Argentina

Hi all...

Instead of emails flying around, I thought this would be a better way to communicate regarding the proposed trip this fall.

So, Argentina is a proposed destination and I believe we are all in agreement that this is an excellent place to visit. I've been doing some reading in the Lonely Planet guides (Argentina and South America on a shoestring) as well as wikipedia, wikitravel, GetSouth, and lonely planet forums.

The country seems to be divided by north and south with the north-east being the more populous and the south more rugged. Buenos Aires is the most populous city at 3M followed by Cordoba (1.3M) Rosario 1.2M) and Mendoza (800K) all lying in the north. There is also an Eco Yoga Park near Buenos Aires that people may find interesting.

From Wikitravel: 

Buenos Aires — or "Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires", which people occassionally call Capital Federalto distinguish it from the province of Buenos Aires

Córdoba — fith largest city, in the heart of the Pampas region

Mendoza — well known for its extensive and high quality wine production

Rosario — third largest city known for its beautiful neoclassical architecture

So, each of these cities seem to have something to offer. Mendoza in particular appears to have a good mix of interesting scenery (wineries and mountains - and did I mention wineries?).

Nature-wise, the Iguazo Falls seem to be a 'must-see' and the Ibera Wetlands may also provide some good nature viewing. The Andes are in the west and can be reached from Mendoza as well. The largest mountain outside of the Himalayas, Acancagua, is 110 km west of Mendoza and contains glaciers. And, of course, there is the Patagonia region in the deep south but is this too far from BA (assuming we fly into and out of BA?) It might be too much for this swing?

Argentina is a large country and I think we'd all be happier by not spending a lot of time travelling. Here is a crude distance chart:

And here is a map with some points of interest, the google earth plugin may need to be installed on your computer in order to view it:

Bus is the most common way to get around in the country but there are domestic flight options: http://www.lan.com/sitio_personas/country_selector.html

From Canada's voyage.ca website:

Canadian tourists must pay a reciprocity fee on arrival at Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery International Airports in Buenos Aires.  There are two possible options:
• a one-entry fee of US$75 (which also allows exit and re-entry from bordering countries Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia at no additional charge within the three month period usually granted by Argentine Immigration)
• a multiple-entry fee of US$150 which allows unlimited re-entries from all countries (bordering and non-bordering) until one month before the expiry date on the passport.

From Australia:

Australian tourists are charged a “reciprocity fee” of USD100 on arrival in Buenos Aires. From 20 December 2010, the fee will be valid for multiple re-entries within a period of one year as of the date of first entry. At present the fee is only collected at Ezeiza International Airport and at Jorge Newbery Airport, however, it may be extended to other international points of entry at a later date. There is no change in visa requirements for Australian citizens. Payments are made prior to clearing immigration controls and can be made by cash (Argentine pesos or US dollars), credit card or travellers’ cheques.

From USA:

A valid passport is required for U.S. citizens to enter Argentina. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business. U.S. citizen tourist and business travelers arriving in Argentina at either Ezeiza or Jorge Newbery airports must pay an entry fee.

 Current exchange rates: $1USD = $4.47ARS, $1AUD=$4.35. Here is weather in BA:

So, that is some background and let's share ideas and thoughts.