Argentina

Capital City: Buenos Aires

People: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

Religion: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Language: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Currency: Argentine Peso

Electrical Voltage: 230 V

How to get there:

Air: If you plan on visiting Buenos Aires you will fly into the Ezeiza International Airport (EZE); if you're traveling to another location in Argentina you may have to travel from Ezeiza to the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). One problem is that these airports are located on opposite sides of the city, making transportation from one to the other with some time to consider. There are cheap shuttlebusses which take you there in about an hour, but travel time varies greatly depending on traffic.

If visiting another city there are a number of airports located throught the country. Many find it far easier to travel to a neighboring country and then take a short distance hop to the smaller airport. All major cities in Argentina and major tourist destinations like Perito Moreno and Iguazu Falls have airports nearby. There are several national airlines, with different levels of service. In general flying gets you everywhere fast and relatively cheap. Passengers leaving Ezeiza Airport must pay a "Departure tax" of US$ 18 (US$ 8 to Uruguay and domestic flights) after check-in, on top of any boarding taxes already paid. Argentine pesos or US dollars are accepted.

Land: You can enter to Argentina from the borders shared with Brazil (north), Chile, (west), Paraguay and Uruguay. International coaches run from all the neighboring countries.

Sea: Regular hydrofoils routes link Buenos Aires with Montevideo and Colonia in Uruguay. The company Buquebus has both a slow (3 hours) and rapid (1 hour) ferry service that departs several times a day to Colonia. Ferries depart from the downtown Buenos Aires neighborhood Puerto Madero.

Weather: The country’s territory offers a wide variety of climates: subtropical in the North, sub-Antarctic in the southern Patagonia, and mild and humid in the Pampas plains. Media temperature from November to March is 23° C, and 12° C from June to September.

Travel Documentation and Custom Duty: Valid passport with or without visa depending on your nationality. Inquire at the closest Embassy or Consulate. Visitors coming from countries not bordering Argentina are exempt from all taxes on travelling articles and new articles up to US$ 300 and an additional US$ 300, if purchased at duty free shops within the national territory. No vaccination certificate is required to enter the country.

Getting Around: Train, Airplanes, Bus, Car

Tourism Website: http://www.turismo.gov.ar/eng/menu.htm

Medical Facilities

Banks