Argentina Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Southeastern South America.

Language

Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken with some French and German.

Area

2,780,400 sq km (1,073,518 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Saturday in March to first Saturday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 60Hz. Plug fittings in older buildings are of the two-pin round type, but most new buildings use the v-shaped twin with earth ping. Travellers should bring a world travel adaptor.

Population

40.7 million (2008).

Population Density

14.6 per sq km.

Capital City

Buenos Aires. Population: 3 million (2006).

Government

Federal and Democratic Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1816.

Head of State

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner since 2007.

Religion

More than 90% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant with small Muslim and Jewish communities.

Recent History

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner succeeded her husband, Néstor Carlos Kirchner, becoming Argentina's first elected female president in October 2007, with a majority of 44%. Billed as her husband's top advisor during his four-year tenure, she came to power promising more of the same center-left populist policies that had served her husband so well. Soon however, the US claimed to have found evidence of ‘suitcase scandals' - where illegal money from Venezuela was allegedly couriered in to aid her election.

In early 2008, she took a hard line with the country's farmers, imposing export tax hikes that she hoped would be perceived as punishing wealthy landowners. But the whole agricultural sector (rich and poor) rebelled, blocking every major road in the country. This crippled Argentina's budget ‘road trip' tourist industry, and more seriously, food shortages were reported in major cities. Former Kirchner acolytes were then involved in violent actions against the protesters, bringing back horrific memories of former strong-arm governments. The tax increases were eventually overturned by a rebellious senate, and Cristina Kirchner's popularity has plummeted.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +54. Phone centers known as locutorios can be found in most towns. Users are given their own phone booth and calls are added up and paid for at the end. Public pay phones are available in shops and restaurants and on some streets. These take 1 peso or 50 and 25 centavos coins. Most public telephones accept international phone cards.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies, but phones must be tri-band. Coverage is good in most parts of the country, but may be lacking in remote and mountain areas.

Internet

Available in most towns and cities in locutorios (phone centers) and internet cafés. Many estancias and rural areas are cut off from both internet and telephone access. Wi-Fi Internet Access is increasingly found in upper range hotels.

Media

Following the return of democracy, freedom of the press was enshrined in the law, and newspapers, magazines, radio and television generally function free from government interference. However, individual journalists critical of the establishment are often bullied and ostracised by the powers that be, particularly in the provinces. The Buenos Aires Herald is the leading English-language newspaper in Latin America.

Post

Airmail to Europe is slow and generally takes over a week, or even two. Surface mail to Europe takes on average 20 to 25 days but can take as long as 50 days, so it is advisable to send everything airmail. An express service offers guaranteed 24-hour delivery in Argentina, and one to five days worldwide. The main post office in Buenos Aires is located in Sarmiento 189.Generally Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0900-1300, with some regional variation.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
24 Mar Truth and Justice Day
2 Apr Veterans’ Day (Malvinas)
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
25 May National Day (Anniversary of the 1810 Revolution)
20 Jun * National Flag Day (Belgrano Day)
9 Jul National Independence Day
17 Aug San Martín Day (Anniversary of the Death of General José de San Martín)
12 Oct Race Recognition Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
24 Mar Truth and Justice Day
2 Apr Veterans’ Day (Malvinas)
6 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
25 May National Day (Anniversary of the 1810 Revolution)
18 Jun * National Flag Day (Belgrano Day)
9 Jul National Independence Day
17 Aug San Martín Day (Anniversary of the Death of General José de San Martín)
12 Oct Race Recognition Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
* Always the third Monday in the month.

Contact Information

British Embassy in Argentina

Dr. Luis Agote 2412, (1425) Buenos Aires
Tel: (11) 4808 2200.
Website: www.ukinargentina.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: (Mar-Dec) Mon-Thurs 0845-1730, Fri 0845-1400; (Jan-Feb) Mon-Thurs 0845-1430, Fri 0845-1400.

Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the UK

65 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH, UK
Tel: (020) 7318 1300.
Website: www.argentine-embassy-uk.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Argentine Consulate in the UK

27 Three Kings Yard, London W1K 4DF, UK
Tel: (020) 7318 1340.
Website: www.argentine-embassy-uk.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1300.

Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the USA

1600 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 238 6401 or 6460 (visa section).
Website: www.embassyofargentina.us

Argentina Government Tourist Office in the USA

12 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019, USA
Tel: (212) 603 0443.
Website: www.turismo.gov.ar