcelona, Bogota, Dallas, Florianopolis, Frankfurt, Houston, Lima, Madrid, Medellin, Mexico City, Miami, Montevideo, New York, Panama City, Paris, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Santiago, and Sao Paulo.
International Flights to Other Cities in Argentina
Lima and Asuncion also fly to Cordoba, while Santiago flies direct to Cordoba, Mendoza, and Rosario. Panama City in addition flies to Cordoba, Rosario, and to Mendoza. Finally, from Brazil you have flights from Sao Paulo to Rosario, while Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis fly to both Rosario and Cordoba.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can put from "your city" to "Argentina". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport in the country to fly. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for your destination!
🛳 Cruising to Argentina
Another way to visit Argentina is by taking a cruise. Unfortunately, while working on cruise ships we never had the privilege of doing this route, as it isn't quite as common as Caribbean or European itineraries. However, some of the higher end companies do have South American itineraries, and many of them stop all throughout the coast of Argentina.
A few of the biggest cruise companies that visit Argentina include Celebrity, Norwegian, Princess, and Oceania. The cruises are usually 2-3 weeks, and the months that typically have these types of itineraries are in the summer, from December to March.
Cruising is a great way to visit some of the highlights of Argentina.
⛴ Taking a Ferry to Argentina
Another way to visit Argentina by sea is by taking a ferry from Uruguay. There are two cities that sail to Buenos Aires from Uruguay, which are Colonia and Montevideo.
The trip from Colonia is an hour and 15 minutes and is around 10,000-20,000 Argentinean pesos, and the trip from Montevideo is 2 hours and 45 minutes, with tickets ranging from 24,000-38,000 Argentinian pesos.
🚌 Taking a Bus to Argentina
South America is pretty huge, and renting a car is not always the easiest or cheapest. However, they do have a lot of overnight buses with reclining seats for the long journeys, and they connect many of the different countries throughout the continent.
If you are coming from Paraguay or Brazil, the easiest point of entry is from Iguazu Falls, which is shared by both Argentina and Brazil, and has triple border with Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. If you are coming from Bolivia, you can easily take a bus from Yacuiba across the border to go down to Salta.
From Chile, the most popular routes are from Santiago to Mendoza (an 8 hour ride), or from Puerto Montt to Bariloche (a 6 hour ride), which is one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia.
What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina?: Entry Requirements
One of the most important things to ask yourself in regards to "what do I need to know before traveling to Argentina" is to check any entry requirements you may need. Here are a few of the entry requirements for Argentina in regards to visas and Covid,
🛂 Visa Entry Requirements for Argentina
Argentina is a pretty accepting country when it comes to tourism, and there are many nationalities that can visit visa-free for a period of up to 90 days. The countries from the Americas that can visit Argentina without a visa include Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, and the USA.
European countries that can visit Argentina visa-free include Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.
Other countries that can stay for up to 90 days include Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Venezuelans can stay for a period of up to 60 days, and those from Grenada, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia can stay for a period of up to 30 days.
💉 Vaccination Requirements for Argentina
There are currently no vaccination requirements for Argentina.
What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina?: Local Adjustments
Whenever you traveling somewhere new there are things that may be different from where you are coming from. Here are a few of the local adjustments to keep in mind while traveling to Argentina.
🗣 Language in Argentina
The official language of Argentina is Spanish.
Is Spanish Spoken in Argentina Different?
While Spanish is what is spoken in Argentina, be prepared for a very different type of Spanish. Argentinians have a particular accent, and the way they speak is kind of sing- songy like the way that Italians speak. They also pronounce the y sound as "sh" which can be particularly confusing for those that don't speak Spanish as a first language.
In more popular areas of the country you will also find plenty of English speakers. However, learning a bit of Spanish will definitely help you get around.
💶 What is Argentina's Currency?
Argentina is one of the most unique places in the world when it comes to converting money, and we're about the explain why.
Unfortunately, the economic situation in Argentina is not in great shape. There is an insanely high inflation rate, and the US dollar is in high demand. This is very sad for the people of Argentina, but is very beneficial for tourists, as everything is much cheaper when paid with cash.
Not only that, but because the dollar is in such high demand, places incentivize you to spend cash over using a credit card, so certain things like excursions are basically 50% off when paid in dollars. You will also need to convert some of your USD to pesos to use in most places. When you arrive in Argentina do no exchange your pesos in an official exchange, but look for the "blue dollar". Currently the blue dollar rate is around 379 pesos for every 1 USD.
🔌 What Plug Adapter Do I Need for Argentina?
Argentina uses different plugs than the rest of the countries in South America. The associated plugs are types C & I.
Plug C is the one that has two round pins (like Europe) and plug type I has three flat pins in a triangular pattern which are curved outwards. The country of Argentina operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.
🚰 Is it Ok to Drink the Water in Argentina?
The tap water throughout Argentina is very pure, and perfectly great to drink from the tap (especially in Patagonia!). We suggest investing in a refillable water bottle to carry with you around while exploring.
💸 How Much Do You Tip in Argentina?
The tipping culture throughout Argentina is typically 10% of the bill. Service is never included in the bill, so it is always great to have some cash to put on the table after your meal.
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What Do I Need to Know Before Traveling to Argentina?: The Best Places to Visit
Now that you know almost everything you need to know about traveling to Argentina, here are the best places to visit around the country.
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Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, and is the most common place for people to start or end their travels through Argentina. This is not like other South American cities. In fact, Buenos Aires actually has more of a European feel!
Unlike European cities though, Buenos Aires is enormous, and it's not limited to a little city center. There is so much to do and see in Buenos Aires, that we highly recommend you to dedicate quite a few days here.
No trip to Argentina is complete without visiting the capital.
Did you know that we are now running our own personalized tours of Buenos Aires? Come join us!
Iguazu Falls
Did you know that Iguazu Falls is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world? Move over Niagara Falls, because Iguazu certainly steals the spotlight for some of the most set of waterfalls in the world. Argentina shares the falls with Brazil, but the Argentinian side truly has more to offer.
Iguazu Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world.
Mendoza
Calling all wine lovers! Mendoza is home to the best wine in Argentina. Visit the wineries, dip in the natural hot springs, and climb the picturesque mountains for a truly special getaway.
Mendoza is known for its wine, mountains, and hot springs.
We just had a recent trip to Mendoza, so be sure to check out our brand new travel guide!
Salta
Located all the way in the north of the country, Salta has some of the most wild landscapes in Argentina.
Here you can find giant salt flats, rainbow mountains, thermal baths, and other epic desert landscapes. You can easily get here by a short flight, or by crossing over from the neighboring country of Bolivia.
Mar del Plata
Argentina truly has it all when it comes to landscapes. While most people escape to Brazil for the beach, Argentina does have a long strip of beaches looking for a relaxing getaway.
While we certainly wouldn't put this at the top of the list (Argentina's beaches aren't the best in South America), this can still be a fun weekend getaway from Buenos Aires in the summertime.
With its charming German architecture, cheap surfing, and fun nightlife, we think it's definitely worth exploring for a couple of days!
Mar del Plata is the perfect weekend getaway from Buenos Aires.
Patagonia
Patagonia is one of the biggest regions of Argentina, and actually covers almost the whole bottom half of the country. In addition, the region of Patagonia is shared by the neighboring country Chile.
Patagonia is full of breathtaking landscapes from the bluest waters to marvelous glaciers. This is our favorite part of the country, and one of the most beloved regions of Argentina.
It's important to note though, that because Patagonia is so big, there are a number of top places to visit in Patagonia. Here are some of the highlights of the region, as well as the top places to base yourself.
Patagonia is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
Calafate
A trip to Calafate was my birthday gift last year, and it was nothing short of magical. This stunning area is home to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, and also right by the majestic mountain "El Chalten".
We spent 5 days here, and felt that it was a perfect taste of the area. There is so much to know about Calafate, which is why we wrote a complete travel guide for you.
Calafate is home to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
Bariloche
Bariloche is another one of the most famous Patagonian towns, and a trip here is one of the places I was looking most forward to! Bariloche is in the north west of Patagonia and is known for its skiing in the winter, and its great hiking trails in the summer.
Bariloche is one of the to destinations in Patagonia.
San Martin de los Andes
Here is a region that is less frequented by tourists, but has some of the most stunning nature in the country.
San Martin de los Andes is an area in northwest Patagonia, which can be visited by driving a few hours up from Bariloche. We visited here this year, and it was seriously full of so many hidden gems!