TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Visit the precious pearl of Argentina- Buenos Aires! Travel the capital and other 70 cities of Argentina online with the help of our Destination Guides. It is impossible to describe all attractions of such a huge country as Argentina, so we recommend you to read more on the subject in the guides. We will mention only a few most spectacular tourist attractions in Argentina.
Watch sea lions, elephant seals, killer whales and southern right whales off the hump of Península Valdés, where they come to breed in the warm waters.
Follow the Route 40 (Ruta) Cuarenta to see the stunning views of Patagonia's renowned lakes, volcanoes and forests.
If you visit only one pampa town during your stay, make it San Antonio de Areco, preferrably on the Día de la Tradición, a major gaucho fiesta in November with "rodeo" displays galore.
Take a boat ride on the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia - the world's most southern town. This majestic, mountain-surrounded sea passage is home to several species of seabird and marine mammal.
Gigantic blocks of ice slip off the virginal Perito Moreno glacier providing a unique spectacle that easily qualifies this national monument as one of the world's greatest natural wonders.

TRAVEL TIPS

Besides souvenirs and local crafts, fashionable clothing made of leather, wools, woven fabrics, and delicate laces are readily bought by tourists and can be found in all commercial areas. Most stores outside of the city of Buenos Aires are closed for a siesta from approximately 12 until 4 PM.
Most locals can readily understand most Spanish dialects, and Portugese or Italian if spoken slowly. English is common as a second language and is usually understood on at least a basic level in tourist-oriented places. German and French can be sometimes understood.
Distraction theft, bag snatching and armed robberies in the street, in taxis and restaurants occasionally occur although most visits to Argentina are trouble-free. You should keep a close hold on your personal possessions and bags. Con men have also robbed tourists while an accomplice pretends to help remove ketchup or mustard which has been "accidentally" sprayed on them. Be particularly attentive in popular tourist areas, such as San Telmo. You should avoid carrying too much cash or wearing ostentatious jewellery. Kidnappings aimed at extracting cash from the victim do occur in Argentina. Victims of kidnapping are normally selected at random and held while criminals empty their bank accounts with stolen cash cards. Once the ransom is paid the victim is usually quickly released. Avoid isolated or poorly lit areas at night. Hail moving taxis rather than those waiting at the kerbside, or use a hotel recommended radio taxi. If you are being met at the airport and you do not know your greeter, ensure you confirm their identify before accepting a lift. When travelling on local buses and trains, remain alert at all times. Pickpockets are rife. If you are robbed, you should inform the local police – a police report will be required by your insurers and by the embassy if you need a new passport. In Buenos Aires, a 24-hour police helpline in English has been opened, on telephone number 101, to help victims. There is also a new multi-lingual free phone number for tourist assistance: 0800 999 5000. This goes through to the Tourist Police Station. Passports should be left in a hotel safe box. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you at all times.
There are occasional outbreaks of social unrest. You should avoid demonstrations.
You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even very small quantities can lead to a minimum four and a half years sentence.
ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) availability is generally good but you should not rely solely on using international debit cards bearing the cirrus logo to access funds. You are advised, therefore, to ensure you carry alternative forms of payment, including a credit card (accepted in most hotels and major shops and restaurants) or travellers’ cheques. US dollars are not widely accepted outside the major tourist areas for cash transactions but it is worth bringing a small supply of dollars to exchange for pesos.
Driving and road safety standards are not uniform: respect for speed limits and traffic signals is patchy and manoeuvres by fellow road users can be unexpected. Crime against car users, particularly when stationary at traffic lights, is a problem. You should keep windows closed and doors locked at all times whilst travelling in major cities.
Many of the northern provinces of Argentina suffer from seasonal flooding. This can lead to disruption to transport, delivery of foodstuffs etc. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Argentina. Asthma, sinus and bronchial problems can be aggravated by the polluted atmosphere in the city. Medical facilities are good, but can be expensive.
Holders of valid passports from most developed countries do not need an entry visa for stays up to 90 days long.
Check the list of Embassies of Argentina to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Argentina.

BRIEF HISTORY

Around 1 AD, several corn-based civilizations developed in the western Andean region. In 1480, the Inca Empire under the rule of emperor Pachacutec launched an offensive and conquered present-day northwestern Argentina, integrating it into a region called Collasuyu. In the northeastern area, the Guaraní developed a culture based on yuca and sweet potato. The central and southern areas (Pampas and Patagonia) were dominated by nomadic cultures, unified in the seventeenth century by the Mapuches.
Europeans arrived in 1502. Spain established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580. In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their own way, but the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were subsequently heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents. Successful negotiations with the IMF allowed Argentina to sidestep some fiscal discipline measures normally imposed in such circumstances. Since 2003, the government's efforts to stem the crisis have led to rapid economic recovery.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 2,766,890 sq km; land: 2,736,690 sq km; water: 30,200 sq km.
Boundaries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest. Buenos Aires and the Pampas are temperate; cool in the winter, hot and humid in the summer. The deserts of Cuyo are extremely hot and dry in the summer and moderately cold and dry in the winter. Spring and fall often exhibit rapid temperature reversals; several days of extremely hot weather may be followed by several days of cold weather, then back to extremely hot. The Andes are cool in the summer and very cold in the winter, varying according to altitude. Patagonia is cool in the summer and cold in the winter. Extreme temperature shifts within a single day are even more common here; pack a variety of clothes and dress in layers. Seasons are reversed from those of the Northern Hemisphere.
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border.
Natural Resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium.
Natural Hazards: San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding.
Environmental Problems: deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution.

PEOPLE

Population: 40,000,000.
Median Age: total: 29.7 years; male: 28.8 years; female: 30.7 years.
Life Expectancy: male: 72.38 years, female: 80.05 years.
Fertility Rate: 2.16 children born per woman.
Major Ethnic Groups: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%.
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%. Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French.

GOVERNMENT

Type: republic (Republica Argentina).
Capital City: Buenos Aires.
Time Difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time). Check current time.
National Holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810).
Chief of State: president.
Head of Government: president.
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president.
Legislative Branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats).

ECONOMY

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the country has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso was floated in February. Growth is being led by a revival in domestic demand, solid exports, and favorable external conditions.
GDP: $543.4 billion, Growth Rate: 9.2%, GDP Per Capita: $13,700.
Unemployment Rate: 11.6%
Agriculture Products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock.
Major Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel.
Export Commodities: edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles.
Export Partners: Brazil 15.3%, US 10.8%, Chile 10.5%, China 8.3%.
Import Commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plastics.
Import Partners: Brazil 34.6%, US 16.8%, China 5.4%, Germany 5.3%.
Currency: Argentine peso (ARS). Check current rate of exchange.

TRANSPORT

Airports: 154
Roadways: 229,144 km
Railways: 31,902 km.
Waterways: 11,000 km.
Major Ports and Terminals: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas.