South & Central America
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries
Visa Requirements – Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Argentina, but you should have a full passport with a minimum of six months validity from the date of your return to the UK. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health Requirements – There are no mandatory vaccinations required for entry into Argentina although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis are recommended.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 60 62782 or their website at www.masta.org for all professional medical advice.
Time – GMT -3 hours
Money - The currency of Argentina is the Peso. Foreign currency can be freely exchanged at most commercial banks, hotels and lodges and US$ denominated travellers cheques are usually accepted.
The use and acceptance of credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard is growing and they are generally accepted in many of the larger hotels, restaurants and lodges, but an alternative payment source such as cash is sensible, especially in remote areas.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
British Airways |
Heathrow/Buenos Aires |
Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat |
Sao Paulo |
|
Aerolineas Argentinas |
Heathrow/Buenos Aires |
Daily |
Madrid |
|
Iberia |
Heathrow/Buenos Aires |
Daily |
Madrid |
Climate - a rough guide
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world and on account of its vast size, there are naturally a number of regional climatic variations, but on the whole the country can be divided into four principal areas.
The North (Salta to Iguazu): Much of Argentina’s northern region to the east of the Andes consists of subtropical lowlands. The temperatures tend to be high throughout the year with the temperatures in the spring/summer months (October – April) averaging 82F, whilst in autumn/winter (May – September) the average is around 56F and the further east you are the more humid it gets. Rainfall increases from west to east with Salta enjoying relatively high rainfall in the summer, but little in the winter whilst Iguazu can experience quite a lot of rain throughout the year.
The Central Region (Cordoba to Buenos Aires): The central pampas region stretches from northern Patagonia in the south taking in Buenos Aires and continues as far north as Cordoba. Rainfall is reasonably low all year round, although the summer months can sometimes experience heavy rain, but temperatures are pleasant with relatively mild winters. Buenos Aires reaches maximum temperatures of around 80F during the summer months, and falling to around 45-50F during the winter.
The West (Mendoza and Central Andes): Mendoza on the edge of the Andes tends to enjoy pleasant weather all year round with summer temperatures similar to the capital, although it can be a little cooler during the winter and the rainfall tends to be slightly lighter throughout the year. In the region’s far western edge, the massive Andean crest with Aconcagua at 6960m South America’s highest peak, temperatures are hot during the summer days and remain mild the rest of the year despite cool winter nights. In the far north of the region, however, in the high plains, the southern extension of the Bolivian altiplano, days can be surprisingly hot but nights will almost always have a frost.
The Patagonian South: Argentina’s southern regions, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego at the very southern tip are best visited during the summer months as daytime temperatures average around 55F. During the winter months temperatures can fall as low as 30F, which considering its southerly position, is still relatively mild. There can be heavy snowfalls during the winter in Tierra del Fuego and although winter conditions are rarely extreme, trekking and outdoor camping are best left to experienced mountaineers. The brief daylight hours during the winter season also suggest a visit during the summer as more favourable.
When to go - In brief, generally the best time to visit Argentina is from September to May and the season breakdown is as follows? Spring (September – November) this is a lovely time to visit with a nice temperate climate and a good time for whale spotting at Peninsula Valdes
The Summer (December – February) can be extremely hot and humid in the north, but is a good time to visit Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
The Autumn (March – May) is still a good time although Patagonia can start to get cold towards the end of Autumn.
The Winter (June – August) is naturally the best time to enjoy skiing at the Andean resorts around Bariloche.
|
Buenos Aires |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
85/ |
83/ |
81/ |
71/ |
66/ |
56/ |
55/ |
60/ |
66/ |
70/ |
75/ |
84/ |
|
Rain (in) |
4.1 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.5 |
|
Salta |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
84/ |
83/ |
82/ |
74/ |
69/ |
68/ |
69/ |
69/ |
79/ |
80/ |
82/ |
84/ |
|
Rain (in) |
6.9 |
6.0 |
4.0 |
1.7 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
5.0 |
|
Ushuaia |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
54/ |
54/ |
53/ |
50/ |
44/ |
44/ |
44/ |
44/ |
46/ |
52/ |
53/ |
54/ |
|
Rain (in) |
2.1 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.95 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.75 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.95 |
F (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain = Average Monthly Rainfall (inches)
