Argentina

Most South American countries have now recognized that tourism plays an important part in their economies and governments have taken great steps to change South America’s poor security image. Violent crime is rare in Argentina and local police actively patrol the tourist areas. 

To minimise security risks we recommend the following: 

• -Do not show any outward signs of wealth or wear expensive jewellery
• -Keep your valuables in your hotel in safety deposit boxes
• -Keep any valuables that you must carry with you hidden, as pickpockets can be present in crowded areas and around tourist areas
• -Use only registered taxis with official identification
• -Avoid going on your own to remote areas or the poorer barrios of Buenos Aires or where tourists would not be expected to go
• -Always keep your day pack and camera close to you and never leave them unattended

A pre-arranged visa is not required to enter Argentina for citizens of the following countries:

• Australia
• United Kingdom
• The United States
• Ireland
• Canada
• New Zealand
• European Union
• South Africa

For other nationalities please visit the website of the relevant consulate.

You could spend anything from a few days to several weeks or even months on your Argentina travels, depending on whether you plan to explore the entire country or just focus on one experience such as the Valdes Peninsula, an estancia stay or a Patagonian glacier trek. Chimu Adventures offers itineraries to suit every time frame.

Our Argentina tours include breakfast daily and many other meals may also be included in your itinerary. As a rough guide for additional spending money based on having moderately-priced lunches and dinners and buying a few souvenirs at local markets, we suggest a budget of 25-35 USD per day per person. 

The unit of currency in Argentina is the Argentinian Peso (ARS).

Please check websites such as www.oanda.com or www.xe.com for up to date exchange rates prior to your departure.

Although no specific vaccinations are required for Argentina travel and no proof of any vaccination is required to enter the country, we recommend that you visit your doctor or a traveller’s medical centre for current information specific to those places that you will be travelling through.

Yellow Fever is a risk in certain parts of Argentina and this vaccination is generally recommended if your Argentina tour includes the northern parts of the country bordering Brazil and Paraguay. Depending on your travel itinerary you may be required to produce proof of yellow fever vaccination when returning to Australia from parts of Argentina.

As a general guide we recommend the following:

• Yellow Fever - Especially for northern parts of Argentina
• Hepatitis - Both A and B (twinrix)
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Cholera
• Rabies
• Tetanus

Argentina's official language is Spanish, but Argentinian Spanish differs from Spanish spoken in other Latin American countries, mainly due to the Italian sounding intonations. Indigenous languages spoken today include Tehuelche, Guarani and Quechua. Many immigrant groups have continued to speak their own language and so you will also find many other languages in Argentina including Italian, German, English, French and even Welsh.

In Argentina the standard voltage is 220V and standard frequency is 50Hz. Power sockets are of types C and I.

Please visit the below link for more information: http://electricaloutlet.org/

Argentina is predominantly Roman Catholic.

What you need to pack will depend on when and where you plan on travelling and on the activities that you plan to include whilst on your Argentina tour.

The following should act as a useful checklist of essential items:

• Passport, photocopy of passport & spare passport photos
• Travel Insurance documents  
• Air tickets and itinerary
• Foreign Currency (US$) and/or debit/credit cards, traveller’s cheques
• Money belt 
• Small daypack
• Basic first aid kit 
• High UVA sun block 
• Sunglasses & sunhat
• Mosquito spray & insect repellent
• Comfortable walking shoes/boots
• Sandals 
• Long sleeve tops and trousers 
• Light-weight clothing
• Warm clothing (depending on itinerary and time of year)
• Camera with spare battery and memory cards
• Security code padlock
• Adaptor 
• Small torch

The level of fitness needed will depend on the Argentina tour that you choose to take in terms of places to be visited and the types of activities to be included on your itinerary. Argentina offers great opportunities for outdoor activities set against spectacular backdrops. They range from hiking ad trekking to rock climbing, skiing, white water rafting, horse riding and ice climbing. The majority of the best treks are to be found in the National Parks where the trails range from easy to difficult. If you plan on summiting Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak at 6962m, then you will need to be fit and ensure that you acclimatise thoroughly.