Park Hyatt Hotel Mendoza 

Argentina is a wide spread country, considered to be one of the world’s largest as it tapers the planet’s most southerly extremities. Filled with diverse landscapes ranging from jungles to dry highlands you are bound to fall in love with the dynamic aspects of the culture.

The Argentine’s passion are fuelled by football, politics, and living life on the edge. Leave behind those stereotypes as not everyone does the tango or gallops around on a horse back and forth through town.

Anchor cities such as Buenos Aires provide an amazing experience to divulge into the culture. A city so vast has many different neighbourhoods all bringing their own character and energy to the collective.

Food
The edible palate of Argentina is highly influenced by European culture and it’s directly seen in its cuisine. Generally speaking, you will find food that is a variation of the Mediterranean cooking style with a large emphasis on products that are easily grown in the area including beef and wheat. The most traditional way to eat meat in Argentina is the asado, or barbecue. The other popular meat is lamb, often cooked outdoor over a campfire.

Dessert
Dessert is appreciated through the region. The most popular dessert is Dulce de leche, a thick caramel paste which is often eaten as a snack by the locals. Other sweet spot treats include ice cream and Argentine chocolate.
 
Beverage
The two most consumed drinks in Argentina are Mate Tea, grown in the northeast of the country and a speciality beer known as Quilmes. The locals also enjoy red and white wine and international spirits. For those looking for a basic beverage, mineral water and limonades are sold everywhere. Fruit Juices and milkshakes (Licuados) are also very popular.

No matter what time of the year that you plan to visit, Argentina is not a place to get bored easily. Based on what region you travel to, there are different things to see and do.

If travelling to the Seven Patagonian Lakes, be sure to see Ruta de los Siete Lagos and be overwhelmed by the sparkling waters coloured cobalt, turquoise, sapphire, and indigo shades. To participate in winter sports, visit the Cerro Catedral or Tierra del Fuego to combine great snow with pristine views.

For those seeking more adventure, the area of Neuquen Province takes you back in time to roam where the dinosaurs once stood as you get to see their giant footprints in rocks and see fossil displays.

If in the mood for a safari-type experience, brave the scorching heat and head to Gran Chaco. This outdoor oasis gives you the opportunity to spot jaguars, armadillos, and monkeys.

There are various options for entertainment throughout Argentina. These include going to the cinema, classic music concerts, comedy shows, tango festivals, sporting events, and the leading passion of the country, football. 

Visas are not required for those staying up to 90 days on a UK passport, although you will be required to show evidence that a return ticket has been purchased as well as a valid passport.

The electric current in Argentina is 220-240v, 50Hz, AC. You can buy a transformer for your battery-charging needs for as little as £1.

Although there is little political and economic unrest, there are still random outbreaks of social demonstrations and uprising. Visitors should avoid unannounced public gatherings and keep aware of local news. There is no specific threat to foreigners visiting the country for short or longer periods. Similar to many countries throughout neighbouring Europe, be aware of bag-snatchers and pickpockets, particularly in crowded areas.

The seasons of Argentina occur in reverse order to those in the UK. The best time to visit Buenos Aires is between September and November which is considered spring.

Mendoza and the Lake District are beautiful in the fall as leaves cover the street and temperatures are at comfortable levels.

To enjoy the epitome of Patagonia, visit in the summer (December to February) when the weather is milder and more services are readily available. Northern Argentina can be severely hot in the summer and should be left for the spring time.

The most expensive times to travel for holiday to the country are January, February, and July.

All travellers are advised to ensure their Tetanus and Polio vaccinations are up to date prior to travel. Other recommended vaccines include those for Hepatitis A, Tuberculosis, and Rabies. Please check with your doctor.

The flight time from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires is 15 hours. Additionally, most flights from the UK to other areas of Argentina will take between 15-16 hours.

The official language of Argentina is Spanish and it is advised to learn a few basic phrases prior to arrival in order to maximise the experience of your trip. In culturally diverse cities such as Buenos Aires you should not have a problem finding signage and restaurant menus written in English as well.

We suggest that you visit the following website prior to your travel to Argentina: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo 

The Argentine peso is divided into one hundred cents. There are 1, 5, 10, and 25, 50 cent coins which come in silver and gold plated versions.

Paper money comes in 2, 5,10,20,50, and 100 denominations.

Cash machines are easily available throughout most areas of any large city. Every bank has ATMs linked to international networks such as Cirrus, Plus, MasterCard, and Visa.

Very few stores accept travellers cheques, so the fastest way to cash them in is to go to banks or travel agents should you bring any with you.  The best place to exchange money is at a bank. There are also currency exchange bureaus and many hotels offer a similar service for a small fee.

It is common to see people on the street offering currency exchange for better rates but these are usually fraudulent transactions and should not be done.

The local time in Argentina is -3 GMT.

Most Argentines are primarily of European descent, which often distances them from other Latin American countries in terms of cultural beliefs. The family is the centre of life in Argentina.

Roman Catholicism acts as the official state religion although other religions such as Islam have gained more of a presence over the last ten years.

Argentines are known for being very direct, open, and specific yet tactful and diplomatic.

They are considered warm and unreserved.

The majority of public holidays in Argentina are universal to those across Europe and in the US. Some country specific holidays include March 7 and 8, which are for Carnaval, Veteran’s Day on April 2, the Anniversary of the first Argentine government on March 25, Independence Day on July 9, and St. Martin’s day on August 15.

It is recommended that visitors take advantage of public transport or private transfers and avoid driving as Argentina can be an extensive challenge to learn without prior experience.

If going to Buenos Aires, feel free to take the subway or a black taxi. In addition, public busses also run throughout different areas of the city, but be prepared for crowding.