Patagonia Argentina is really safe and there are no dangerous snakes, spiders or insects and water is completely safe to drink. Communication to and from Argentina is easy; telephones and internet access are widely available. Argentina uses 220 volt electricity, so any electronic or electrical equipment will need a converter to 110 volts. Traveler’s checks are hard to exchange in rural Patagonia and US Dollars should be carried for exchange and gratuity. Argentina pesos can be obtained from several cash machines with your credit cards or debit cards for personal spending. Argentines eat and drink late, so some adjustment to your schedule will need to be made. Culture Shock Argentina, Spanish for Gringos, and Argentine Trout Fishing are valuable books to read prior to your trip for insight on the Argentine culture and fly fishing Patagonia.
Patagonia is quite different from the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires. Towns have no tango halls or big-city atmosphere, but they do have a fine selection of restaurants that you couldn't cover in one trip. While beef is the mainstay, pasta, trout and lamb are readily available. Argentines typically enjoy dinner around 10pm. If you like to party, places like Bariloche have a disco and casino... but keep in mind that these hot spots don't get going until after dinner, which means starting your night on the town after midnight! But the crowning touch of Patagonia is its friendly people. Spanish is the main language, but you will find that English is widely known and that it is very easy to get around the area even if you speak little or no Spanish.
San Carlos de Bariloche is located in the western area of the Province of Río Negro, on the southern shore of the lake Nahuel Huapi. Bariloche is the perfect combination between city and nature. At 1000 miles from Buenos Aires, the tourist city has a strong hotel and restaurant infrastructure. Bariloche welcomes visitors from all over the world who enjoy its Patagonia wilderness and National Parks as well tourist services and the facilities of the biggest ski resort in all South America, called Cerro Catedral.
Bariloche is a year-round outdoor paradise. Summer adventures include fly fishing for trout, rafting, hiking, mountain biking and horse back riding adventures. In the winter, skiing is a local pastime that is gaining popularity with skiers the world over.
Argentinacovers over 1,000,000 square miles, an area as large and diversified in climate, vegetation, and topography as the west coast of the United States. The country has over 36,000,000 people. Roman Catholic is the main religion. The borders are defined by the Andes Mountains and Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean by the east, and the borders of Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay to the north. South of Argentina is Antarctica.
The climate ranges from low to cold temperatures in the south and the AndesMountains, to dry and hot in parts of the north, with moderate temperatures near the central part of Argentina by the Atlantic Ocean. There are dry, arid forests of giant cedar and laurel trees up in the AndesMountains at the 1500 to 7000 foot elevation. The country's topography is very diverse. The AndesMountains that stretch along the border with Chile have mountain peaks with elevations of over 20,000 feet that are covered with ice fields and glaciers. The Pampas and parts of Patagonia are flat with numerous rivers flowing from the AndesMountains to the Atlantic Ocean.
Culture. The large immigration of Europeans to Argentina in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century produced a heavy concentration of people of Spanish, Italian, French, German, Eastern European and British ancestry. Also in the immigration were Japanese, Syrians and Lebanese. These immigrants, along with native Indians and the descendents of black slaves have created a richly diverse culture. Argentina is a country rich in history, alive with dance and though its language is Spanish it has its own unique vocabulary from the many languages that were introduced to this country.
Buenos Aires is the most European and cosmopolitan city of the Americas and it deserves to be explored for at least one day. If it's your first time in Buenos Aires you may think you are Paris , Madrid or Rome. The best is to stay in downtown Buenos Aires, preferably in Recoleta and enjoy a day touring the city and a night experiencing Tango at one of the many cafes around town.
Assistance in Buenos Aires. If you need our help with any of these plans please let us know. We can customize each item for your convenience. We can help with ground transportation from EzeizaInternationalAirport to the hotel, next day transfer to the domestic airport, city tours, etc.
Money Exchange and Credit Cards. Major credit cards, Euros and US dollars are widely accepted. You will also find Money Exchange houses and ATM machines in all major cities.
Documentation. Americans and most European citizens need only a valid passport to enter Argentina. No visa is required.
Health Issues & Travel Insurance. There are no immunizations required for entry into Argentina. Remember that because you may be in remote locations make sure you bring along any required medications. Travel insurance is always wise to purchase when traveling extensively and we strongly recommend that. Please note that although Argentina is a safe country and your hosts take every precaution necessary to ensure your well being, unexpected events do happen.
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