Australia: No – not required
Belgium: No – not required
Canada: No – not required but need to pay a reciprocity fee in advance
Germany: No – not required
Ireland: No – not required
Netherlands: No – not required
New Zealand: No – not required
South Africa: No – not required
Switzerland: No – not required
United Kingdom: No – not required
USA: No – not required
Visitors from most nations do not require a visa for visits of up to 90 days, though some are required to pay a reciprocity fee before arrival. In most cases, you’ll be alerted of this when you buy your plane ticket. This fee is equal to the amount Argentines are charged in order to obtain a visa to visit those countries. Travellers from Canada, for instance, are required to pay USD 78. Make sure to print your receipt, as you will need to show it upon arrival.
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months from your date of arrival in Argentina and have a couple of blank pages for stamps. Check with your local Argentine consulate or embassy for up-to-date information about visa requirements or entry fees.
It is customary to tip about 10% at bars and restaurants. Some restaurants will add a ‘cover charge’ to your bill, but a tip is still expected in addition to this.
Internet is easy to access at internet cafes and hotels in large cities and towns, but is limited in rural and remote areas.
Mobile phone coverage is very good in Argentina’s cities, but may not be available in rural and mountainous areas. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.
Western-style flushable toilets are the norm in Argentina. It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as they are not always provided. Some hotels and restaurants might have signs asking you to not flush toilet paper – the toilets are modern but the plumbing is not and clogs easily.
Bottle of local beer = USD 3.50 – 4.50
Glass of wine at a restaurant = USD 3 – 4
Simple lunch = USD 9 – 12
Sit-down dinner at a local restaurant = USD 16.50 – 20
Tap water is safe to drink in Argentina unless otherwise marked. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water and fill a reusable bottle instead.
Major credit cards are widely accepted in Argentina’s large cities and towns, but may not be accepted in small towns and rural areas. Make sure to carry enough cash when visiting these parts in case credit cards are not an option.
ATMs are widely available in larger cities but are less common in small villages or rural areas. Make sure you have enough cash before leaving urban areas.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Geckos are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of your trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
Jan 1: New Year’s Day
Feb 27-28: Carnival
March 24: Memorial Day
April 2: Veterans and Fallen of the Malvinas War Day
April 14: Good Friday
May 1: Labour Day
May 25: National Day
June 20: Flag Day
June 9: Independence Day
Aug 21: San Martin Day
Oct 9: Respect for Cultural Diversity Day
Nov 27: Day of National Sovereignty
Dec 8: Immaculate Conception
Dec 25: Christmas Day
For a current list of public holidays in Argentina go to: https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/southamerica/Argentina/public-holidays/
As a whole, Argentina is a welcoming destination for LGBTQI-travellers. In 2010, the country became the first Latin American nation to legalise same-sex marriage and Buenos Aires hosts the largest annual gay pride parade in South America. A number of hotels, B&Bs, bars and nightclubs catering to the LGBTQI community can be found in Buenos Aires as well. Though parts of the country, particularly smaller towns are less tolerant, this intolerance rarely takes the form of physical violence. When in doubt, use discretion outside of large cities.
For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.
No vaccines are required in order to enter Argentina but some are recommended for protection against disease. Visit your doctor or travel clinic for advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.
Recommended vaccines:
1. Hepatitis A (transmitted through contaminated water)
2. Typhoid (transmitted through contaminated water)
3. Yellow Fever (transmitted through mosquitoes) Yellow fever is a risk in certain parts of Argentina. Talk to your doctor or travel clinic about your travel plans to see if this vaccine is right for you.
