10 things only Argentina locals know

23.05.2024 - 07:25 / lonelyplanet.com

Argentina’s culture and customs are some of the most distinctive in the Americas. But there are plenty of idiosyncrasies to getting by in this Southern Cone South American nation. 

From the caprices of the currency through to late-night dining, and from cowboy culture to trip planning, here are 10 things to know before traveling to Argentina. 

For most people the epic proportions of the planet’s eighth-largest nation are a shock. A journey between two popular travel destinations, Puerto Iguazú in the northeast and the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia, clocks up 4340km (2697 miles): equivalent to an east coast to west coast USA road trip.

While a liberal smattering of internal flights makes things easier, the cost and carbon footprint of relying on these means that, for many travelers, journeying overland will be a big part of any in-depth exploration here. 

A six- to 12-hour bus ride to the next destination of interest is nothing exceptional. And a trip encompassing northern Argentina’s three key highlights alone – Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Puerto Iguazú – would take a week traveling overland, even if you only spent one night in each destination. 

When it comes to train travel, the options are limited. The once extensive network has eroded over the years, and now any long-distance train destinations are marred with inconsistency. 

If your time is limited, plan carefully where you want to visit and the distances in between. You can take overnight buses to save time, but traveling this way takes its toll: spoil yourself with some non-wheeled accommodation the night after to recuperate.  

Read more: How to get around in Argentina

Economic instability has dogged Argentina since at least the great depression of 1998–2002. 

This devastating economic crisis resulted in the ditching of the Argentine Peso’s fixed exchange rate with the dollar and the drastic reconversion of public savings account rates, which meant that many people lost half the value of their savings or more. Unsurprisingly, this caused considerable social unrest. 

Things still aren’t completely rosy: be sensitive if discussing finances with Argentines. With the high demand for stable foreign currencies, the government limits the amount of pesos that Argentines can exchange. 

This has created a black market and a two-tier exchange system. The official rate is what you’ll get when withdrawing money from a bank. The black market or “dólar blue” exchange rate is more favorable and available from money changers on the street. 

Official rates are slowly moving in line with blue rates, but the best solution for trip finances is to bring dollars (ideally) in cash to exchange on the street (euros or pounds can be exchanged too). 

Both official and blue