Category: Argentina

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Argentina travel guide

Getting from Buenos Aires to Mendoza

Mendoza is the center of the wine industry in Argentina. It is also close to the Aconcagua, the world’s second highest peak. It is a popular vacation spot both for those who want to enjoy some wine tasting and those looking for an adventure. During winter (June to late August), the area draws many snow enthusiasts as it is home to great ski centers. It would be a shame to visit Argentina and not plan to stop in Mendoza, as well.

Quick summary

Although you can fly between Buenos Aires and Mendoza, the plane ticket is more than double than the bus ticket. If you are in a hurry and the budget isn’t an issue, then you can fly between the two cities in 2 hours. Otherwise, choose a night bus. You’ll be traveling for about 14 hours and you can choose a night bus and sleep the entire length of the trip.

Flights from Buenos Aires (airport code: AEP) to Mendoza

The main airport serving Buenos Aires is Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), which handles all international flights and some domestic ones. It is the largest airport in Argentina and a hub for Aerolineas Argentinas , LAN Airlines and SkyTeam. Most domestic flights depart from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP).

Mendoza is served by a small airport, El Plumerillo (MDZ) which receives flights from Buenos Aires (from both airports), run by Aerlonieas Argentinas and LAN Argentina.

It’s cheaper to fly from Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque airport (AEP) into Mendoza than to fly from the main airport. Flights start at US$215 one way on LAN Airlines. The travel time is about 2 hours.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Buenos Aires

Buses from Buenos Aires to Mendoza

There are more than 10 companies that offer daily direct connections between Buenos Aires and Mendoza. The travel time is between 13h 30 min and 14 h 30 min, depending on the type of bus and company. There are departures during the day but you can also choose a night bus. Tickets cost between 350 Argentine pesos / US$83.50 and 470 Argentine pesos / US$112, per person, one way.

Some of the companies offering connections between the two cities are: Cata Internacional, El Rapido Internacional , Viajes Sendas, Andesmar and Flecha Bus.

Buses depart from Terminal Retiro in Buenos Aires and arrive at Terminal de Mendoza.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Argentina

Driving from Buenos Aires to Mendoza

Although the driving distance between Buenos Aires and Mendoza is long (1049 km), you can turn this journey into a lovely road trip. So, rent a car and prepare for about 12 hours of driving. Make sure to allow for stops along the way and remember that you’ll also be driving on toll roads.

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Argentina travel guide

Getting from Buenos Aires to Montevideo (and return)

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay , located on the bank of the Rio de la Plata. The Old Town, along with the squares and museums can keep you occupied for several days. Montevideo is located close to Buenos Aires and many travelers choose to visit both cities on their vacation.

Quick summary

Choosing the means of transportation is a matter of deciding how fast you want to travel between the two cities and what your budget can accommodate. It’s slightly more expensive (from US$73 one way) to travel by plane but you get between Buenos Aires and Montevideo in less than an hour. If you have more time on your hands and you are on a budget, the ferry is a good alternative (from US$41 one way) and you get between the two cities in 3 hours.

Flights from Buenos Aires (airport code: EZE) to Montevideo

Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is the international airport serving the capital of Buenos Aires. It is also the country’s largest airport and a hub for Aerolineas Argentinas , LAN Airlines and SkyTeam.

Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco (MVD) serves Montevideo and is the largest airport in Uruguay. It is hub for Pluna.

Flights between the two cities are operated by Aerolineas Argentinas, BQB Lineas Aereas, Pluna and Sol Lineas Aereas. Most fights connect to/from Ezeiza , but Sol flies on the secondary airport in Buenos Aires (Aeroparque – AEP) and Pluna has flights on both airports serving Argentina’s capital.

If you fly from Ezeiza, fares start from US$73 per person, one way on Aerolineas Argentinas or Pluna. It’s more expensive to fly from Aeroparque as flights start at US$132 per person, one way on the same airlines. The travel time is 45 min.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Buenos Aires

Boats from Buenos Aires to Montevideo

It is possible to take a high-speed ferry between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The ferries are operated by Buquebus . The travel time is 3h 15 min and the tickets start at $178.42 UYU / US$41 (promo web). There are several departures per day , the earliest being at 8 a.m.

In Montevideo, the ferry terminal is in Ciudad Vieja district, which is located close to downtown.

Buses from Buenos Aires to Montevideo

Three bus companies offer connections between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The travel time is about 8 h and the tickets start at 160 Argentine peso / US$38 per person, one way. There are departures during the day, but there are also night buses.

Buses depart from Terminal Retiro in central Buenos Aires and arrive at Terminal de Montevideo (Tres Cruces).

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Argentina travel guide

Getting from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentine Republic and of the largest cities in Latin America. Popular for the football and tango, the city is also a very good base for exploring the rest of Argentina and the near-by countries.

Iguazu Falls, one of the great natural wonders in the world, should be on your must-visit list when you are planning a vacation in Argentina.

Access to the falls is done through one of the tri-border cities:

  • Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil)
  • Puerto Iguazu (Argentina)
  • Ciudad del Este (Paraguay)

Since you are already in Argentina, it makes sense to travel to Puerto Iguazu and visit the Argentinean side of the falls. Once there you can consider taking a bus to Foz de Iguacu, go through customs and visit the Brazilian side, as well.

Quick summary

If your vacation time is limited, consider flying. It takes less than 2 hours to reach the falls by plane from Buenos Aires but you’ll rack up from US$200 per person. A cheaper option is the bus. A ticket is about half of what you pay for a plane ticket and you’ll travel during the night.

Flights from Buenos Aires (airport code: AEP) to Iguazu Falls

Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is the international airport serving Buenos Aires. It is the country’s largest airport and a hub for Aerolineas Argentinas , LAN Airlines and SkyTeam.

All domestic flights depart from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). Flights to Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) depart from here and are run by Aerolineas Argentinas, Austral Lineas Aereas and LAN Argentina.

Single adult fares start at US$217 (Aerolineas Argentinas). The flight takes 1h 45 min.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Buenos Aires

Buses from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls

It’s inexpensive and comfortable to travel from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls (Puerto Iguazu). The company running this route is Expreso Tigre Iguazu . The travel time from the capital to Iguazu Falls is about 16 hours. Dinner and breakfast is served and you can also sleep in a bed during the trip. The round trip ticket is US$80-90 for an adult.

From Puerto Iguazu there are buses to the entrance of the falls, every half hour. Tickets cost AR$15.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Argentina

Driving from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls

Although the distance between Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls is long (1288 km), renting a car and driving through Argentina can be an interesting adventure. Allow several stops along the way or. The total drive time is about 15 hours (stops excluded). Do consider that you’ll be driving on toll roads.

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Argentina travel guide

Less Popular Sights in Buenos Aires

While there are certainly more visited places on earth than Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires remains one of the most popular stops on a trip through South America. You can certainly check off the must-see sights in the city, including repeated visits to the Milongas to watch (or dance) Tango or to parillas to gorge on some of the best steaks you’ll ever have – but why not explore off the beaten path in Buenos Aires, too?

A recent article on BootsnAll offers some ideas for seeing a less-visited side of Buenos Aires. These aren’t undiscovered spots, especially because they’re populated by locals, but they do give visitors a different look at a popular city. Among the ideas mentioned is to attend a polo match (soccer is huge in Buenos Aires, but polo is big among the upper crust of BA society), visit the theatre-turned-bookstore of El Ateneo, and relax with the locals at Palermo’s Park. Another funny note in the article is that while much of Buenos Aires is noted for its beautiful architecture, one of the prettiest buildings in the city is the one housing the city’s water department – El Sanitario.

Buenos Aires is regularly touted as one of the loveliest European capitals – despite the fact that it’s not in Europe – and travelers like to talk about how much cheaper it is to visit BA than it is to visit Paris. More recently, however, prices in Buenos Aires are starting to rise. They’re still no match for the prices in Europe, but people making return visits to Buenos Aires may be surprised to find the city impacting their wallets more than it used to.

Budget travelers may need to look a bit harder to find deals to Buenos Aires, then, or opt for hostels in BA as opposed to the hotels they stayed in last time – but as is the case with many off-the-beaten-path attractions, the less-popular BA sights listed in this article can help you save money on your trip to Buenos Aires.

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Argentina travel guide

Visit South America by bus

Located between the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean, South America is the wilder of the Americas and truly a continent of contrasts and of superlatives. It is the home of world’s biggest rainforest (Amazon), the largest river (Amazon), the highest mountain range outside of Asia (The Andes) , the world’s tallest waterfall (Angle Falls) and let’s not forget the stunning Galapagos Islands. The continent is also dotted with important historical sites, cosmopolite cites and colorful festivals.

While flying is the fastest way to get from one point to another, if you want to capture the beauty of the continent you have to travel on the ground. Driving can be a good choice but it’s definitely not for everyone, especially if the driving conditions are different than in the country you are from. So that leaves trains and buses to choose from.

Typically, buses are the cheapest way to get around any country in South America. Plus you can choose one (or more) of the amazing bus journeys in South America to do on your next vacation.

Argentina, the country of tango, soccer, excellent food and wine, can also be experienced on a bus ride. And best of all, you can spend time in the cities along the way and soak up the local atmosphere. Look for airfare to Argentina and fly into the capital of Buenos Aires. It is well served by airlines from all over the world, so finding cheap airfare shouldn’t be hard. Then, travel to Salta, either by plane or bus. Book one of the hostels in Salta because you will want to spend several days here. From here take the bus to Tilcara. Continue all the way to Iruya , stopping in Humahuaca.

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Argentina travel guide

Travel to Buenos Aires during Autumn

Autumn in Buenos Aires lasts between April and June. It’s the perfect time to invest in a Spanish class abroad. Or you can plan to make some money abroad by teaching English lessons.

Autumn allows you to travel like a local in Buenos Aires . The weather is warm and makes you want to explore the sights and check out the many markets in the city. You can shop for clothes (and find excellent bargains, too) or you can watch the Tango dancers early on Sunday mornings.

This period is also excellent for bargains. If you like football, then get a ticket ahead of time and watch one of the matches at the famous La Bombonera football stadium. Of course, it’s also the time when you can easily grab cheap fare to Buenos Aires . The city is easily accessible from North America, Europe and Asia. Almost all international flights land on Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza Airport, which makes finding a bargain really easy.

Non-stop flights from the United States depart from Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Houston, New York and Washington, D.C. These are offered by the large airlines such as United, Continental, Delta Airlines or American Airlines.

With the flight booked, make sure to also look for Buenos Aires hotels . Just like in any large city, they range from dirty cheap to luxurious so choosing the right one for you is a matter of budget.

Budget wise, expect to pay from $1100 round trip per person (if departing from New York) in mid-June. As for accommodation, you can find rooms from $24 per night (2 persons, wi-fi in lobby). For $40 per night (2 persons) you can stay in the heart of the city (wi-fi in the room, TV, phone, safety box, AC).

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Argentina travel guide

Reasons to Visit Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in South America, known for things like: tango, wine, BBQ, superb natural landscape, football and glaciers. Needles to say that there are many highlights of Argentina and even more reasons to visit the country.

People travel to soak up new cultures, enjoy new traditions, visit museums, historical sites, learn to cook and for many other reasons. It’s definitely a good idea to invest in some tango lessons when you visit Argentina but don’t be shy and plan to see the glaciers as well.

Some people travel to see the world’s coolest train stations . If your bucket list includes buildings such as the Central station in Antwerp (Belgium), the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station in Malaysia and even St. Pancras/King’s Cross station in London, then make sure to also see Cascada de la Macarena station in Patagonia (Argentina).

It is located close to the “end of the world”, or 8 km from Ushuaia and is the final station on the world’s southernmost railway line. Once it served a prison, now it’s used only for tourism.

But regardless of why you travel, being comfortable on the road is the most important thing. After eleven hours in the train, somewhere in Central-Eastern Europe, I sure wished I had one of the best travel neck pillows . Those darn train seats were horrible and couldn’t close my eyes during the night. Likewise, if you fly and want to get some shut eye, the neck pillow is a gift sent from heaven.

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Make Argentina Your Budget Destination

Though the rock-bottom prices of the early 2000’s have gone up considerably Argentina still regularly tops the lists of best cheap countries to visit, thanks to a very favorable dollar to peso exchange rate.  One US dollar will get your nearly four pesos, making the average price for a decent bottle of wine around $4 US and a heaping platter of tender, juicy beef will run you between ten and fifteen bucks.

It’s easy to be put off by the initial cost of traveling to Argentina. Flights to Buenos Aires are not cheap; expect to pay anywhere from $700-$1500 per person, depending on where in the US you’re coming from. But, the extra cost of flights is easily made up once you are on the group. Living large in Argentina on a small budget it quite easy. Cheap Buenos Aires hotels will only cost $25-30 per night for a double room, while slightly more upscale accommodations can be had for under $100. If you’re fine with a dorm bed in a hostel, you can even get by on under $15 per night.

Of course, Buenos Aires is one of the most expensive places in Argentina, seeing as it’s the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the country. In other areas, you can spend even less, though you’ll sacrifice some of the European flavor, low-cost luxury shopping and decadent nightlife present in the capital. For those who want to indulge in fine food, fantastic wine and luxurious accommodations and shopping, Buenos Aires is an ideal destination that allows you to indulge without the high price tag.

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Argentina travel guide

Active vacation in Argentina

Active vacations are excellent ways to visit a country, especially if you enjoy working out or walking in nature. Summer (December to February) is a good period to enjoy some trekking in Argentina . Some of the treks are easy to handle but it’s advisable to be fit and used to trekking.

There are some very interesting treks in Argentina that almost anyone can do:

  • Glaciar Torres and Lago Torres, El Chalten, Argentina in Patagonia: it offers beautiful views of the peaks of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy all along the trail.
  • Lago and Glacier Piedras Blancas, El Chalten, Argentina in Patagonia: the first part of the climb is demanding but then you arrive at a clearing with excellent views of the town and valley below.
  • Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina in Patagonia: is a challenging hike but definitely worth the views.

After you’ve decided which hike to try, make sure to search for the airlines that fly to Argentina and book the ticket into a large airport, close to the start of the trail. Once you figure out the transportation, look for cheap Argentina hotels . Don’t forget to pack your trekking gear. You can rent tents and sleeping bags once you get to Argentina, though.

Also, consider buying travel insurance which covers the type of activities you plan to do. For example, if you want to climb on a glacier, you might realize that some policies don’t cover such an activity.

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Argentina at the World Cup 2010: Will You be There?

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The Football World Cup brings back great memories and makes fans all over the world plan to watch the matches live. The World Cup 2010 is approaching fast and it’s time to plan your vacation in South Africa.

But before you do that, don’t forget to relive the World Cup moments which made fans all over the world fall in love with football even more.

Next step? Get your own World Cup jersey. And by the way: if your lady friend is a major football fan, you can buy her a lovely women’s jersey as well.

Now it’s time to start planning your vacation. Argentina’s matches take place in Johannesburg (June 12 and 17) and Polokwane (June 22). Getting to Johannesburg by plane from Buenos Aires is not very hard but it surely is pricey. A round trip flight starts at $2833USD per person so it’s time to keep the eyes on the deals available out there. Lufthansa, Air France and South African Airways are just some of the airlines flying between the two cities. As for the domestic flight (Johannesburg to Polokwane) plan to spend at least $400USD round trip.

Make sure to book your hotel in advance as well. Typically, for such events the hotels book up very quickly and the cheaper the place, the faster it will fill up. On some websites it’s impossible to find any room left already. And when you do manage to find hotels in Johannesburg, room rates start at $92USD per night (3-star). Hostels are cheaper but many of them are already fully booked. If you do find openings, expect to pay at least $66USD for a bed in a private room. So, be prepared to pay slightly more or have a back plan, such as packing your sleeping bag and choose to camp instead of staying in a hotel. Plus you can always go on day trips between the matches.

In case you aren’t able to travel to the World Cup in South Africa to watch the matches live, you should keep an eye on the Argentina World Cup news.