Argentina . Buenos aires

Passports: anyone entering Argentina should have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry, and ideally past the date the passport holder leaves the country.

** VERY IMPORTANT: ALL PASSENGERS MUST TRAVEL WITH THE PASSPORT INFORMED AT THE TIME OF BOOKING **

Visas: nationals of Canada, most Western European countries, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit Argentina. Upon arrival, most visitors get a 90-day stamp in their passport. Canadians must pay a ‘reciprocity fee’ before arriving. Ideally it will be reminded when buying the airplane ticket: this fee is equal to what Argentines are charged for visas to visit those countries. The fee is paid online and with a credit card.

Customs Regulations: electronic items (laptops, cameras and mobile phones) can be brought into the country duty free, provided they are not intended for resale. If you have a lot of equipment, it is recommended to take an item list with the serial numbers and preferably the purchase receipts.

Electricity: Argentina’s electric current operates on 220V; 50Hz; plugs are C/I type. Adapters are readily available from almost any ferretería (hardware store). Most electronic equipment (such as cameras, telephones and computers) are dual/multi-voltage, but some equipment may require a voltage converter or you might short out your device.

Internet Access: Wi-Fi is available at most hotels, cafes, restaurants and airports, and it’s generally good and free. In remote spots like El Chaltén and other parts of Patagonia Wi-Fi service may be usually poor.

Mobile Phones: it’s best to bring your own unlocked tri- or quad-band GSM cell phone to Argentina, then buy an inexpensive SIM chip (you’ll get a local number) and credits (or carga virtual) as needed. All SIM Cards now must be registered to users before they can be activated. In theory, a foreigner can activate a SIM card with identification. Both SIM chips and credits can be bought at many kiosks or “locutorios”.

Money: ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants. ATMs can also be used for cash advances on major credit cards (not all foreign cards work in ATMs). They’re the best way to get money, and nearly all have instructions in English. Limits on withdrawal can be very low, though the withdrawal fee can be relatively high. Banelco ATMs tend to allow larger withdrawals. In some spots in Patagonia (El Calafate and El Chaltén, e.g.) and most touristic destinations they quickly run out of cash in high season.

Cash: the Argentine unit of currency is the peso (AR$). Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1.000, 2.000 and 10.000 pesos. One peso equals 100 “centavos”; coins come in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 centavos, as well as 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos. Currently, US dollars are accepted by many companies dedicated to tourism, but it is always recommended to carry some pesos.

Credit Cards: many (but not all!) tourist services, larger stores, hotels and restaurants – especially in the bigger cities – take credit cards. The most widely accepted are Visa and MasterCard, though American Express and a few others are valid in some establishments. Important: many places will give a small discount if you pay in cash rather than use a credit card.

Money Changers: US dollars are by far the preferred foreign currency, although Chilean and Uruguayan pesos can be readily exchanged at the borders. Cash dollars and Euros can be changed at banks and “casas de cambios” (exchange houses) in larger cities, but other currencies can be difficult to change outside Buenos Aires. Passport is needed to change money; we strongly suggest avoiding any sort of street-tout money changer.

Tipping: restaurants and cafes: it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Spa: 15% of the bill. Hotel staff, delivery people, hotel and bus porters and taxi drivers: give a few bills.

Opening Hours:
Banks 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday.
Bars 7 pm / 9 pm to 4 am / 6 am nightly.
Cafes 6 am to midnight or much later; open daily.
Clubs 1 am / 2 am to 6 am / 8 am Friday and Saturday.
Office business hours 9 am to 6 pm.
Restaurants Noon to 3:30 pm and 8 pm to midnight or 1am (later on weekends).
Shops 9 am / 10 am to 8 pm / 9 pm Monday to Saturday.


Mention Argentina, and people think about solitary gauchos or maybe tango dancers. It is country blessed with abundant natural resources and a highly educated population. The country boasts a wide variety of cultural attractions, but for many travelers, its natural wonders are the primary draw. From the northern deserts down to the southern Andean Cordillera, from the Iguazú Falls to the magnificent desolation of Patagonia, Argentina's geography is varied and stunning. For cosmopolitan types, there's the elegant capital, Buenos Aires. This fabulous city is renowned for its sophistication, although travelers expecting a more 'South American' experience are sometimes disappointed with its European touch.

It's a large country - the eighth largest in the world, and the second largest on the South American continent. It borders Chile to the west (separated by the Andean Cordilleras range) and Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia to the north and east (separated by rivers). It also shares the offshore island territory of Tierra del Fuego with Chile, and continues claiming the possession of the Malvinas Islands (Falkland Islands) and the Antarctic territory, where Argentina has installed several scientific bases, including the most famous: Marambio.

Argentina's topography is affected by both latitude and altitude, and is accordingly varied. The country can be divided into four major physiographic provinces: the Andes to the west (with arid basins, grape-filled foothills, glacial mountains and the Lake District), the fertile lowland north (with subtropical rainforests), the central Pampas (a flat mixture of humid and dry expanses) and Patagonia (a combination of pastoral steppes and glacial regions).


Population: 46 million (2022 CENSUS)
Capital city: Buenos Aires
People: 85% European descent, 15% mestizo, native and other minorities
Language: American Spanish, plus 17 native languages
Religion: 93% Roman Catholic, 2.5% protestant, 2% Jewish, 1.5% Ukrainian catholic, 1% Armenian orthodox


BUENOS AIRES ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Our starting point is naturally Plaza de Mayo, where we observe the most conspicuous of Buenos Aires' Colonial buildings: the Cabildo, primitive town hall. We also admire the neoclassical Metropolitan Cathedral, and our Presidential Palace, known as the Pink House, with its peculiar asymmetrical façade. Finally, we trace the tracks of Monumentalism, visible in the Ministry of Economics building. Next, we walk across Avenida de Mayo, a tree-lined boulevard built in the late 19th century, when Paris was undisputedly the center of the world. Alongside the Avenue, many different-styled buildings were erected -Academicism, Borbonic, Italian, Neo-Baroque, Art-Nouveau and Art Deco, among other styles. Some of the buildings we'll be seeing in more details are, among others, La Prensa, nowadays the House of Culture; the Vera Palace; the traditional Hotel Castelar; and the monumental Barolo Palace, inspired on Dante's Divine Comedy. At the other end of the avenue lies the Congress, and the traditional El Molino tearoom. Next, we head for Puerto Madero, a cutting-edge urban renovation project initiated in 1991, located in the docks of a huge abandoned port district were recycled into upscale residential buildings, trendy restaurants and VIP nightclubs. On our way to Recoleta, we'll pass along the impressive Tribunales building, a patent example of the early 20th century Academicism style, built by French architect Norbert Maillard, the Colón Theater, one of the city's greatest attractions, and the Cervantes National Theater, a Renaissance building with Plateresque columns. Then, we'll visit Plaza San Martín, designed by French-Argentine landscape architect Charles Thays. Around the square lie some of the city's most conspicuous buildings: the former Palacio Paz, nowadays the Military Society, and the Kavanagh Building, South America's first skyscraper, among others. Once in Recoleta, we'll visit the namesake Cemetery, one of Buenos Aires' greatest attractions. Inaugurated in 1822, this true labyrinth of funeral monuments commissioned to some of the greatest artists of the last two centuries is the eternal home of the most conspicuous -and wealthy- figures in Argentine history, paradoxically including Eva Perón, who was a known enemy of the upper classes. Next to the Cemetery, we visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, a Colonial church built in 1732 that is surprisingly well preserved. We then walk across Alvear Avenue, where we observe the sumptuous palaces built by the Argentine aristocracy to rival with Paris, such as the Ortiz Basualdo palace. After seeing the imposing Neoclassical mass of Buenos Aires Law School, on Figueroa Alcorta Avenue, we'll visit the peculiar Sanitation building, with its strange majolica façade, built in 1887. This strange French Renaissance palace was built entirely from detachable pieces.

BUENOS AIRES ART TOUR

ARGENTINE AND LATIN AMERICAN ARTISTS This tour will allow you to learn about the main tendencies in Argentine and Latin American art, visiting tree of the most exciting museums in town: the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Latin American Arts Museum and the Quinquela Martín Museum. The National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA) houses a vast collection of 11,000 pieces, between canvases, sculptures, tapestry, engravings, drawings and objects, and possesses a small but precious European art collection, with works by Corot, Manet, Boudin, Cézanne, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Rodin. But this time we’ll pay special attention to the Argentine art section, which houses pieces by Morel, Pueyrredón, López, Sívori, De la Cárcova, Fader and Quiroz, among others. The modern, state-of-the-art Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires (MALBA) was built by Córdoba based architects Gastón Atelman, Martin Fourcade and Alfredo Tapia. MALBA is a space devoted to the collection, conservation, study and divulgation of Latin American art from the early 20th century to the present. Some of the artists in permanent exhibition are Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni, Pedro Figari, Xul Solar, Guillermo Kuitca, among others. Also, in the green corridor between the MNBA and the MALBA, we’ll be able to see many statues and monuments that grace our parks. Near the MALBA we can find the impressive Floralis Generica, a mechanical flower built in aluminum and steel, designed by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, which imitates the life cycle of a true flower, opening during the day and closing by night. Ending our visit, we travel to the working-class port district of La Boca, where we visit the Benito Quinquela Martín Museum. Donated by the artist himself in 1933, this museum hosts a great part of his work, which depicts the life of the neighborhood and its inhabitants.

BUENOS AIRES CAFÉS TOUR

In 1998, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires passed a law to protect and promote the city's Remarkable Cafés. In this tour, you'll have the chance to visit four of them, all of them located in traditional areas of the city, and to experience that typical Porteño habit of getting together at a coffee shop to talk for endless hours and honor friendship. Our journey starts at the neighborhood of Montserrat, near the Plaza de Mayo. A few blocks from there lay La Puerto Rico, founded in 1887 on Peru and Alsina and moved to its actual location in 1925. There used to gather writers and intellectuals such as Paul Groussac, Arturo Capdevila and Rafael Obligado. The establishment owes its name to its owner Gumersindo Cabedo's fascination for Puerto Rico, where he lived for some time. Next we visit London City, a coffee shop that became famous after being mentioned by Julio Cortázar in his novel Los Premios [The Prizes]. The café is located in the ground floor of a building built by E.A. Merry that used to be part of the annex of the traditional Gath y Chaves department store, in Buenos Aires' financial district. Then we travel to San Telmo, where we visit the Bar Dorrego, located on the corner of Defensa and Humberto Primo. From its tables, overlooking the traditional Plaza Dorrego, we'll soak in the Colonial atmosphere of this charming, historical neighborhood. Finally, we arrive to Almagro. On the corner of Rivadavia and Medrano we find the sumptuous Confitería Las Violetas, opened in 1884 with the presence of President Julio Argentino Roca. After being closed for three years, it reopened in 2001, completely and spectacularly refurbished. Writers such as Roberto Arlt and Alfonsina Storni were regulars. Just to imagine the kind of luxury we'll see there, here's a simple fact: the café has 80 square meters of splendid vitraux.

BUENOS AIRES WALKING TOUR

Historical Buenos Aires walking tours available: 1) Puerto Madero: The goal of this tour is to show how, like it has happened in many great capitals of the world, maybe in London more than in any other, an abandoned area can become the city’s most select neighborhood with an exclusive marina, and a modern cultural, hotel and restaurant district. Our visit kicks off at the Buquebús Ferry Terminal. Considering its old warehouse wasn’t recycled back in the 1990s, we’ll get a chance to see how the area looked before the renovations started. Next, we walk down Alicia Moreau de Justo Avenue, were we see the sharp contrast between the refurbished warehouses, of English industrial style, the state-of-the-art Inclán Building (designed by César Pelli), the Fortabat Tower and the Diario La Nación Building (both by the SEPRA buffet), and buildings from the early 20th century, such as the Central Post Office, the old Customs Building and the Ministry of Defense. Next, we visit the Sarmiento Frigate. This ship houses a museum, where we’ll see how a 19th century frigate actually operated. Then, we head for Madero Este crossing the Puente de la Mujer (Woman’s Bridge), designed by Spanish genius Santiago Calatrava. Once there, we’ll realize everything looks very modern. Nevertheless, we’ll be able to notice the contrast between the Faena + Universe, designed by Phillippe Starck, which used to be a silo, and the Los Molinos Building, designed by the McCormack buffet, which used to be a mill. Our visit ends back on the other side of the building, where we’ll admire once again the contrast between the renovated old and the modern buildings. 2) Retiro and Recoleta In the early 20th century, the Argentine aristocracy experienced an unprecedented prosperity; back then, Paris was the undisputed center of the world, and local aristocrats dreamed of competing with Paris, and of displaying their wealth on the city’s architecture, imitating the splendor of the French capital, in order to finally turn Buenos Aires into a global metropolis. Our starting point is the splendid Plaza San Martín, located in the heart of Buenos Aires. Around Plaza San Martín stand tall some of the city’s most conspicuous buildings. Some of them will allow us to imagine the splendid life the wealthier classes lived in the early 20th century: such is the case of the former Palacio Paz, which nowadays houses the Military Society, the Palacio Anchorena, that presently hosts the Ministry of Foreign Affaires, and the Palacio Haedo, which is used by the National Parks Administration. Then, we visit the monumental Retiro Railway Station, Academicist in style, opened in 1915. Although the design and materials came from Britain, it rivals in spirit with the traditional Parisian gares. Next, we walk across the elegant Arroyo Street –the word actually means ‘stream of water’, and it certainly honors the meandering course of this charming street. Besides its great architecture, Arroyo concentrates the most important art galleries in town. Finishing our tour, we walk down Alvear Avenue, a sort of smaller-scale Champs Elysées. There, we admire the sumptuous French-styled palaces, such as the Ortíz Basualdo Palace, nowadays the French Embassy, and the Pereda Palace, which now houses the Brazilian Embassy. 3) La Boca is arguably one of Buenos Aires’ most authentic neighborhoods. Away from the modernizing and internationalizing waves that have been shaking the city since the 1990s, this working class port district has been jealously guarding its identity, of which soccer and Tango are very important parts. The first that strikes the visitors about La Boca is its peculiar architecture. On one side, we find the typical houses made out of tin and scrape metal, painted with a wide array of colors. They were erected by immigrants, who used leftover materials and paint from the docks and nearby shipyards. On the other side, we see the famous tenement houses, were many families from the working class lived tightly crammed together. On of the neighborhood’s most recognizable icons is the Alberto J. Armando Stadium, nicknamed La Bombonera (The Chocolate Box), which is Boca Junior’s stadium, the country’s largest soccer team, and the one favored by Diego Maradona, probably one of the most famous people in the world. We also visit the emblematic Caminito Street, a true outdoor museum, dedicated to soccer and Tango. Finally, we enter the Quinquela Martín Museum, located in a building decorated and donated by the artist in 1933, to house an elementary school, an Argentine art museum and his own home and workshop. Here, we learn about his intense life and his strong social commitment.

EVITA TOUR

Eva Perón is one of our country's most famous personalities, respected and admired all over the world because of her relentless efforts for the cause of the humble and underprivileged. In Argentina, nevertheless, her figure is rather controversial: loved by the working class, whom she generously aided during her brief but intense political career, and hated by the wealthier classes, with whom she had an ardent dispute, nonetheless she never arouses indifference. We'll depart from Retiro Railway Station, where a very young Eva Perón saw Buenos Aires for the first time. Then, we'll visit Plaza de Mayo, where we'll admire the famous balcony of the Pink House from where, already married to General Perón, she delivered her most famous speeches, addressed to the Argentine workers who idolized her. Next, we'll visit the former building of the Eva Perón Foundation, an institution created by Evita to promote social assistance all over the country. Then we visit the CGT (which links together all the unions in the country), where we'll learn about the peculiar alliances that were formed to bring Perón to the presidency. Next we see the Congress, and once in Recoleta, we'll walk across the Recoleta Cemetery, an enormous labyrinth of splendid funeral monuments, and a traditional stronghold of Argentine aristocracy, where we'll witness Evita's posthumous victory over the people who had unceasingly fought her when she was alive. Ending our tour, we'll travel to Palermo, where we'll visit the Evita Museum, inaugurated for the 50th anniversary of her death. (Important: Evita Museum closes on Mondays)

PARRILLA TOUR

Parrillas are Argentine steakhouses offering the most traditional Buenos Aires cuisine, but most visitors only ever experience the most ‘touristy’ ones, sadly missing out on some of the city’s most delicious secrets. To taste authentic Porteño flavors (a Porteño is a native of Buenos Aires), join this culinary walking tour, accompanied by a private guide, to discover local hole-in-the wall restaurants and learn about Argentina’s culture and cuisine. You can choose a tour starting in either the San Telmo or Palermo neighborhoods via a private transfer from your hotel. The San Telmo tour is for visitors who love historic architecture and would like to mix it up with a little adventure. We begin near the Mercado de San Telmo for a home-made empanada at a family owned neighborhood institution. After exploring the market and watching Argentine butchers in action, you can the classic street food of Argentina: choripán. The Argentine choripán consists of a sausage made out of beef and pork, hot off the grill, split down the middle, and served on a roll. Taxi drivers line up for it every day. The main stop is at one of the best and oldest Buenos Aires parrillas to try provoleta, 2 cuts of steak, salad and Malbec. We finish up at a small heladería known for their selection of homemade ice cream flavors. Our Palermo tour centers around the Las Cañitas section of Palermo, a chic neighborhood known for its beautiful tree lined avenues, historic polo fields, and burgeoning culinary and nightlife scene. On this route you begin at a classic parrilla, usually frequented by soccer fans, and known for its choripán. Next, you visit a Northern Argentine style casa de empanadas to try some of the city’s favorite handmade empanadas and a glass of Torrontés wine, before moving on to enjoy some of the best meat and service in the city at a historic and hidden parrilla, famous among locals. To complete a delightful and delicious afternoon you end up at an incredible artisanal “heladería” (ice cream shop).

SAN ANTONIO DE ARECO CON ESTANCIA EL OMBU

This gaucho day trip from Buenos Aires is the best way to see the real heritage of Argentina; visiting San Antonio de Areco, one of the last towns that pridefully guard their customs and keep their traditions alive. This day trip provides the opportunity to know more about Estancia culture, horses and the gaucho lifestyle that is an emblem of argentine identity. At the Estancia, you will appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the Pampas, and learn about rural life in Argentina. You will meet gauchos and participate in activities such as horseback riding and carriage rides through the surrounding farmland. As you dine, you will enjoy a performance of traditional folkloric music and dancing and an impressive gaucho horsemen demonstration. Itinerary: 08.30 am: Pick up at your hotel in Buenos Aires. 10.00 am: Reception at San Antonio de Areco by our guide, who will show you the picturesque streets of the historical center, pulperias (old gaucho bars), the renowned Draghi’s Silversmith Museum, traditional handicraft, and the Ricardo Güiraldes Gaucho Museum. 12.00 noon: Departure to an exclusive Estancia where you will be greeted with empanadas and a delicious Argentine asado (traditional barbecue). With the guide, you will take a tour to visit the Estancia while hearing stories about this historic working ranch. Various activities will be offered: horseback riding or carriage, traditional folkloric dancers and music and impressive destrezas gauchas (Gaucho skills demonstration). You will also have the chance to discover and taste the ritual of the mate (typical infusion)! During the summer, the Estancia opens its 2 swimming pools. 04.30 pm: Departure to Buenos Aires

TOUR STADIUMS BOCA JR. & RIVER PLATE

We will begin with an Introduction of the origins of Soccer in our soil, where the immigrant´s importance to develop this Passion in Argentina Will be highlighted. We will go through Iconic Places such as the ground where the first Amateur game was played. Then we will go over 100+ years of history of this sport in our country; first teams, those that still survive and those that are no longer. Players, anecdotes, myths and legends. Then we will focus on the visit to the two stadiums of the city's emblem teams. The Superclassic; “It is the most intense sports experience in the world”, according to the British newspaper The Sun. We will definitely finish the Tour knowing in detail the sports and social characteristics of each club. ⚽ Museo de La Pasion Boquense It is the first football-themed space in America, it offers the public the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience linked to the most important club in Argentina and one of the most recognized in the world. Modern and impressive exhibition techniques, more an entertaining and dynamic tour for all types of public, show the dimension that Club Atlético Boca Juniors has reached during its more than one hundred years of history. Its triumphs, celebrations and the passion that identifies the club are part of the Museum and attract both fans as visitors from all latitudes. ⚽The River Museum aims to be a reservoir of club history and heritage, able to be enjoyed by the public interested in River Plate and football itself as an expression of popular culture.