You will find highways only around the bigger towns, while the entire country is connected through paved two-lane roads sans any streetlights. In some places, you will only find dirt tracks or unpaved, gravel roads. The roads in the south of Argentina are usually unsealed, so 4-wheel-drive vehicles are quite popular in these parts of the country.

You can travel in the province of Buenos Aires by bus or fast local trains. Retiro and Once are the two largest train terminals in this town.

Argentina Transportation Guide

Getting to Argentina

By plane

You will be landing in Ezeiza Airport (EZE), if you're planning to visit Buenos Aires. And if you have other cities in Argentina on the itinerary, then you will be travelling from Ezeiza to the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), which is on the other side of the town. It is advisable to travel in one of those shuttle buses that will take you to your destination in an hour for a reasonable fare.

If you're leaving Ezeiza Airport, then you must pay US $18 as departure tax after checking in. US $8 is charged if you are taking a domestic flight or travelling to Uruguay. You can even pay in pesos.

By Bus

Retiro is a huge bus terminal, which looks more like a bustling airport. If you are planning to travel long distances, then it is advisable to buy your ticket quite a few days in advance. Arrive 45 minutes the scheduled departure and get your gate number confirmed at one of the information counters. The gate number indicated on the ticket might not be accurate.

By Boat

There are several hydrofoil routes that connect Buenos Aires with Colonia (Uruguay) and Montevideo. You can find a suitable ferry at Puerto Madero in downtown Buenos Aires. Lineas and Delta are the two ferry companies that connect Tigre with Nueva Plamira (in Uruguay) and Carmelo.

A train ticket to Retiro from Tigre will cost you 1.1 pesos. There are trains every 10 minutes and the journey will take approximately 50 minutes.

Getting Around Argentina

By Train

It is always better to hop onto intercity buses that offer quicker rides and much better service than the limited rail network. But then, train fares cost one fourth of bus fares. So trains work out to be more economical. Ferrobaires is a major train operator and it commutes weekly between Buenos Aires and Tucuman, and twice between Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

If you get a chance, you must take the Tren a las nubes (Train to the Clouds) to the north western province of Salta. If you are prone to altitude sickness this ride may not suit you.

By Plane

There are quite a few domestic airlines in Argentina that pass through Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the domestic airport in Buenos Aires. Plane tickets are quite expensive. LAN Argentina, Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral are some of the well-known airlines.

Most of the big cities in Argentina as well as the tourist hot spots such as Iguazu Falls, have airports.

By Bus

You will find a great bus network in Argentina, with buses plying short as well as long distances. In fact, travelling by bus is a good way to commute between different cities within Argentina.

A city bus in Buenos Aires is known as a colectivo and the buses that connect different cities are known as micro. The Terminal de Omnibus de Retiro in Buenos Aires is the heart and soul of this enormous bus network. The buses are very comfortable with enough leg space. Some of them even have reclining seats that can double up as beds or camas, like those on business class planes. There are also buses, which have cheaper seats that do not recline completely (known as semi-camas); while some buses have seats that do not recline at all (servicio comun).

There is another bus terminal in Liniers, in Buenos Aires, which is much smaller than and not as accessible as the terminal in Retiro.

By Car

Cars are easily available for hire across Argentina, but are expensive. Drivers in Argentina may possess licenses from other foreign jurisdictions, as the country considers these licenses to be valid. Several cab drivers here tend to drive in an aggressive manner - so be careful when you hire a cab.

If you are driving through provinces that border other surrounding countries, then the police may keep stopping your car at various checkpoints. They generally check registration papers, driving licenses and insurance. They also charge a fee of two pesos for disinfecting the underside of the car. In the smaller towns located in the north of Argentina, the police also limit the fuel that a car can fill and you may be allowed to load up on fuel worth 30 pesos at a time.

By Thumb

Hitchhiking is quite common amongst young tourists. So if you just raise your thumb while standing on a highway, you will definitely get a ride.