atlas•

Argentina: qué saber antes del viaje

Lo esencial

  • Pay with a foreign Visa/Mastercard in pesos (choose ARS, not USD): foreign cards get the MEP 'tourist' rate, now within a few % of the blue rate since controls were lifted in April 2025.
  • ATM withdrawals with foreign cards are expensive (high fixed fees, low limits) — bring clean USD 100 notes for cash needs.
  • Foreign tourists don't pay 21% VAT on registered hotel stays paid with a foreign card or international transfer (not Airbnb).
  • Carry medical insurance valid for your entire stay: the Argentine embassy states it is mandatory under Decree 366/2025.
  • Watch for pickpockets and motorbike phone snatching in Buenos Aires; don't change money with street touts on Calle Florida.

Entrada y visados

US, UK, EU, Russian and Ukrainian tourists can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. Chinese and Indian ordinary-passport holders normally need a visa, but qualifying valid US visas or Green Cards allow conditional visa exemption: China up to 30 days; India up to 90 days. Carry health insurance valid throughout your stay.

Validez del pasaporte: Valid for the whole stay.

En la frontera pueden pedir

  • Carry your medical insurance policy, valid throughout your stay.
  • Download the Migraciones entry record (comprobante de ingreso) — hotels need it for the VAT exemption.

Aduana

  • Declare cash or travellers' cheques over USD 10,000.
  • Fresh food, plants and animal products are restricted (SENASA); bags are scanned.
  • Carry prescriptions for medicines.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗, argentina.gob.ar ↗, echin.cancilleria.gob.ar ↗, eindi.cancilleria.gob.ar ↗, catla.cancilleria.gob.ar ↗

Dinero

Se usan tanto efectivo como tarjetas. Las tarjetas se aceptan casi en todas partes.

Redes de pago: Visa, Mastercard, Amex

Apple Pay — funciona en algunos sitios · Google Pay — funciona en algunos sitios

Dónde cambiar dinero

  • Paying by foreign card in ARS (MEP/tourist rate applied)
  • Clean, new USD 100 notes at licensed exchange houses (casas de cambio)
  • Money-transfer services to yourself (e.g. Western Union) for larger cash sums

Dónde no cambiar

  • Foreign-card ATM withdrawals (high fees, low limits)
  • Street 'cambio' touts on Calle Florida (fake notes)
  • Choosing USD at card terminals (worse conversion)

Cajeros: Argentine ATMs charge foreign cards a high fixed fee per withdrawal with low per-transaction limits; avoid or use a card that refunds ATM fees.

Propinas: About 10% in restaurants, usually in cash (card tips often impossible). Round up taxis; small tips for porters and guides.

  • Some shops and restaurants give 10–20% discount for cash (efectivo).
  • Hotel VAT (21%) exemption: registered hotels only, paid with a foreign card or international transfer, show passport and entry record.
  • Russian Mir cards don't work.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: riotimesonline.com ↗, argentineunveiled.blog ↗, argentina.travel ↗, bcra.gob.ar ↗, visa.com.ar ↗

Normas y prohibiciones

Prohibido

  • Any drug trafficking (severe penalties)
  • Removing fossils, archaeological items or protected wildlife
  • Drones without ANAC registration in many areas

Leyes que los viajeros incumplen sin saberlo

  • Carry ID (passport or copy).
  • Zero-alcohol driving law applies nationwide (Ley de Alcohol Cero).
  • Smoking banned indoors in public places.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗

Cultura y ropa

Religión: Mostly Roman Catholic, largely secular in daily life.

Ropa: Stylish casual in Buenos Aires; cover shoulders in churches. Layers needed in Patagonia.

Etiqueta

  • Greet with one cheek kiss among friends; handshake on first meeting.
  • Dinner starts late (21:00–22:00 or later).
  • Avoid raising the Falklands/Malvinas casually — very sensitive.
  • Sharing mate is a social ritual; say 'gracias' only when you've had enough.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗

Clima

Southern Hemisphere seasons: humid hot summers and mild winters in Buenos Aires; subtropical north (Iguazú); arid north-west and Mendoza; cold, windy Patagonia (best Nov–Mar); ski season Jul–Sep in the Andes.

Mes a mes
  • enero: Jan: summer, Buenos Aires ~20–30°C; Patagonia peak
  • febrero: Feb: hot; Patagonia good
  • marzo: Mar: warm; Mendoza harvest
  • abril: Apr: mild autumn, pleasant
  • mayo: May: cool
  • junio: Jun: winter, BA ~8–15°C
  • julio: Jul: cold; ski season (Bariloche)
  • agosto: Aug: cold; skiing
  • septiembre: Sep: spring; whales at Península Valdés
  • octubre: Oct: pleasant spring
  • noviembre: Nov: warm; Patagonia opens
  • diciembre: Dec: summer starts

Mejor temporada: October–April for most regions (Nov–Mar for Patagonia); July–September for skiing.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: en.wikipedia.org ↗

Qué llevar

  • Clean, undamaged USD 100 notes
  • Card with no foreign transaction fee
  • Travel health insurance policy
  • Wind/rain jacket and layers for Patagonia
  • Type I adapter (Type C also fits many sockets)

Qué no llevar / prohibido importar

  • Damaged or old USD notes (refused)
  • Displaying phones on the street
  • Fresh food in luggage

Práctico

Enchufes: Type I (and C), 220 V, 50 Hz

Agua: Tap water is safe in Buenos Aires and most cities; bottled in rural north.

Circulación: por la derecha

Móvil y eSIM: Claro, Personal and Movistar prepaid SIMs (passport); eSIMs available.

Apps: Uber, Cabify, DiDi, Google Maps, BA Cómo Llego, PedidosYa

Internet: No restrictions.

Salud: No compulsory vaccinations; yellow fever vaccine recommended for Misiones (Iguazú) and some northern areas. Dengue outbreaks in summer.

Seguro: Medical insurance valid for the entire stay is mandatory under Decree 366/2025, according to the Argentine embassy.

Emergencias: 911 police, 107 ambulance, 100 fire

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗, travelhealthpro.org.uk ↗, echin.cancilleria.gob.ar ↗

Las normas de entrada cambian. Antes del viaje, consulta la web de la embajada o del servicio de inmigración del país.