Capital: Buenos Aires
Time zone: GMT – 3
Telephone services: Country Code: 54
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 101/107, Police helpline (24hrs) in English on 101, for victims of crime.
Tourist information: Argentine Consulate, 27 Three Kings Yard, London W1Y 1FL Tel: (020) 7318 1340 Fax: (020) 7318 1349
Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond these countries, can use their national ID cards. Return ticket required by Australia, Japan and others. May be subject to change at short notice. Contact the Consular authority before departure.
Visa information: Required by all for business purposes, refer to the relevant authority for visa requirements for tourists.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists in the Vivax variety in rural and areas below 1200m.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, noteworthy risk of Hepatitis A, Trypanosomiasis, Gastroentiritis, Intestinal Parasitosis and Anthrax. Anthrax is not at this time seen to be significantly more prevalent than in many rural economies worldwide.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink
Currency: Nuevo Peso (P) = 100 centavos
Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard. Travellers cheques can be exchanged in larger towns for US Dollars.
ATM availability: Over 800 locations.
Cost of living: Budget travel is not impossible. Reasonably priced lodging, food and transport is available. Allow for fluctuating prices between cities and rural areas.
Languages: Spanish is the official language. English, German, French and Italian are sometimes spoken
Weather: The central area is hot and humid between December and February and cooler in the winter. The north has a sub-tropical climate, the south has a sub-arctic climate.
Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs = older buildings require 2-pin, but 3-pin can be used in more modern buildings.
Post: Airmail to Europe takes between 5 to 10 days. Surface mail can take as long as 50 days, so airmail is advisable.
Transport: FLIGHTS: Air travel is the most convenient way to get around the main cities but is often in heavy demand and subject to delay. ROADS: Cross- country high ways are well built, although road conditions off the main routes can be unreliable. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required and this must be stamped at the offices of the Automovil club Argentina. Minor violations are subject to large fines. RAIL: One of the largest domestic rail- networks in the world. Good facilities and low class travel can be good value. There are six main routes out of Buenos Aires, but information can be hard to find elsewhere in Argentina.
Special information: Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas islands. Due to an increase in crime occasionally involving violence, avoid poorly-lit areas at night. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash at all times. Beachwear is not suitable for town. Avoid military installations, which usually allow no stopping.