You are here: Home » Argentina Guides » Handbook
Handbook
Argentina
The name comes from the latin word for silver, "argentum." The country received the name thanks to Spanish conquerors, who visited Rio de la Plata (River of Silver), and knew about the silver settlements in the area.
Language
Argentinas official language is Spanish.
Population
Argentina has over 36 million inhabitants, who live in 2.766.890 km2. About twenty million of those people live in the province of Buenos Aires, city that has a density of 13 inhabitants per squared kilometer. When it comes to race, almost all of Argentineans are white descendents of European conquerors, and only 1% of the population is part of an aborigine colony (mostly Mapuches).
Geography
Argentina is divided, geographically, in several areas: Pampas, Chaco, Mesopotamia, Patagonia, Cuyo and Northeast. All of them have different climates and attractions, so it is necessary to take that into account when you travel, to avoid problems due to weather conditions.
Climate
Argentina features almost all climates in the world. The weather changes from north to south, temperatures lower and rain increases. The same occurs from west to east, in the Atlantic is more humid and warm than near the Andes.
Currency
Argentinas official currency is the Argentinean peso. There are bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos, and coins or corders of 1 peso, 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. Credit cards are accepted in most commercial centers.
Religion
Argentinas official religion is Catholic, although there is liberty of cult, so you can see all kinds of temples in the main cities: protestants, jews, islam, ortodox, and others.
Payment
Dollars are accepted as payment and there are several money exchange offices in bigger cities or tourists centers, where you can exchange dollars for Argentinean pesos and viceversa. When it comes to credit cards, the more known and accepted ones are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners.
Commercial Hours
Malls and commercial offices in big cities are open from 9am to 8pm. They usually close at midday in the smaller cities. Saturdays, they are opened from 9am to 1pm.
Banks and money exchange offices are open Monday through Friday between 10am and 3pm.
Coffee houses, candy stores, restaurants, etc., open every day, all day, depending on the sector and city. Lunch is served starting 12:30 pm and dinner is served after 8:30 pm.
Tips
It is customary to leave a 10% tip in coffee houses, candy shops and restaurants. Tips are also usual for doormen, and people who help you with your suitcases and seats at theaters or movies.
Tax return
You can recuperate up to 21% of the bonus import in taxes at the airport if you have acquired products for over 70 dollars in stores that are part of the Global Refund system. You have to present the bill or ticket. Stores that are part of the system should have a sticker of the logo on the door.
The tax can be cashed, charged into your credit card or bank account, or taken in a check to your home address. You can also pick up a check in one of the many offices of Global Refund in the world.
What you need to enter
Tourists that come from countries that share border with Argentina, only need an identity document to get into the country. Tourists from other countries must have a valid passport and, depending on the case, a visa. You should ask in your embassy if you should have a visa or not.
Maximum time to stay for tourists is 90 days.
You dont need a vaccination certificate, unless you come from a country where cholera and yellow fever are epidemic. You should consult at your embassy or consulate if that is the case.
What you need to get out
Countries that share border with Argentina are exempt of tax on travel effects and new articles of no greater value than 300 dollars, plus 300 dollars more if the articles were acquired at "free shops" in the country.
Holidays
Argentina has a series of holidays, days when people dont work and most commercial offices and malls are closed. Some of these days are fixed or immovable, while others vary every year. Holidays that fall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are pushed back to the previous Monday, and holidays that fall on Thursdays and Fridays are pushed forward to the following Monday.
National holidays in Argentina are:
| Feriados Nacionales Inamovibles | |
| Año Nuevo | 1 de enero |
| Viernes Santo | marzo / abril |
| Día del Trabajo | 1 de mayo |
| Aniversario del Primer Gobierno Patrio | 25 de mayo |
| Día de la Independencia Nacional | 9 de julio |
| Día de la Raza | 12 de octubre |
| Día de la Inmaculada Concepción de María | 8 de diciembre |
| Navidad | 25 de diciembre |
| Feriados Nacionales Trasladables | |
| Día del Veterano y los Caídos en la Guerra de Malvinas | 2 de abril |
| Día de la Bandera (Muerte del General Belgrano) | 20 de junio |
| Aniversario de la Muerte del General San Martín | 17 agosto |
| Feriados Inamovibles Operativos | |
| Jueves Santo | marzo / abril |
