South America
Welcome Kit
Argentina
The land with an infinite variety of natural beauties.
From the icy mountains of Patagonia through the deserts of Central Argentina, till the rainforests in the North, anywhere you go, this country will constantly take your breath away.
Highlights
Asado, Soccer, Tango, Mate, Malbec, Dulce de leche, Choripán, the Obelisco. We are all that, but we are much more than that.
The coffee shop round the corner, a non-negotiable: time to be shared with friends, Sundays spent with the family, the avenue that never sleeps, the rock nights.
Endless Pampean plains, gauchos, festivals in villages, folklore.
The Patagonia, remote and mysterious, and the North, sunny and colorful. The forest, the desert, the highest peak in the Americas and the End of the World; different personality and character traits have settled in these landscapes and climates.
Warm, fun, outgoing, friendly, passionate. These are some of the words used to describe the way we are.
General Facts
Due to its extension, 2.780.400 km² (1,073,518 sq miles), Argentina is the second largest country in South America, forth in the American continent and eighth in the world.
Its continental territory occupies most part of the southern part of the continent and limits to the north with Bolivia and Paraguay; to the northeast with Brazil; to the west and south with Chile and to the east with Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Map Location
Documentation
A valid Passport.
Most countries in America and Western Europe do not require a visa.
Insurance information.
Best Time to Go
The best season for visiting depends on what you want to do. Winter is for skiing and visiting the Northwest, summer is for hitting Patagonia’s trails, and the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are beautiful in all the country.
Best time for excursions. Best time for excursions. Busy season. High temperatures during day.
Ideal for visits without crowds. Snow falls are usual.
Clothing
A trip to Argentina means, in most cases, enjoying the outdoors and getting close to nature.
Thus, binoculars will help to see wildlife more closely, or the detail of the ice of a glacier.
If you take a hiking tour, especially on top of the ice of the glaciers, it is advisable to wear gloves that protect the hands of the edges of the ice, in the case of a fall or having to rely on something solid.
If you visit Patagonia, it is convenient to wear a scarf or windbreaker. In most places you will need a jacket and a fleece coat or simialr, even if it is summer, since in the same day you can have all 4 seasons.
To the list of essential elements, we can add: repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, a thin raincoat and an umbrella.
Good shoes will be necessary. Boots or good walking shoes will be very useful, especially if planning activities to the outdoors. Sandals with good foot grip will surely be appreciated if the trip is to warmer regions.
Finally, if you plan to enjoy a meal in a good restaurant or attend a Tango show in Buenos Aires, it is recommended to wear elegant sport.
Healthcare
Altitude Sickness
It is not unusual in the Andes.
Take it easy when you visit the Puna and try not to do anything too strenuous.
Check with your doctor before coming if in doubt.
Packing
Argentinean flights allow, as their restrictions are limited to 33 pounds (15 kg) per person.
Currency
Peso Argentino.
Major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
Argentina: 220 V – 60 Hz.
Plugs Type C / I
Local Taxes
Foodie
The Argentine cuisine comes, as in most aspects of the Argentinean culture, from a blend of the Italian, Spanish, Central European and Native American influences, without leaving aside the agricultural products that are important in one of the country ́s main industry.
Argentineans have a reputation for their love of eating, so gatherings are commonly centered on sharing a meal. Sunday family lunch is considered the most significant meal of the week, whose highlights often include asado (barbecue) or pasta.
Here are some useful tips about what to expect when looking for a traditional meal in the different regions of Argentina:
- Most regions of Argentina are known for their beef-oriented diet, especially the grilled meat, such as the asado cooked with coal or wood, steaks and beef ribs. Chorizo (pork sausage), morcilla (blood sausage), chinchulines (chitterlings), mollejas (sweetbread), and other parts of the animal are also enjoyed during a asado.
- In Patagonia, lamb and baby goat are eaten more frequently than cow beef and are traditionally cooked over an open fire.
- The most common condiment for asado is Chimichurri, a sauce of herbs, garlic and vinegar (Argentines do not include chili)
- Breaded and fried meats — milanesas — are used as snacks, in sandwiches, or eaten warm with mashed potatoes — purée. The most traditional ones are the Milanesas Napolitanas, which include cheese, ham and sauce on top of it.
- Empanadas — small pastries of meat, cheese, sweet corn, and other different other fillings — are common across the country, alouth each region has a slight variation of them.
- Pizza and pasta are eaten as commonly as beef. A must do in Buenos Aires, is to go to a traditional pizzeria in Buenos Aires and try a slice of pizza, along with a slice of Fainá, which is a chick pea-flour dough placed over the piece of pizza.
- Picadas, which are usually found at home or in bars, are also popular. They consist of a mix of salted snacks, or tapas and usually accompanied by an alcoholic beverage, such as beer or the Fernet (the Italian bitter) with coca cola.
- In Chubut, in the Argentinean Patagonia, the Welsh community is known for its teahouses, offering scones and torta galesa, which is rather like torta negra.
- Dulce de leche is another treasured national food, used to fill cakes and pancakes, spread over toasted bread for breakfast, or served as ice cream.
- Alfajores are shortbread cookies sandwiched together with chocolate and dulce de leche or fruit marmalade.
- Mate is an infusion traditional drink of Argentina. The name comes from the hollow gourd from which it is traditionally drunk. It is filled about three-quarters full with yerba mate, the dried leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis and after adding some hot water, not boiling, the drink is sipped through a metal or cane straw called a bombilla. Mate can be sweetened with sugar, or flavored with aromatic herbs or dried orange peel. In small gatherings it is traditional for one mate to be passed from person to person, filled by whoever has the kettle or thermos.
- Argentina produces several varieties of wines, but the Argentina’s flagship red grape is the Malbec, produced mainly in Mendoza region. On the other hand, the Torrontes is the thite wine grape that thrives in high altitudes of the Salta region, like Cafayate.
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Activities
Sail on the Beagle Channel and see the The End of the World Lighthouse (Ushuaia)
The Beagle Channel is a sea passage between Argentina and Chile located south of the province of Tierra del Fuego, specifically in front of the city of Ushuaia. It is one of the most wonderful tours that can be done during a stay at the “end of the world” due to its majestic beauty and its incredible landscape.
Take photos in the Great Salt Flats (Jujuy)
The Great Salt Flats provide a unique show due to their size and the effect with the horizon.
They are even more imposing during the rainy season since they are covered by 30 cm. of water producing a turquoise panorama overlooking the Chañi Mount behind them.
Whale watching in Puerto Madryn (Chubut)
The southern right whale watching is one of the main activities in Puerto Madryn and its surroundings.
The whales arrive on the coasts of the Valdés Peninsula during May and stay to reproduce and feed their calves until mid-December.
As whales do not arrive or depart all at once, at the beginning and end of the season there are few of them, making it more difficult to observe them, so the best time to watch them id between September and November.
Visit the Colón Theatre (Buenos Aires)
This Opera House, declared a Historic National Landmark in 1991, is among the most important lyric theaters in the world.
The construction of the current building began in the early 1890s, on the lands that occupied the first railway station in the country. The building was finally inaugurated on May 25, 1908, with the presentation of the opera Aída, by Giuseppe Verdi.
A must do in Buenos Aires is to take a guided tour of the theater or, even more advisable, to attend a ballet or opera while visiting the town.
Hike on the Perito Moreno Glacier (El Calafate)
The Perito Moreno Glacier is located on the Andes mountain range, nearby the city of El Calafate and is the natural limit between Argentina and Chile. It is one of the few in the world that remains stable, without going back as a result of warming global.
Walking on the glacier is an unforgettable experience one which you can marvel at the fascinating and endless forms of the ancient ice. Colors, shapes and sounds will be part of this unique experience of walking on the most emblematic glacier in the Argentine Patagonia.
Get into the world of the Tango (Buenos Aires)
Tango resonates around the streets of Buenos Aires, in its urban landscapes and in its people.
The lyrics, passion and nostalgia collect the most visceral feelings of longing.
Learn your first steps of the Tango with the best professionals, whether in a private or group classes. Attending a Tango show or a Milonga, where you can test the steps learned in the classes, are a must do as well!
Visit the Iguazu Falls under the light of the full moon (Puerto Iguazu)
Only 5 nights a month, the Iguazu Falls get a new and unique shape thanks to the moonlight on full moon days. This natural effect allows rediscovering the falls in a way that you will not be able to see anywhere else.
The night walk proposes a tour that begins by getting on the ecological train of the jungle towrads the famous Garganta del Diablo.
Check the calendar, since if your trip coincides with any full moon, you should not miss this great experience.