Argentina is a fascinating country rich in culture and history, brimming with delectable cuisine and incredible wines. To give you a little background and to help you have the most enjoyable trip possible, check out a few factors that are useful to know before you go:
Languages Spoken in Argentina Spanish is by far the most spoken language in Argentina. Italian is the second and Levantine Arabic is the third. Just under half of Argentines speak English so you may want to brush up on how to travel to a country where you don’t know the language if you don’t speak Spanish.
Argentina Currency Argentinian Pesos (ARS) – the peso has been very volatile over the past several years due to their economy. Make sure to check the exchange rate right before you go.
Argentina Travel Requirements If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. A visa is not required unless you plan on staying longer than 90 days. A reciprocity fee used to be required of U.S. Citizens but they revoked it in 2016.
When Is The Best Time To Travel To Argentina Argentina is located in the Southern Hemisphere so their summer is December – February, fall is March-May, winter is June – August, and spring is September – November. We recommend traveling to Argentina during their spring or fall. The temperatures are more moderate, there are fewer tourists, and you can find cheaper prices since it isn’t peak season.
How to Arrive The Buenos Aires airport, Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini (EZE), is the largest airport in the country and will most likely be where you fly into or out of if you are coming from the United States or Canada. Once in South America, you can also fly into popular wine destinations such as Mendoza (Mendoza International Airport – MDZ) and Salta (Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport – SLA) or even down to one of Patagonia’s airports – Bariloche in the Lake District (San Carlos de Bariloche Airport – BRC), Trelew in Atlantic Patagonia (Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport – REL), and El Calafate in Southern Patagonia (Comandante Armando Tola International Airport – FTE).
Food to Eat Argentina has a reputation for having some of the world’s best beef. It is remarkably tender and richly flavored. Because of this, we recommend trying a nice, juicy steak. But beware, their portions are notoriously large so you might want to split one with a friend. Additionally, if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, we recommend trying a tasty empanada with or without meat.
Wines to Drink Argentina is the land of Malbec. We highly recommend tasting a few different Malbecs to appreciate the full range of this marvelous varietal. In addition, make sure to taste a few glasses of Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. (Also, here’s some good news for Argentina wine lovers)
Culture & Customs of Argentina Argentine culture is quite captivating for many reasons. Legendary gauchos are a national symbol of Argentina known as skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly and usually donning a wide-brimmed hat and poncho. And who can ignore Argentina’s tantalizing tango? There are many opportunities to catch a tango both for free in one of the markets such as San Telmo or for a price at a more formal dinner show. You will also notice Argentina’s obsession with drinking a heavily caffeinated tea called yerba mate, most likely out of a small gourd or cup with a straw.
Ready to explore Argentina? Check out our Chile & Argentina Wine Itinerary.
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