TOURIST INFORMATION

• How to get here: Many international airlines get to Ezeiza airport, 35 km away from the center of Buenos Aires city. Domestic flights operate in Jorge Newbery airport, with an important air traffic towards the main cities and tourist centers of the country, also linked by means of trains and long distance buses. There is an increasing amount of cruises arriving in the country, many of which sail towards the Antarctica.

• Language: The official language is Spanish. English, French and Italian are commonly spoken. In some areas, dialects spoken by aboriginal minorities, such as guaraní, quechua and aymará, are still preserved.

• Currency / Parity: The official currency is the peso. Its parity with other currencies may fluctuate, being U$S 1 = pesos 3,05 and Euro 1 = pesos 3,70 in January 2006.

• Voltage: Throughout the country the current is alternating and voltage is 220/240 Volts with 50 cycles.

• Climate / Seasons: Arg entina has a great diversity of climates. Mild and humid in La Pampa, cold and humid in Patagonia, subtropical in Mesopotamia , and hot in the North. The average temperature in summer (December / March) is 23 C and in winter (June / August) is 12 C.

• Entry Formalities: Valid passport or identity card if coming from neighboring countries. Visitors coming from certain countries require visa. For more information, consult the Argentine Embassy in your country.

• Purchase Incentive (VAT refund): At the airport, visitors purchasing national products over $ 70 (per invoice) in the stores belonging to this system (displaying this logo in their shop windows) can have the 21% of the total amount of the VAT of their purchases refunded. The process is managed by GLOBAL REFUND, world leader in tax refund services. The benefits of this system are obtained in all stores belonging to it, identifiable by the Global Refund logo displayed in their windows. When the tourist purchases a product, he or she must request the salesman the delivery of a refund check as well as the invoice. Before returning to his or her country, the tourist must fulfill a procedure in the Customs in order to validate the stamping of the check. The methods of VAT refund are the following: cash, credit card accrediting, check delivered at the tourist's home address or obtainment in one of the refund offices that Global Refund has around the world.

• Shopping / Commercial Timetables: Buenos Aires, together with every important capital city in the country, possesses modern shopping centers offering prestigious national and international brands. High-quality goods, especially those made in leather, wool as well as designer products, can be purchased at competitive prices. Furs, handicrafts and antiques are also worth purchasing. The usual commercial timetable of stores in big cities is 9 am to 7:30 pm .

• Cuisine: Argentine meat and wines have a remarkable reputation. Local cuisine blends different flavors and typical products of each region. International cuisine is easily found, such as Italian, French, Spanish, German, Arabian cuisine among others. Restaurants and bars in big cities are often open until very late at night. It is customary to leave a 5 to 10 % tip because of the quality of the service offered.

• Weights and Measures: Equivalences:
  Equivalences - Weight:
  - 1 gram = 0,035 ounces
  - 1 kilogram (kg) = 2,205 pounds
  - 1 pound = 0,454 kg
  
  Equivalences - Measures:
  - 1 millimeter (mm) = 0,039 inches
  - 1 centimeter (cm) = 0,394 inches
  - 1 meter (m) = 3,281 feet
  - 1 kilometer (km) = 0,621 miles
  - 1 inch = 2,542 cm
  - 1 pie = 0,305 meters
  - 1 mile = 1,609 km
  
  Equivalences - Temperature:
  - 0º centigrade = 32º Fahrenheit
  - 100º centigrade = 212º Fahrenheit
  
  Equivalences - Surface:
  - 1 hectare = 2,471 acres
  - 1 square kilometer (km2) = 0,386 square miles
  - 1 acre = 0,405 hectares
  - 1 square mile = 2,590 km2