Update: May 12, 2018
Currently the exchange rate is 23
Pesos to the US Dollar and the IMF agreement does not seem to be helping much.
Do not make the mistake thinking how wonderful this currency exchange rate is. Everyone
adjusts their costs due to inflation which is very high and currency
devaluations like this.
It was bad enough back in 2014
with costs for travels but this current issue will only make things much more
expensive.
Unfortunately this will translate
into higher tourism costs in a country where the costs were already excessively
high. It is so expensive that the Argentina
citizens will not travel their own country but go to Peru ,
Bolivia , Ecuador or Colombia ;
even going to the US
is less expensive in certain aspects.
One positive note, which is not
much compensation for the expenses a traveler will incur once in Argentina, is
the governments change in policies for what is known as “Reciprocity Fees” that
were charges to nationals from the US, Canada, UK and Australia. These fees and
policies changed over time and as of January 1, 2018 they have again changed
for the better unless you are a traveling on a UK passport/British citizen.
Apparently the Argentinean government has not forgiven the “Brits” for their
little spat over the Falkland ’s or the Top
Gear episode.
It appears that the US and
Canadian citizens are not required to make this payment and I believe the
Aussies are also exempt. Click here for the most update information coming from
the Argentina Embassy in the USA .
However, if costs are not an
issue, then I recommend that you visit Argentina . It is a beautiful
country with many locations of natural beauty to visit from the most southerly
tip to the north, it is truly an amazing country.
Update: August 28, 2014
As feared, it seems that the bus
companies have adjusted the prices to allow for the drop in value of the Peso.
The cost for a lovely 23 hour bus ride from Buenos Aries to Bariloche
is now around $130USD. On the other hand the cost from Buenos Aries to
Mendoza is
$65USD for the 15 hour bus. So it seems that Argentina is still a
very expensive country to visit and apparently the bus unions are in
complete charge. Of course the time of year I checked was in October and there
is no way to know what costs will be for high season starting in Jan-Feb.
Update: April 22, 2014
Since my original post below, the
situation has changed but not in the way you would expect. This has more to do
with the currency valuation now than reductions of costs. At the time of the post,
the Argentina Peso was trading at a value of 4-5 Pesos to the US dollar.
However, it is now trading at 8 Pesos to the US dollar which indicates that
their economy is having problems. How this will translate to costs there can
only be speculated on but tourism is a large part of their economy and if
business organizations increase costs to offset the decline in value of the
Peso, then they will drive away even more travelers.
Original Post: 2012
Most backpackers or budget travelers visiting Argentina are on limited funds and since there is not a real rail system, this basically leaves only two options, the bus or airplane. These individuals will most usually also wish to visit other countries while in South America but with these rising costs in Argentina alone the ability for extensive travels as in the past years will become more difficult and unless paid work is part of the plans while traveling, then this one group (budget travelers) will be faced with the problem of not having enough money for extensive travels.
First, for those of you who are traveling on certain passports such as American, Canadian or Australian, there is a very expensive Reciprocity fee (what your country does to us, we will do to you) which must be paid to gain entry into the country and very soon those travelers with these mentioned passports will be required to pay in advance via their online payment system. This will include all border entry points, airports and land. Here are the fee schedules:
As of 2014 the current fees are:
The above fees will be enforced throughout the country effective January 1st, 2013 and is partially being enforced at some entry points now. If you do not make the payment in advance, you will be denied entry into Argentina and may be refused to board your aircraft. Click here for the web site for the online payment portal.
As of 2014 the current fees are:
- $160 for the United States (valid for 10 years, multiple entry)
- $100 for Australians (multiple entries, valid for 1 year)
- $100 for Canadians (multiple entries, valid for 10 years or until 1 month prior to the expiration date of your passport, whichever comes first.).
The above fees will be enforced throughout the country effective January 1st, 2013 and is partially being enforced at some entry points now. If you do not make the payment in advance, you will be denied entry into Argentina and may be refused to board your aircraft. Click here for the web site for the online payment portal.
However, back to the expense side of Argentina which even for my mind is wildly out of reason and here is a very prime example of this.
The last time I was in Argentina, which was not that long ago, the bus from Buenos Aires to San Carlos de Bariloche cost around $67 USD using the exchange rate at that time which was about 3.8 Pesos to the US dollar. This was during the high season and I traveled in mid January.
Today, that same bus ride now costs about $170 USD, more than double the cost. In further checking for the cost of bus tickets to other areas I have discovered this same increase, in some cases not as much as the example but in most cases at least nearly double and this was based on an exchange rate of 4.8 Pesos to the US dollar.
I did a calculation of sort. Assuming that I wanted to visit the main tourist places, Iguazu Falls, El Calafate in Patagonia, Bariloche, Mendoza and Salta, which would involve 7 bus rides, the approximate total cost will be near to $700 USD. This calculation was based on the travel period between January 1 through the end of February and the currency exchange rate of 5ARS (pesos) to 1USD because the Peso was changing all the time.
For those of you reading this post, my source of data on bus prices is the web site Plataforma 10, click here, which is one of the very best and comprehensive online web sites for booking buses in Argentina and I have always used it over the many years of travels there and the prices online are no different than at the bus station. I strongly suggest that you check the bus prices in advance, the current exchange rate is 4.8 Argentina Pesos to 1 USD.
****Note**** As of 1-30-2014 the Peso is now trading at 8 to 1USD therefore the cost has come down in price but I am sure the bus companies will find a way to adjust their prices if possible but the ongoing current economic issues may prevent this increase from happening.
This price shock is not just confined to the transportation but extends to accommodations and food as well so do your homework before you make plans to fly to Argentina.
I just returned from the supermarket where a kilo of ground (minced) beef is selling for between 18-35 Pesos, a small loaf of bread was over 10 Pesos, a 150 gram bag of potato chips was 12 Pesos and this was not Lays either, chicken breast was selling between 57-63 Pesos per kilo and the list of other products is just as high and even the least expensive Malbec wine has increased, the cheapest I could locate was 17 Pesos, no longer is it at a reasonable price as it was less than 2 years ago. These prices may not sound expensive but for the budget traveler who is self preparing meals, this is a major increase.
In addition, a visit to the main tourist area(s) produce the same price shock(s) with an example of Burger King. A Whopper Meal which includes the usual fries and drink was priced at 40 Pesos for the medium size drink & 48 Pesos to get the large drink.
In an overall prospective, the costs for Argentina are approaching if not exceeding a lot of European countries. The once tourists from Spain are not here, however, they are rapidly being replaced by the Brazilian tourist which now comprise some 30% of tourists and there is a new influx of Asian tourists.
Understand what you are going to pay before coming to the country. An informed traveler is a better traveler and knowledge is powerful as it can assist in making good choices when considering travels in any part of the world, especially now in Argentina.
Lastly, this price shock is not confined to just Argentina. It is also effecting Brazil, Chile which I have been advised are all seeing the same dramatic cost increases.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy
For those of you reading this post, my source of data on bus prices is the web site Plataforma 10, click here, which is one of the very best and comprehensive online web sites for booking buses in Argentina and I have always used it over the many years of travels there and the prices online are no different than at the bus station. I strongly suggest that you check the bus prices in advance, the current exchange rate is 4.8 Argentina Pesos to 1 USD.
****Note**** As of 1-30-2014 the Peso is now trading at 8 to 1USD therefore the cost has come down in price but I am sure the bus companies will find a way to adjust their prices if possible but the ongoing current economic issues may prevent this increase from happening.
This price shock is not just confined to the transportation but extends to accommodations and food as well so do your homework before you make plans to fly to Argentina.
I just returned from the supermarket where a kilo of ground (minced) beef is selling for between 18-35 Pesos, a small loaf of bread was over 10 Pesos, a 150 gram bag of potato chips was 12 Pesos and this was not Lays either, chicken breast was selling between 57-63 Pesos per kilo and the list of other products is just as high and even the least expensive Malbec wine has increased, the cheapest I could locate was 17 Pesos, no longer is it at a reasonable price as it was less than 2 years ago. These prices may not sound expensive but for the budget traveler who is self preparing meals, this is a major increase.
In addition, a visit to the main tourist area(s) produce the same price shock(s) with an example of Burger King. A Whopper Meal which includes the usual fries and drink was priced at 40 Pesos for the medium size drink & 48 Pesos to get the large drink.
In an overall prospective, the costs for Argentina are approaching if not exceeding a lot of European countries. The once tourists from Spain are not here, however, they are rapidly being replaced by the Brazilian tourist which now comprise some 30% of tourists and there is a new influx of Asian tourists.
Understand what you are going to pay before coming to the country. An informed traveler is a better traveler and knowledge is powerful as it can assist in making good choices when considering travels in any part of the world, especially now in Argentina.
Lastly, this price shock is not confined to just Argentina. It is also effecting Brazil, Chile which I have been advised are all seeing the same dramatic cost increases.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy