Travel to Argentina Information
Argentina is located in the southern extreme of South America. With a continental extension of 2,791,810 km2, (including South Atlantic Islands and part of Antarctica), Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth in the world.
Including the Antarctic Sector, Argentina claims a total area of 3.761.274 km2. It is some 1425 Km across at its widest from east to west and stretches 3.800 Km from the north to the south. It is bounded by Bolivia and Paraguay on the north, Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and by the Atlantic Ocean and Chile on the west and south.
THE BASICS
| Full country name: | República Argentina |
| Area: | 2,776,890 sq km (1,083,000 sq mi) |
| Population: | 37,812,817 |
| Capital city: | Buenos Aires (pop 16 million) |
| People: | 85% European descent, 15% mestizo, Indian and other minorities |
| Language: | American Spanish |
| Religion: | 93% Roman Catholic, 2.5% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 2.5% others |
| Government: | Republic |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Electricity: | 220V, 50Hz |
HEALTH ISSUES ARGENTINA
Tap water: Throughout the country is safe to drink. However due to the change in the composition of the water, we recommend drinking only bottled water. Mendoza specially has one of the purest mineral waters in earth, being a natural source for many countries in the world.
Traveler’s diarrhea is a fairly common occurrence, resulting from changes in every day microbes present in all food.
Dehydration Warm temperatures and dry air rapidly evaporate the body’s supplies of moisture. Short-term dehydration can cause various unpleasant symptoms including fever, headache and nausea. Fortunately these disappear rather quickly after a good long drink.
ENTERING ARGENTINA
Foreign tourists coming from bordering countries only need an identity card to enter the country. People from abroad must show their passports. Tourists from abroad can stay in the country up to 90 days at most. Most foreigners require a visa, except nationals from neighbouring countries, Western Europe, Israel, Japan, South Africa and the USA. All visitors need a tourist card, which is valid for 90 days and extendable for a similar period. All travelling passengers should refer to their closest Argentine Embassy to check which visas are required, although current visa requirements may be subject to change at any time.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
Bring a photocopy of your passport with you. Leave all your valuables and passport in the safe at the hotel. Never take your passports with you on tours.
Touring the falls implies long walks. It is a good idea to bring a change of shoes for that tour. Also, humidity is very high and may cause swelling.
The day in the high altitude ranch implies a long ascension in altitude (from 900 to 2200 meters). Some people can get dizzy or short of breathe. If you have had difficulties in the past with altitude sickness, you might want to bring some medication with you. (Dramamine, for example) Lots of fluids also help to diminish the effect.
Let your credit card company know that you are traveling abroad. Some companies will not authorize any purchases if not previously informed. Be aware of the change of voltage in South America.