I’ve had an AHA moment today. My teacher is very cute. His name is Martin and he’s 're-argentino'. That means REALLY Argentino in Argentino. He spent a year in Ireland teaching Spanish last year and he missed Buenos Aires a lot.. We talk a lot about Argentina and about the culture, about the crazy chaos of it all, the subversive attitude of the Argentines towards politics, finance, all that jazz. The Bulgarian likes to talk a lot about the Argentine girls, I don’t blame him. They mainly have very very long hair and are very pretty.
Martin says Bien, Entonces.. a lot. Or Muy Bien, entonces... I ask him why doesn’t he say Bueno, entonces (like the name of the course of course) and he explains that “Bueno,” often is something you say when you’ve had a enough of talking, or have had enough of talking about a particular subject. He explains that when somebody starts going, bueno bueno bueno on the phone, basically they are telling you that the conversation is over and they’ve had enough.
Now I get it! That's why Jimena always says "Bueno, entonces..." Because she often has enough of David!
B.A.PlusSpanishSchool has a permanent connection with Argentina Global Rent, Touristango Aparts, Homes B.A. and Welcome2BA, prestigious real estate agencies with extensive experience in the temporary rentals business. If you wish, B.A. Plus will arrange the appropriate residency to suit your needs from our network of houses and apartments. The options you may choose from are:
Fully equipped furnished apartment (individual or shared).
Host Family House.
In any case above, you will be placed near the school (Downtown Buenos Aires) or will be just a quick subway trip away. If instead you would prefer to stay at a hostel or hotel, cntact us and B.A. Plus will offer you a wide variety of options to choose from. Once you find the one you like, we will make the corresponding reservations for you.
I flew Andes Air during the July vacation period when I had family in town. We flew from Buenos Aires to Salta during the high-season and paid around 800 pesos round trip which was a significant savings from other airlines. (FYI: Taking the 22 hour bus was about 650 pesos round trip.)
Andes serves the Northwest Region, Iguazú and Puerto Madryn. I was initially pretty nervous to fly an airline that I had never heard of before, but after talking to a travel agent friend they assured me that it is a legit company.
Although their website is pretty terrible and they sometimes don´t answer their phone (oh Argentina!) I am satisfied with the service. The plane was much bigger than expected -- 3 seats on each side of plane!
Even better is that they did not charge a different price for foreigners, it was all the same fare! If you travel in low season they had some excellent promotions as well.
Leave those out-of-date travel guide books that only lead you to overpriced and overcrowded tourist traps behind! Order your custom itinerary from LandingPadBA.com, and our Buenos Aires experts work with you directly. After learning a little about you, we’ll build a personalized itinerary that includes:
✓ Only the best day and night activities that fit both your interests and your wallet
✓ Great new restaurants and night spots that haven’t made it to the guidebooks yet
✓ Links to LandingPadBA.com guides and maps so you’ll know exactly where you’re going and what to expect
✓We’ll even include tips to some of our favorite restaurants and night spots that we love so much we won’t publish them on our site!
Our custom itineraries are a bargain at just US$5 per planned day. Not only will we save you the time and stress of choosing your Buenos Aires activities blindly before your arrival, but we’ll also suggest money-saving activities and recommend restaurants and nightspots that won’t give you jacked up tourist prices.
Ordering your custom itinerary is easy! Just follow these 3 steps:
1. Fill out the form below and submit it to our Buenos Aires experts
2. We’ll be in touch! Within one business day, we’ll send you a questionnaire, which will help us to build you the best itinerary for your trip.
3. Process payment. After we’ve learned a little more about you and we are confident that we know the best itinerary for you, we’ll send you a bill via PayPal. Once we’ve received your payment, we’ll send you your personalized itinerary and you’ll be ready for your best Buenos Aires holiday!
Check out this new way of travelling around Buenos Aires on LandingPad BA.
If you have a debit card of international use, you can use it, there are abundance of ATM machines in Argentina, every bank has cash machines of credit card companies such as a Visa, Cirrus, MasterCard, Plus, Maestro, Citibank and others.
But, consider that the bank will make a charge for providing the service, so ensure, that you know in advance what the charge will be. Changing foreign currency is easy, you could do it at the Money Changers but they will give you a very bad exchange rate or will give you fakes bills, if you want to exchange cash, do that in the Banco de la Nacion, which is open all day and you will get a fair exchange rate, also many businesses and hotels, accept Dollars and Euros and many times give you a better exchange rate.
TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES AND CREDIT CARDS
Most of the credit cards are accepted in Argentina; Visa, Diners Club, American Express and Mastercard are the most commonly used in Buenos Aires and the other major cities, but may be less acceptable outside of these places, so, you would have another form of have money if you travel outside of these areas.
In Buenos Aires, only major stores accept change travellers checks, small businesses possibly do not accept them, outside Buenos Aires changing travelers checks is very difficult too, so the fastest way to change them is go to banks or houses of change
Some trade offices of Credit Card suppliers:
VISA, located at Av. Corrientes 1437, tel. 4379-3400/3333, open from Monday through Friday 9:00 a 17:00
DINERS CLUB, located at Av. Santa Fé 1148, tel. 0-810-444-2484
AMERICAN EXPRESS, located at Arenales 707, tel. 4312-1661, open from Monday through Friday 9:00 a 17:00
MASTERCARD, located at Perú 143, tel. 4340-5700, open from Monday through Friday 9:30 a 18:00
CARTA FRANCA, located at Bartolomé Mitre 844, tel. 4339-5544
CREDENCIAL, located at Av Las Heras 1831 Piso 4º, tel 5777-5800
1. Make The ClassesInteresting & Engaging Engaging students is crucial to learning and remembering material. Using wit and charm, Bueno, entonces… not only engages; it keeps you thinking about the last lesson and looking forward to the next one. Like your favorite teachers, David & Jimena know learning doesn’t have to be dry and boring.
2. See The Words As You Hear Them Some people are audio learners, others learn visually – most people need both, absorbing different concepts in different ways. With Bueno, entonces... every word is on-screen so you see the spelling while hearing it pronounced.
3. Color-Coding. Words on-screen are color-coded in Spanish and English to help you understand word usage and sentence structure. You’ll quickly see, hear, and understand how words in Spanish correspond with English ones, and how they are used in sentences.
4. Symbols & Illustrations. Verb tenses and grammatical concepts are represented by clear symbols so you quickly learn and understand their usage. Iconic illustrations easily associate images and words, burning vocabulary into your brain.
5. REPETITION - The Key To Languages.
Any teacher will tell you this, and here’s the problem with old audio books and language software – they’re mind-numbingly boring, making them painful to repeat. Bueno, entonces… is engaging, fast-paced, and fun. You’ll repeat all 30 classes over and over, learning more each time – as your Spanish progresses, you pick up more of the humor, making it easier to repeat.
I wanted to write a simple and hands-on post about how to make Empanadas. Here is the basic set-up for any type of empanada, though the ones shown here are Empanadas Mendocinas (This video shows the sealing technique called repulgue).
The set-up is (top left to right):
Container of filling, which in this case is meat and onion.
A stack of pre-made empanada shells
A handful of pitted black olives
A hard-boiled egg (and knife to slice them both)
Four tapas to make a few empanadas at a time, assembly-line style
A spoon for the filling
A brush to brush beaten egg over the empanadas once they're filled and sealed
A glass with beaten egg used to brush over the empanadas
A glass of water to wet the edges of the tapas right as they are being filled to seal the edges of the dough
A floured pan to place the filled empanadas on
I find that the empanada-making process is quicker and easier with everything set up together on one surface, like a little empanada factory. Since I'm the one making the emapandas, this is a station for one, but with more than one, the filling set-up could be in the center while the individul tapas are at each chair. My two-year-old helps to paint the egg on the filled empanadas. As he gets older, I hope we can do the whole process together.
How do you pronounce Empanada?
em-pah-NA-dah. The NA is a flat N, not an Ñ, so there's no rolling sound.
What type of tapas do you use?
As for premade tapas, I use the La Salteña brand. I buy them at a Latin market here in Denver that has many Argentinean and South American goods, like yerba mate, dulce de leche, and the other products La Salteña makes, like tapas for Pastelitos and Raviolis. If you can't find this brand, that's fine, Goya, among others, makes one, too.
Are pre-made tapas Vegetarian?
These are not vegetarian! The second ingredient is beef fat (seriously) and so if you are going for a totally veg empanada, make your own tapas.
Can I freeze Empanadas?
Yes! I recommend preparing and baking the empanadas before freezing. They can then be re-heated in small quantities in the microwave, or by the dozen in the oven. If your aim is making several dozen (for a party or other event)' bake then freeze' is the best way to ensure everything is thoroughly cooked. To reheat, set the oven temp to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake for about 15 minutes, until the filling is heated through.
What's the difference between the different types of tapas?
I've found 3 types of La Salteña tapas in the store. 'Para Horno' means 'for baking'. 'Para Freir' means 'for frying,' and 'Hojaldre' means 'puff pastry'. The horno style and the hojaldre style are both for baking. The horno style is a pie-crusty type of dough, whereas the hojaldre will give a delicate, flaky pastry-style crust. The fried style lends itself well to seafood or vegetable empanadas, and is more typical in the Buenos Aires area. Of the other brands I've used, the dough style is most like the 'horno' style.
The home of Tango, steak and delicious red wine, Argentina is one of South America’s most fascinating countries to visit. With a dramatic landscape of snow-capped mountains and the desolate plains of Patagonia, Argentina’s cities are packed with colonial culture, and really liven up once night falls.
The country’s current economic climate makes Argentina ideal for budget travelers, but to really make your money go further, stay in one of the hundreds of Argentina hostels on offer. Ranging from backpacker dorms and youth hostels to more upmarket private rooms, here are some of the best across the country.
Sabatico Travelers Hostel
This hostel in Buenos Aires is located in the traditional neighbourhood of San Telmo, in an elegant old guesthouse that has been thoroughly modernised. The hostel has a cool, laid back vibe - there’s a Rooftop Area with a BBQ for chilling out, bar and hammocks dotted around the hostel, and guitars and instruments for impromptu ‘jam sessions’. There’s a delicious free breakfast and kitchen for preparing meals, and discounts and free tickets to some of the city’s best clubs. You can even pay extra for Spanish and Tango lessons, for a real taste of ‘porteno’ life.
Le Grand Hostel
In the heart of Argentina, Cordoba is a beautiful city packed with colonial architecture, and has a lively student population. Le Grand Hostel is the biggest hostel in the city, in the main student area of bars and nightclubs. There are plenty of places to meet other travelers, with a living room with a flat screen TV, a library, outdoor patio with a BBQ and a roof terrace for sunbathing. The rooms range from double to six-person dorms, and despite the grand exterior, the interior boasts funky decor.
Hostel Lao
The city of Mendoza is surrounded by Argentina’s wine country and Aconcagua – the highest mountain in the Americas. With the opportunity to hike, horse-ride or go white-water rafting nearby, Mendoza is ideal for activity travel. Hostel Lao is a friendly and laid-back hostel in the city center, and the perfect place to chill out after experiencing the great outdoors. The communal garden has tropical trees, a pool, hammock, sun beds and a BBQ, and in the winter you can warm up with free wine in the hostel lounge.
Los Troncos Iguazú Hotel
If you want to be bowled over by the IguazuFalls, then stay in a hostel in Puerto Iguazu. The Los Troncos is a comfortable and eco-friendly lodge, a cluster of private huts by the MisionesForest. The rooms have balconies with views of the surrounding forest, and are air-conditioned with cable TV and a private bathrooms. There’s a pool for cooling off in the day, and an outdoor terrace where drinks and snacks are served in the evening.
Taking a cab ($90), remis ($80) or even the Manuel Tienda Leon bus ($40) to Ezeiza International Airport can really add up. However, if you have more time than money you can easily take the bus to Ezeiza. I think the quickest travel combination may be to take the train + bus #86.
How to do it:
1. Train from Once (Linea Sarmiento) it´s the line that goes Once-Moreno. You can also get on the train in Caballito, Flores or Floresta if that is closer for you. Get off at the Liniers stop.
2. When exiting train station at Liniers take the #86 on Rivadavia and get off at the Airport (last stop).
Total Cost: $3 pesos maximum!
Another option is to take the #86 for the whole journey. The 86 goes from La Boca all the way to Ezeiza. You can get on at Avenida de Mayo and Peru, the 86 then follows Av. Rivadavia until leaving Capital Federal in Liniers.
Obviously, it is highly recommended to travel with a Guia T when traveling outside the city on public transportation. The large Guia T of the province is really nice to have too. Also, make sure you allow enough time for this journey -- I would guess at least 1.5 hours to get from the Centro to Ezeiza on public transportation.
This immense extension of land including the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta offers a marvelous landscape, winding roads, and coloured hillsides. In each of the small villages lying in the valleys, our ancestors seem to have left their traces engraved on the rocks.
Santa María, “Capital of the Calchaquíes Valleys”, was one of the main settlements of the millenary Yocavile Indian tribe, and many remains of this culture can be found today in this picturesque town.
Tucumán’s strikingly beautiful jungle is part of the valleys’ amazing landscape. Rivers, waterfalls, and rapids run through Tafi del Valle, located at 1,976 meters above sea level. This region was inhabited thousands of years ago, and its valleys are rich in archaeological remains. El Mollar, a summertime villa, is lined with lush, green valleys. Amaicha del Valle, surrounded by bright reddish hills, is typically known for its religious ceremonies.
In Cafayate, San Carlos, Angastaco, Molinos y Cachi, Spanish traditions and customs are still kept, specially in relation to art, architecture, as well as religious imagery.
This is Maradona as the two-time Palme Dor winner Emir Kusturica sees him: the revolutionary, the footballer, the man, the God, the family man, the drug-addict, the legend. Acclaimed filmmaker Emir Kusturica traces the remarkable story of soccer legend Diego Maradona in this documentary featuring music by composer Manu Chao and Sex Pistols. Maradona has a reputation as the people's champion, an athlete who rose from humble beginnings to achieve worldwide fame, and who has overcome incredible adversity to become a living legend. As the director and his subject grow increasingly intimate, Maradona reveals details about his life that have never come to light in the public eye. A tour of the places that mean the most to Maradona offer a unique look at the way the soccer star was shaped by his surroundings, and conversations with the people closest to him offer a unique glimpse into his colorful personality. A conversation with Cuban leader Fidel Castro highlights how even the most powerful personalities become awestruck while speaking with Maradona. This is Kusturica's most expressive in form and the most radical in content since at least Black Cat, White Cat where Kusturica values Maradona not only as a virtuoso player but as man with a political view.
The image of a land beyond which there is none, of Tierra del Fuego, has fascinated me ever since my schoolboy geography days. Finally I went, driving for four months from Ecuador and arriving in time for Christmas and New Years.
The Island of Tierra del Fuego is the size of Ireland, the last outpost of civilization before arrival in Antarctica. To the east rages the wild Atlantic, to the west and north the comparatively tranquil Straits of Magellan, and to the south the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn, where the most outrageous storms in the world collide. The island is easily divided in simple fourths: the west Chile and the east Argentina, the north—windswept with dots of oil derricks, bogs, and sheep—in both Chile and Argentina, the south crammed with jagged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, a fabulous national park, and the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia. The southeast quadrant in Argentina reputedly offers the best trout fishing on the planet around Tierra del Fuego’s largest city, Rio Grande, plus a very special bakery in the little town of Tolhuin.
The history of the fiery land is heartbreak and violent death. The four original indigenous groups were purposefully slaughtered by Europeans to add to their empires. Less than ten indigenous people survive from the Selk’nam tribe or any tribe. I bought two pounds of king crab from a weather-beaten and stoic Selk’nam survivor, when the ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales anchored for an hour at Puerto Eden.
November 13 - 24, 2009 November 24 - 25, 2009 (Extension to Iguazú Falls)
The vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires
Majestic Patagonia at the southern end of South America with the jagged peaks of the Andes and awesome glaciers and lakes
The underrated and marvelous Northwest with the country’s most prevalent indigenous cultures, gorgeous landscapes, and a thriving wine production
Awesome Iguazú Falls on the border with Brazil
It’s all part of our incredible tour of Argentina! Join us on this wonderful 12- or 13-day odyssey from the far tropical north to the wild remoteness of the alpine deep south.
Special Note: The Andean Northwest is an area that is missing from most itineraries and which sets apart our Argentina tour for gay travelers. Some may find it the most seductive part of the country. The Northwest is the country’s most historical and colorful region with its deep-rooted culture and traditions. Here lie the Calchaqui Valleys (known as the Sacred Valleys) and the Humahuaca Gorge, two regions that are full of contrasts: the dawn light reflected on the Western Andean mountains and the colors of the sunset glowing on the Eastern “Sierras.” There are fascinating formations evocative of the American Southwest and ancient rock carvings; Inca ruins; colonial churches and picturesque Indian villages; gorgeous vineyard scenery; and infinite extensions of desert country covered by gigantic cactus and unique flora species with volcanoes looming far above.
Day 1 – Friday, November 13, 2009 Arrive in Buenos Aires with your own air arrangements and transfer to the group hotel in the city. We can arrange a transfer for you in advance, or there are desks in the arrival area before you exit the baggage claim area where you can book a transfer on the spot. The rest of the day is on your own to settle into the hotel. You may wish to have a walk around the neighborhood to stretch your legs and help shake off any jet lag.
We will come together in the early evening at the hotel for a welcome drink and then set out for our first dinner, which will be in one of the most elegant tango show palaces of Buenos Aires. The grand old-time dining room here features high-tech acoustics and superb dancers, creating a wonderful tango environment.
Overnight in Buenos Aires Meals included: Welcome Drink and Dinner
{Tip: You may want to consider arriving in Buenos Aires a day early to help alleviate any jet lag or fatigue from your journey. There is plenty to see and do in this exciting city, and we can assist with booking an extra night at the group hotel.}
Day 2– Buenos Aires We have a full day in Buenos Aires to explore this terrifically vibrant and cosmopolitan city’s great diversity of neighborhoods such as La Boca and Recoleta with our accompanying guide. Over the years Buenos Aires has come to be known as the “Paris of South America.” There is indeed an abundance of beautiful architecture, great shops and restaurants, lively cafés and bars, and no shortage of beautiful people. We’ll explore the narrow streets of the old city and the broad avenues that mark Buenos Aires’ modern growth. Around the Plaza de Mayo we will see the Casa Rosada (the rose-colored presidential residence), the Cathedral, and the Cabildo (Town Hall). On South America's broadest avenue, Avenida 9 de Julio, we see the historic Colon Theater and the iconic Obelisco. A highlight is a visit to the Recoleta district, one of the most fashionable parts of the city, which includes South America's most opulent and extraordinary cemetery, the resting place of much-revered Eva Peron. The colorful working-class La Boca district is also included in the tour. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the trendy Palermo neighborhood which includes the Malba (Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires). Malba’s mission is to collect, conserve, study, and disseminate Latin American art, dating from the early 20th Century to the present day. It contains one of the most impressive collections of Latin American art anywhere. This evening will be free to follow your own interests. You may wish to explore some of the bars or clubs. Buenos Aires is noted for its thriving nightlife -- gay and otherwise.
Overnight in Buenos Aires Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
I was recently contacted by the folks at Miniature Studios about their new Spanish language learning product Bueno, entonces.
[Disclaimer: Miniature Studios did provide me with free access to the product in exchange for this review, but otherwise there was no payment for this review and there are no affiliate links in this post.]
Ever since my days implementing digital technologies in higher education I’ve been very interested in multimedia-based approaches to learning. There are different learning styles and some people learn better in ways that are different from others. Of course, language learning always requires a high degree of personal interaction to achieve any level of proficiency. But language tapes and computer-based approaches serve as useful starting points.
Bueno, entonces is a series of animated videos that replicate a one-on-one Spanish class.Unlike most learning Spanish resources online, Bueno, entonces is designed specifically for the person who wants to live in Buenos Aires, or at least have an extended visit to Buenos Aires and have a good time.
This stunning wetland reserve is home to an abundance of bird and animal life, and is one of the finest places to see wildlife in South America. Although tourism has been increasing substantially in recent years, Esteros del Iberá remains comparatively unspoiled. The main base for visiting the park is the sleepy village of Colonia Pellegrini, 120km northeast of Mercedes; it offers a variety of excellent accommodations and trips to the reserve. Another, less-visited place to base yourself is Galarza, 80km further north.
The lakes and esteros are shallow, fed only by rainwater, and thick with vegetation. Water plants and other vegetation accumulate to form embalsados (dense floating islands), and this fertile habitat is home to a stunning array of life. Sinister black caimans bask in the sun while busy capybaras feed around them. Other mammals include the beautiful orange-colored marsh deer, howler monkeys (officially the world’s noisiest animal), the rare maned wolf, coypu, otters and several species of bat.
There are some 350 species of bird present in the reserve, including colorful kingfishers, delicate hummingbirds, parrots, spoonbills, kites, vultures, several species of egret and heron (including the magnificent rufescent tiger-heron), cormorants, ducks, cardinals and the enormous southern screamer, which would really light up Big Uncle Bob’s eyes at a Christmas roast. Ibera: Vida y Color (AR$18), on sale at La Cabaña, among other places, has beautiful photos of most of the birds, plants and animals you may see.
It’s a delicate ecosystem, and environmentalists are understandably anxious that it not be harmed. To this end, US entrepreneur and environmentalist Doug Tompkins has been buying up large tracts of land around the reserve and proposes to donate them to the Argentine government if it guarantees national park status for the area.
Small “plazas” that lead to the largest one at the front of the Congress building. Each of these plazas has its own monument or statue."Le penseur" by Rodin and "The Monument of the Two Congresses” an allegory that represents the Andes range, the main rivers and the plains. Avenida de Mayo runs from the Congress to the Plaza de Mayo. It is a wide tree- lined avenue which marked Buenos Aires` transformation from a big village to a modern city. The magnificence of the once rich country shown in the buildings along this avenue. A must see stop: the “Tortoni”
The Plaza de Mayo was in colonial times the political, economic, social and cultural site of the city and the buildings still reflect the way the country developed in the late XIX and early XX century. For the Argentines, this Square brings back memories of historic events and vivid Images of the very near past.
La Boca / San Telmo
La Boca is a heavily toured district that fascinates visitors with its bright yellow, red and blue houses. The old tenements where dozens of families shared home and the tango spirit along“ Caminito Street”.
San Telmo`s current bohemian character stands out at the antique fair held in its most popular place, plaza Dorrego. Area where the rich families had comfortable homes they abandoned later. See the dancers move amid the crowd to the music of tangos and milongas.
Palermo Viejo
Palermo Viejo, keeper of the best porteno traditions, where large centuries old houses, aged trees and magical flowered and perfumed alleys are a refugee for artists, designers and bohemians.At the very beginning, a middle - class outskirt, worthy of tango lyrics and of the pen of writers. Nowardays, Palermo Viejo houses the bohemian and creative spirit of the city: antique shops blend with modern aesthetic avant garde designs, while a great variety of bars and restaurants featuring different styles in this neighbourhood.
Recoleta district
Today this is the most expensive real estate in the country. Beginning of the XX Century, it was built to be the "Paris of South America". Well designed avenues, big mansions, spacious green areas.The best shopping area in the city. The star of the district for the tourists is, no doubt, the Cemetery Surrounding this "City of the Angels" the Recoleta Cemetery has hundreds of mausoleums and tombs crowded onto each street. The central streets are treelined, while other outlying streets have little light and room. The most visited mausoleum Eva Péron ("Evita") , to the pride of the commoners who loved her, and unhappiness of the elite classes she alienated.
Retiro Area: Plaza San Martin`s big mansions - Florida Street.
This area is the most frequented one by the foreign tourists because most of the main hotels in the city are there and plenty of the best shops can be found in its surroundings. The famous Arg. Big Ben donated by the British Community to the government of the city of Buenos Aires.Not many of the tourists discover a wonderful Basilica or visit the several Mansions built by the wealthy class who enjoyed living in Palaces in the turn of the century. Shopping area but also a beautiful neighbourhood to walk.
Five days in Argentina is nowhere near enough. But it certainly was wnough to stuff myself with steak, drown myself in red wine, and clog my arteries with dulce de leche.
For if my little jaunt through Argentina on my way from Bolivia to Santiago was about one thing, it was food and drink. Boy do the Argentinians know to how to live. I managed to eat steak in some form or another every day I was there – and they were some of the finest steaks of my entire life. On the first night in Salta, I went out with Jade & D’Arcy, who I´d met on the Salar de Uyuni trip, and we treated ourselves to a Parillada, the classic Argentinian mixed grill, which consisted of two different cuts of steak, two types of chorizo, chicken, pork, kidneys, black pudding and some other unidentifiable (but still delicious) offal. The next day’s lunch saw the best steak sandwich of my life, and the following night’s bus a more than passable steak dinner (which was far better than any airline meat I’ve ever had). My first night in Mendoza I had the best steak of my life – a chateaubriand that was practically the size of my head, perfectly tender, perfectly cooked, nice and brown on the outside and perfectly pink and just bloody enough on the inside. And all for less than $10. My final night, in the marvellous hostel Lao, we had the best hostel dinner I´ve had, with the whole hostel sat round a huge table working our way through a fantastic barbecue and (unusually enough for Argentina) an equally terific salad…
…which gets me onto something I wondered the whole time I was there. How on erath are all Argentinians not fat, or dead of heart disease by the age of thirty? When you order a steak in a restaurant there, that´s what you get. A steak. On its own. Side orders are available, but most people seem to content themselves with chips at best. And then polish it all off with lots of red wine, and probably some dulce de leche (the classically Argentinian gooey caramel) for dessert. Lovely for a few days, but I’m sure if I had the diet I did for much more than five days I´d be dead pretty damn soon. Maybe vegetables are a dirty little secret that people only consume in the privacy of their own home? Answers on a postcard please (or the comments box if you can’t be bothered).
From almost everywhere, South America is a relatively costly destination, but discount fares can reduce the bite considerably. Contacting a travel agency that specializes in Latin American destinations often turns up the cheapest fares.
Sea
Arriving in Argentina by sea is uncommon indeed, although Chilean company Navimag (www.navimag.com) operates the famous ferry from Puerto Montt, Chile (near Bariloche), down the length of Chilean Patagonia to Puerto Natales, Chile, near Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (due west of Río Gallegos).
Water
River
There are several river crossings between Uruguay and Buenos Aires that involve ferry or hydrofoil, and often require combinations with buses.
Buenos Aires to MontevideoHigh-speed ferries carry passengers from downtown Buenos Aires to the Uruguayan capital in only 2¾ hours.
Buenos Aires to Colonia Daily ferries (50 minutes to three hours) head to Colonia, with bus connections to Montevideo (additional three hours).
Tigre to Carmelo Regular passenger launches speed from the Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre to Carmelo (services also go to Montevideo from Tigre).
Land
Border crossings
There are numerous border crossings from neighboring Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay; the following lists are only the principal crossings. Generally, border formalities are straightforward as long as all your documents are in order. For info on necessary visas and documents.
Current weather conditions, hours of service and other useful information for Argentina’s border crossings are provided online by the Gendarmería Nacional de Argentina (www.gendarmeria.gov. ar/pasos/pasos1.htm).
Bolivia
La Quiaca to Villazón Many buses go from Jujuy and Salta to La Quiaca, where you must walk or take a taxi across the Bolivian border.
Aguas Blancas to Bermejo From Orán, reached by bus from Salta or Jujuy, take a bus to Aguas Blancas and then Bermejo, where you can catch a bus to Tarija.
Pocitos to Yacuiba Buses from Jujuy or Salta go to Tartagal and then on to the Bolivian border at Pocitos/Yacuiba, where there are buses to Santa Cruz.
Brazil
The most common crossing is from Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu. Check both cities for more information on the peculiarities of this border crossing, especially if you’re crossing the border into Brazil only to see the other side of IguazúFalls. There are also border crossings from Paso de los Libres (Argentina) to Uruguaiana (Brazil) to São Borja (Brazil).
Chile
There are numerous crossings between Argentina and Chile. Except in far southern Patagonia, every land crossing involves crossing the Andes. Due to weather, some high-altitude passes close in winter; even the busy Mendoza–Santiago route over RN 7 can close for several days (sometimes longer) during a severe storm. Always check road conditions, especially if you have a flight scheduled on the other side of the mountains. The following are the most commonly used crossings.
Salta to San Pedro de Atacama (via Purmamarca) Twelve-hour bus ride through the altiplano with stunningly beautiful scenery.
Mendoza to SantiagoThe most popular crossing between the two countries, passing 6962m Aconcagua en route.
Bariloche to Puerto Montt The famous, scenic 12-hour bus-boat combination runs over the Andes to Chile. Takes two days in winter.
Los Antiguos to ChileChicoThose entering from Chile can access the rugged RN 40 from here and head down to El Chaltén and El Calafate. Best in summer, when there’s actually public transport available.
El Calafate to Puerto Natales & Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Probably the most beaten route down here, heading from the Glaciar Perito Moreno (near El Calafate) to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine (near Puerto Natales). Several buses per day in summer; one to two daily in the off-season.
Ushuaia to Punta ArenasDaily buses in summer, fewer in winter, on this 12- to 18-hour trip (depending on weather conditions), which includes a ferry crossing at either Porvenir or Punta Delgada/Primera Angostura.
Uruguay & Paraguay
There are two direct border crossings between Argentina and Paraguay: Clorinda to Asunción, and Posadas to Encarnación. From Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, you can also cross through Brazil into Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
Border crossings from Argentine cities to Uruguayan cities include Gualeguaychú to Fray Bentos; Colón to Paysandú; and Concordia to Salto. All involve crossing bridges. Buses from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and other waterfront cities, however, are slower and less convenient than the ferries (or ferry–bus combinations) across the Río de la Plata. The crossings at Gualeguaychú and Paysandú may be closed due to conflict surrounding the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side of the river.
Bus
Travelers can bus to Argentina from most bordering countries. Buses are usually comfortable, modern and fairly clean. Crossing over does not involve too many hassles; just make sure that you have any proper visas beforehand
Entering the destination
Entering the country
Entering Argentina is straightforward; immigration officials at airports are generally quick to the point and waste few words, while those at border crossings may take a little more time scrutinizing your passport before stamping it. Anyone entering the country is required to have a valid passport. Once you’re in the country, police can still demand identification at any moment. It’s a good idea to carry at least a photocopy of your passport around town at all times.
When entering by air, you officially must have a return ticket, though this is rarely asked for once you’re in Argentina. However, it is commonly asked for by the airline in the country of origin. Most airlines prohibit from boarding any passengers without proof of onward travel, regardless of whether the person was sold a one-way ticket or not. They do this because the airline would be responsible for flying you back home should you be denied entrance (which is highly unlikely) once you’re in Argentina. For those planning to travel indefinitely, the only way out of this predicament is to buy a cheap, fully refundable onward flight (say, Mendoza to Santiago, Chile) and either use it or get the refund once you’re in Argentina. The refund, however, can take months to process.
Air
Argentina has direct flights between countries including North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain and South Africa, and from all South American countries except the Guianas. Alternatively, you can fly to a neighboring country, such as Chile or Brazil, and continue overland to Argentina.
Travel Argentina is a special website dedicated to helping foreigners who want to travel in Argentina. Whether you are coming to Buenos Aires or Patagonia or the Iguazú Falls for a few days or a few weeks, we will have all the resources, news, links, videos, photos and other stuff you need to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as it can be, We'll help you find the insider's Argentina that not many gringos see.
If you want to travel in Argentina you have to learn to speak a little Spanish, so we will also talk about Rosetta Stone and General Linguistics "Bueno, entonces..." and all the other Spanish learning programs. We hope to provide solid reviews and comparisons between all the major learn Spanish programs and help you find the one that is just right for you. We'll also post links to lots of self stufy programs on the Internet, like Spanish dictionaries, translators, and study guides. Good luck and learn Spanish!
You will find a new post every day or two so please visit our site as often as you like, and be sure and leave feedback or comments. We can also answer specific questions, so feel free to email us if there is something we missed.
Posts
