What budget to travel Argentina? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Argentina?

Argentina is far from being cheap, especially if you compare it to its Latin American neighbors. It is true that in the last few years, prices are half as expensive as in France: due to inflation, the cost of living has dropped relatively and attracts more and more tourists. However, you should know that prices are still higher in Patagonia. The vast majority of the national parks have a fee for national and foreign visitors, and discounts are sometimes offered for students and children. In Argentina, the parks and reserves are administered by the APN (Administracion de Parques Nacionales) which is in charge of the parks and reserves. The services of guides are not mandatory and you can walk the trails of the parks at your leisure. The Parque Nacional Los Glaciares has a fee in the southern sector (Perito Moreno glacier), but is free in the northern sector: small budgets will be able to hike for several days without spending any money. For the Iguazú National Park, you will pay half price if you come back the next day on presentation of your first entrance ticket. As far as museums are concerned, prices are rarely exorbitant, they are sometimes even free and only offer a small contribution from you. Many points of interest are also free, you just have to be a little curious and take your time: a path can lead to a beautiful waterfall, exploring a village and strolling through its streets can be a walk of several hours, a mirador can be an excellent excuse for a lunch break, strolling along the shores of a lake can lead you to discover a secret beach ... Argentina is a great playground for those who will take the time to savor its various facets

Most of the activities are accessible either on your own or as part of an organized trip, so it's not a big deal! Most of the time, if you want to take part in the cultural, sports and leisure activities that Argentina has to offer, you will only have to pay the entrance fee to the museum, park or reserve where you want to go. The rest is up to you. However, you should know that some activities cannot be improvised: in Patagonia, in particular, nature can be rebellious and hostile, so it is important to be a great connoisseur or to have someone accompany you to survey its smallest corners! For reasons of access, equipment and safety, activities such as rafting, canyoning, climbing, glacier trekking or volcano climbing are only accessible with a guide. This is where the tour agencies come into play, each one offering advantages: family tours, intimate atmosphere, bilingual guides, ecotours... you will have to study your desires and your conditions, no doubt you will find your happiness. As for whale watching on the Valdes peninsula, the excursion to the Salinas Grandes in Jujuy or the navigation on the Beagle Channel, do not hesitate to form a group with other tourists: the rates are degressive, the more people you have with you, the lower the prices!

If you wish to buy handcrafted products, go to the paseos and ferias de artesanos. Usually covered, these large warehouses house various stands and premises run by local artisans. You will thus avoid manufactured products and will prefer short circuits, which will benefit the local economy. However, you will have little opportunity to exercise your skills as a carpet merchant, as haggling is not really practiced in Argentina. Good news though: for those who have large sums to spend in one go when shopping, be aware that you can get a refund of the amount of VAT (called IVA here). There is a fairly simple system for you to shop tax free in Argentina. You will be able to recover 21% of what you paid in foreign currency in a shop that participates in this system, on each product above a certain amount (invoice required). This system is managed by Global Refund. You will have to ask the seller for a refund cheque at the same time as your purchase (reembolso cheque). At the end of your stay, before taking your plane, you will present this cheque and the corresponding invoice to the customs who must stamp them. Once you are in the international zone, simply go to one of the Global Refund offices to obtain the refund in question (it is made in cash). Alternatively, you can send the documents by post, in which case the refund will be made either by traveller's cheque or by transfer to your account. Global Refund centers are located at the airports of the most popular tourist destinations.

Discos, nightclubs and dance bars, theatres, cinemas, theatres... going out in Buenos Aires can quickly become a budget item! Most of the infrastructures are based on a "Europeanized" admission system: paying admission for men and free admission for women on weekends. Alcoholic drinks are also more expensive in discos than in bars, but the prices are still reasonable (between 5 and 10 euros). In the remotest corners, the lack of discos and other festive places does not prevent locals from partying when they feel like it: public buildings (the equivalent of "party halls") are open to the inhabitants so that they can gather and have fun. Usually all the inhabitants of the village are invited and it is easy, if one is a little curious, to find out about it: in this case, all the better, foreigners are often invited with pleasure!

What budget to eat Argentina?

At breakfast time, confiterías and cafés are the most suitable. Some of them offer fixed-price formulas(media luna, one coffee, one orange juice). For lunch, quick menus, such as menú ejecutivo, are recommended. It will then be easier to devote a significant part of your budget to "good restaurants" which are even more enjoyable to visit in the evening. You can easily reduce your expenses in terms of restaurant budget, on the condition that you are not too strict about your diet: pizzas, hot dogs, empanadas or creamy pasta dishes, cheap dishes often rhyme with good calorie intake! However, you will often get by for less than 10 euros and you will leave with a full stomach. The other option is to go to the supermarkets to do your own shopping, you can then prepare your own food if your accommodation has a kitchen or if you have a van. High-end restaurants often offer a la carte dishes, as menus are not common. Deer, wild boar, trout, salmon or crab, local products often require a price tag, but this is still reasonable compared to the European market: count around 10 or 15 euros for a dish. In the city, all methods of payment are accepted, but be aware that in the more remote areas the bill is usually paid in cash. However, if credit cards are accepted, you will have to pay a small additional fee. If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you should know that even if the practice is not yet widespread, it is not at all frowned upon to ask for a doggy-bag. A way to save money for the next day's meal! Finally, if you book a restaurant online on certain sites, you can get discounts of up to 40% when you pay the bill, as in certain establishments in Paris.

The price of drinks is significantly lower than the European market prices. For alcoholic beverages, take advantage of the happy hour where you can buy two drinks for the price of one or get a discount of up to 50% off a glass. In general, count $600 per pint in Argentina. Some bars also offer interesting and inexpensive craft beer tastings

What is the budget for accommodation Argentina?

From camping to luxury hotels, ecolodges to homestays, there is no shortage of accommodation options in Argentina. Even though the country covers a vast territory, there is a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes. If you're traveling alone, it's best to look for hostels that offer dormitory beds, or if you're well equipped, you can camp for less. For families and groups of friends, it is best to stay in cabañas, which are basic but often comfortable and well-equipped bungalows. Long-distance travelers who travel by van will save on lodging: however, do not set up camp just anywhere to spend the night, preferring to use the sites provided for this purpose, campsites or even private land in exchange for a small sum of money.

Travel budget Argentina and cost of living

Argentina is far from being very cheap. Generally speaking, prices are higher than in the rest of South America, but in recent years, however, the country, which is currently in the midst of an economic crisis and is seeing the peso plummet, is banking on tourism to attract foreign currency. This is, paradoxically, a real boon for tourists who will certainly be able to afford a trip that is less expensive than expected without having to restrict themselves. Here are three examples to help you plan your daily budget on the spot; but be careful once again: this is likely to change in the months to come. That's why we try to display prices in dollars (US$) as much as possible whenever we can. Small budgets will count between $1,000 and $2,000 per person in a dormitory, between $800 and $1,500 for camping; around $1,500 to $2,500 for a menu or a tenedor libre ("free fork", i.e. dishes or all-you-can-eat buffet); transportation has seen its prices explode in the last few years... count between $6,000 and $9,000 for fairly long distances (more than 5 hours' travel time), and up to $20,000 for almost 20 hours' travel time (Bariloche-Buenos Aires for example). Of course, add the extras (excursions, outings, etc.). Around $4,000 per day is a realistic assumption if you are really short on cash and look for the cheapest addresses (if you cook or eat empanadas for example), but a bit idealistic if you intend to enjoy it. For average budgets, expect to pay around $3,000 per person to sleep; meals around $1,500. Count at least $4,500 to $7,000 per person per day. Higher budgets should expect to pay €80 or more (about $13,500) for a double room; gourmet meals from $2,000 to $5,000 per person; as usual, excursions and transportation are extra (airfare if applicable). Count around $10,000 to $15,000 per person per day to be in heaven, much more if you don't count. Finally, you should know that Patagonia is more expensive than anywhere else in Argentina.