INFORMATION

General information

Weather

Argentina has a broad climate diversity: template and wet in the Pampean plain, cold and wet in the far West of the Patagonia, subtropical in the Northern Mesopotamia and warm in the Northwest. From November to March, the average temperature is 23 ºC and from June to September, 12 ºC.

Population

Argentina is currently inhabited by 38 million people, out of which almost half of them live in the Federal Capital City and in the province of Buenos Aires. This figures indicate a population density of 14 inhabitants per square meter.

Language

The official language of Argentina is Spanish. In Buenos Aires, it takes certain expressions from lunfardo, a spoken slang mostly heard among porteños.

Religion

Argentina professes the Roman Catholic religion, although there is a total freedom of worship. Moreover, Judaism, Islamism, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox are also professed, among others.

Currency

The official currency is the Argentine Peso. There are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100-denomination Peso bills, and 1 Peso, 5, 10, 25 and 50-cent coins.

Time

Argentina’s local time is GMT -03:00. During summer, some provinces adopt the summer schedule, switching zone to GMT -02:00.

Voltage

The electric current is 220 volts and 50 Hz. If you are using 110 volt-electronic devices, you can get adaptors at specialized stores.

Entrance paperwork required

Valid passport, with or without visa, as the case may be. Ask at your local embassy or consulate. Visitors arriving from non-bordering countries are exempted from levies on purchases lower than US$ 300 or up to US$ 600 on products purchased at duty free shops.
No vaccination certificate is required for entering the country.

Telephones

Public telephones work with phone cards purchased at kiosks or at the telephone companies’ offices, or with Argentine coins. There are telephone booths available 24/7. If you are calling from abroad, you need to dial the national prefix (54) and then the area code of the region you are calling.
For national calls, first dial 0 and the regional code. Moreover, if calling abroad, you need to dial 00, country code and city code. You can enjoy reduced phone rates from 10 PM to 8 PM.

VAT return

At the airport, you can get the VAT refund when purchasing national products over 70 Argentine Pesos (per invoice) at stores members of the “Global Refund” system.

Means of payment

Although the American Dollar and the Euro are generally accepted, the currency exchange into national currency is performed at banks and authorized exchange facilities. Credit cards generally accepted are American Express, VISA, Diners and Master Card. You may come across difficulties when changing traveler’s checks outside Buenos Aires.

Tipping

As in many other countries, it is the custom to leave a tip equal to the 10% of the bill at cafes and restaurants, as well as tipping concierges, bellhops and porters.

Business hours

Banks and exchange facilities: Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 3 PM.

Business offices: Generally from 9 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 7 PM.

Stores and shops: In large cities, 9 AM to 8 PM, although stores in the provinces usually close at noon. On Saturdays, opening hours are 9 AM to 1 PM. Shopping malls and megastores are open week-long, including Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 AM to 10 PM.

Coffee stores, cafeterias and pizzerias are open almost 24/7, and only close from 2 AM to 6 AM.

Restaurants: Lunch is served from 12 PM, and dinner from 8 PM. However, many restaurants offer fast food all day long.
Bear in mind that these times may vary depending on the province.

Airports

Ministro Pistarini Ezeiza International Airport
It was opened in 1949, and is Argentina’s gate to the world, since it hosts 80% of the country’s international air traffic.
Address: Autopista Ricchieri Km. 33,500. Ezeiza, Province of Buenos Aires.
Phone: (54-11) 5480-6111.

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport
It is located in the Northwest of the city of Buenos Aires. It handles domestic flights mainly and international flights to Uruguay. It has the highest number of in-transit passengers.
Address: Av. Rafael Obligado S/Nº, (1425). City of Buenos Aires.
Phone: (54-11) 5480-6111.

Organized by: Argentine Milling Industry Federation
INFORMATION: Phone. 0054-11-4322-6210 | info@alim2009.com.ar