Passports & Visas
All travelers are required to present a valid passport to be admitted to Argentina. Citizens of the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most Western European countries do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business. Visitors should check the Embassy of Argentina’s website for the most current information regarding passport and visa requirements.
Reciprocity Fee
Beginning in 2009, Argentina instituted a mandatory “reciprocity fee” for citizens of Australia, Canada, the USA, and other countries to enter the country. This is not a visa, but the fee is equivalent to the price that Argentine citizens must pay in order to obtain a visa to visit the country of the traveler’s citizenship. For U.S. citizens, this fee is currently $160 USD. Once obtained, the reciprocity fee is valid for 10 years and multiple entries into the country. Effective January 7, 2013, the National Immigration Agency requires U.S. and Canadian citizens to pay this fee online in advance in order to be admitted into Argentina. To pay this fee:
- Register for a username and password on the Provincia Pagos website (you will need your passport number). Once you have established an account, the system will prompt you to continue the process.
- Complete the form and enter your credit card information;
- Print the payment receipt after payment is processed; and
- Present the printed receipt at Immigration Control upon arrival. The receipt will be scanned by immigration officials and your entry into the country will be duly registered.
Important: You MUST carry the printed receipt with your passport as this is the only way to prove payment. If you forget to print off your ticket, you can go back into "My Forms" and re-print it.
Travelers who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens should check with the appropriate consulate.
* NOTE: We have received reports that some Mac users have been unsuccessful when using the Firefox browser to pay their reciprocity fee. If you are using a Mac, please utilize Safari or another browser to fulfill this obligation.
Air Travel
Almost all international flights into Buenos Aires will arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport (airport code EZE). This airport serves as the hub for Argentina’s main air providers Aerolíneas Argentinas and LAN Argentina, and serves non-Argentine companies Air France, American Airlines (from Dallas, Miami, and New York), British Airways, Delta (from Atlanta), KLM, Lufthansa, TAM Airlines, and United (from Newark and Houston).
Most domestic flights will use Aeroparque Airport (officially Aeroparque Jorge Newbery). Aeroparque is quite close to downtown Buenos Aires and will be utilized by those taking part in pre- or post-conference excursions.
When You Arrive
Once you disembark your aircraft, proceed to immigration. Please include patience in your travel kit. Because 90% of all international flights arrive in the morning—it may look and feel as if they all arrive at once—and lines for immigration can be quite long. Two lines will separate those holding Argentina passports from foreign visitors. Be sure to have your passport and payment receipt for the reciprocity fee handy (see above). Once you go through immigration, you’ll walk just a short distance to the conveyor belt to pick up your luggage. There are free carts available if you need one. Once you get your bags, you’ll walk through customs and exit the baggage claim area. As you exit, you’ll see several booths for currency exchange and transportation services. While these are reliable, they are expensive.
Ground Transportation
Ezeiza Airport is approximately 37 km/23 miles from the city center. There are no rail links between Ezeiza International Airport and Buenos Aires so taxis and shuttles are the primary method of getting into the city. Shuttles are cheaper but only travel between the airport and the company's downtown terminal; you will need to transfer to a different shuttle from the terminal to your hotel for an extra few pesos. A stand for the shuttle company Manuel Tienda León is located just as you exit customs, and its rate and schedule information can be found by clicking here. If you wish to take a taxi, be sure to use the city’s official taxi (look for counters inside the airport labeled “Taxi Ezeiza”) and avoid any of the barkers soliciting rides from the sidewalk. Official cabs will post their rates, while illegal taxi operators will attempt to negotiate, often surprising you with an extension to your route or adding hidden “fees.” A legitimate cab company should charge no more than $200 ARS (about $40 USD), including tolls, to get to your downtown destination in Buenos, and the trip into the city takes between 35–45 minutes. When returning to the airport following the conference, do not take the black and yellow taxis, as they will be very expensive. They will charge you for their return because they cannot pick up passengers outside of their designated area. The hotel can help you arrange for a radio taxi or “remise” (private care with driver) if needed.
The Argentine Road Experience
Riding in a car in Buenos Aires can be a stressful and shocking experience for some. Drivers will seem reckless and aggressive. They will speed, tailgate, swerve into tiny openings between cars, narrowly miss pedestrians, and ignore traffic signals including stop signs. To Argentine drivers, the painted traffic lanes are just “a state of mind” and traffic can be a nightmare, especially during rush hour. Overall however, despite appearances, riding in a taxi here is relatively safe, and what appears to be chaos is truly choreographed skill. Still, it is a good idea to wear a seatbelt at all times. Visitors not accustomed to this driving style may wish to either bring along some motion sickness relief or just close their eyes en route to the hotel!
A Further Word about Taxis
Taxis are a cheap and convenient way to get around Buenos Aires and available cabs can be noted by the red light on the upper right corner of their windshield. The best way to obtain safe taxis is to call for one in advance or go to an established stand, rather than hailing one on the street. While many taxi drivers in Buenos Aires are honest, there are also corrupt ones who will get you to your destination by taking you there in a roundabout fashion. You can reduce your chances of being taken advantage of by (1) studying your intended route in advance, (2) giving the taxi driver an intersection when telling him the address, and (3) expressing concern if the cab deviates from the anticipated route. You may also find it helpful to ask the hotel bellman to give the driver directions when you get into the vehicle in order to make sure that language isn’t an issue. If you are in need of even further reassurance that your trip will be without incident, you can ask the hotel to call a remise for you.
Currency & Exchange
The official currency of Argentina is the peso (the monetary symbol “$” is used). Notes come in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos. A rough method of converting pesos to the U.S. Dollar equivalent is to divide by 5. For a more precise calculation, use an online universal currency converter.
Argentina is primarily a cash society. Cash is used for taxi, food, sundries, gifts, and other items. Banks and cambios (exchange offices) are common in the city center, as are ATM machines. ATM’s usually offer the option of English instructions in case you don’t read Spanish. While upscale hotels, department stores, and restaurants usually take credit cards, not all businesses are equipped for this, so it is always a good idea to have cash as a backup plan. If you need to exchange currency when you arrive at the airport, the best exchange rates are usually found at the bank in the airport. Look for the “Banco de la Nacion Argentina” sign.
Important to note: In cases where credit cards can be used to make purchases, it is not allowed to add gratuities as it is in the U.S., thus cash must be used for tipping purposes.
Be aware: Some travelers have received counterfeit currency in Argentina. Unscrupulous vendors and taxi drivers sometimes pretend to help tourists review their pesos, then trade bad bills for good ones. Look for a clear watermark or running thread on larger bills, and pay attention to what you are being handed when receiving change.
Tipping
Tipping in Argentina is optional and the amount is flexible. In restaurants, locals sometimes just leave leftover change but 10% is a standard tip (giving more is considered very generous unless the service was outstanding). It is common for restaurants to add a cubierto (cover charge) to the bill. This is a service charge and should not be considered a tip. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but it is customary to round up to the nearest whole peso if the difference isn’t much. Porters should be given a few pesos for handling your bags. Please remember that gratuities for drivers, guides, and food servers for our group functions have already been included in the registration fee, so giving more is not necessary.
Electricity
Argentina is on the 220V standard at 50Hz. Outlets are built for the Type I electrical plug, with three angled flat prongs. Some hotel bathrooms have outlets with both 110V and 220V current but it is a good idea to always travel with a plug adaptor. Check the label on your electronic equipment to make sure a voltage converter is also not needed.
Food
Dining in Argentina is a wonderful social event, and the food in Buenos Aires is a great reason to visit the city. Before you arrive you will need to adjust your body clock though, because Argentines eat late! Don’t even think about going out for dinner until at least 9:00 p.m. because many restaurants won’t open until then. A midnight dinner is not uncommon. With such a large gap between lunch and dinner, snacking in the late afternoon or early evening is critical. Cafés are a great place for this (and you can get a dose of caffeine at the same time), but bakeries, pastry shops, markets, and bars are also good locations to find edibles to help you last until dinner.
What’s on the menu in Argentina? Beef is king, of course, and carnivores will be in paradise. A visit to a parrilla (steakhouse) will offer a wide variety of cuts of the sacred cow, and the preparation of cooking the meat over open coals on an asado (barbeque) is a local tradition not to be missed. The meat will likely be accompanied by chimichurri— a wonderful blend of olive oil, garlic, parsley, and vinegar that move your already amazing steak into the transcendent category. The main cuts of beef you will encounter are bife de chorizo (sirloin), bife de lomo (tenderloin), bife de costilla (T-bone), and ojo de bife (eye of round). Since almost every part of the cow is eaten, don’t be surprised to see innards and entrails on the menu as well. If this is not to your taste, stick with the above cuts and you’ll be guaranteed to enjoy your meal.
Argentina has a menu that extends beyond beef too, and its cuisine is diverse due to its migrant population. The Italian influence is especially obvious, and pizza, pasta and gelato can be found everywhere. Depending on the neighborhood you are visiting, a wide range of cuisines from Brazil, France, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East can also be found. Vegetarians will survive in Argentina but don’t be surprised if waiters look upon you with a little distain. Vegetables are not very popular, although green salads, omelets, and pasta will be found on restaurant menus, as are potatoes in all forms since they are a traditional accompaniment to steak. Pescetarians will fare a bit better than strict non-meat eaters although, surprisingly, Argentines are not big fish eaters despite being located right on the ocean (most of Argentina’s seafood is exported). As in any big city, specialty restaurants for those with special diets can also be found in Buenos Aires and the Internet can serve as a great resource in locating such places.
For those who enjoy sweet treats after dinner, dulce de leche will be your “go-to” staple. This decadent confection of caramelized sweetened milk fills pastries, cakes, cookies, and croissants and is also used as a spread in much the same way that those from the U.S.A. use jam or jelly. Dulce de leche creations dominate dessert menus but ice cream, custards, and queso con dulce (cheese served with quince jam or sweet potato jam) are popular as well.
What should one drink with dinner in Argentina? Perhaps the most popular answer is “wine,” and it is hard to find a bad Argentine wine—even the cheapest house variety is quite drinkable. Malbec is the most famous varietal, but there are equally tasty Pinots, Cabernets, Merlots and Syrahs produced throughout the country. Those who enjoy white instead of red will find Torrontés, Chardonnay, Riesling and Semillion readily available. Beer, cocktails, juices, coffee, and tea are other beverage alternatives, and tap water is generally drinkable everywhere.
Language
The official language of the CMS International Conference is English. English-speaking guides will be provided for all sightseeing tours and excursions.
The national language of Argentina is Spanish, although the use of slang, a slightly different grammatical form, and differences in pronunciation distinguish Argentines from the rest of the Spanish-speaking world. Argentine Spanish tends to sound more like Italian than Spanish in its rhythm and inflection at times. It is common for gestures, touching, and flamboyant hand/arm movements to accompany speech which draws a further parallel to Italian. Even the Italian “ciao” is used for “bye” or “see you later,” although Argentines write it as “chau.”
Most all hotel personnel and others in the service industry will speak basic English–especially at higher-end establishments–however this will not necessarily be the case with taxi drivers, or in some restaurants or shops. A pocket-sized Spanish phrasebook (e.g., Lonely Planet) is a useful tool when exploring on your own.
Medical Care
If you have a medical emergency, you probably won’t have too much trouble finding a doctor who speaks English. The following international hospitals have English-speaking staff and are located on the Google Map of Conference Locations:
Hospital Britanico (British Hospital)
Perdriel 74
1280 Capital Federal
Phone: (011) 4309-6400
Web: www.hospitalbritanico.org.ar
Hospital Aleman (German Hospital)
Pueyreddon 1640
1118 Capital Federal
Phone: (011) 4821 1700
Web: www.hospitalaleman.org.ar
Hospital Italiano (Italian Hospital)
Gascon 450
Capital Federal
Phone: +54 11 4959-0200
Web: www.hospitalitaliano.org.ar
Personal Safety
Argentina does have crime but most U.S. citizens visit Buenos Aires without incident. Tourists occasionally run into problems with petty theft, such as pickpockets, purse-snatching, or scams. A common scam is to spray mustard or a similar substance on the tourist from a distance. A pickpocket will then approach the tourist offering to help clean the stain and, while doing so, he or an accomplice robs the victim. Travelers who are alert, aware of their surroundings, and who look like they know where they are going will reduce the likelihood of becoming victims of crime. It is a good idea to travel with others whenever possible. As in many countries, outward displays of wealth will increase a traveler’s chances of being targeted by thieves. Never carry large sums of money and only exchange currency in banks and reputable financial institutions. Be sure to safeguard your documents and personal belongings—especially near tourist attractions and in railroad stations, airports, and on public transportation. It is wise to utilize the hotel safe for valuables and keep documents and credit cards separate from currency.
Note about demonstrations: Protests are common in Argentina, and usually focus around political issues. While the majority of these demonstrations are nonviolent, it is always a good idea to avoid areas near demonstrations and leave the vicinity of any protests.
Note about cartoneros: At the end of each business day, when the shops close and office workers go home, thousands of people known as the cartoneros descend upon the streets of Buenos Aires. The cartoneros make a living by sorting through garbage late into the night in order to separate and haul away recyclable materials. Cartoneros are not to be feared. These are hard-working people who are just trying to survive. While they may occasionally ask for handouts and are the cause of much of Buenos Aires’ litter problem, they will not threaten or rob tourists.
For further information regarding personal safety, see this helpful online article prepared by the U.S. Department of State.
Time
Argentina has one time zone and is three hours behind of Greenwich Mean Time. Thus, when it is 12:00 noon in Buenos Aires, it is 7:00 a.m. in Los Angeles and 10:00 a.m. in New York. Argentina does not have a daylight saving period. A useful time zone converter tool may be found by clicking here.
Attire
Although professional attire is appropriate for conference sessions, plan to include more casual, comfortable clothing for tours and excursions. Dressing in layers is advisable, as the weather can be rather unpredictable. Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes, as moderate amounts of walking will be necessary throughout the trip. Further, it is advisable to wear shoes with a sure grip, as streets and pedestrian walkways can become quite slippery when wet. Since it will be winter in June (we are in the Southern Hemisphere after all), you will want to bring a coat and some warmer clothes, although winters are generally mild in Buenos Aires. It is highly unlikely that there will be snow, but rainfall is possible, so absolutely pack an umbrella and/or rain jacket. If you plan to travel to other parts of Argentina post-conference, then you’ll want to research the weather conditions and adjust accordingly.
Useful Maps & Links
- Google Map of Conference Locations
- Official Tourism Site of Buenos Aires
- Buenos Aires Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Buenos Aires Subway (Subte)
- Gran Café Tortoni
- Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA)
- Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo
- The National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA)
- Teatro Colón
Weather
