Getting There And Away

Bus

Buses to all corners of Argentina depart from Terminal de Ómnibus Retiro (Av. Antártida Argentina and Calle 10, Retiro; Subte Line C, Estación Retiro. Tel: 4310-0700, URL: www.tebasa.com.ar). Transportation also leaves for destinations in Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and other countries. The terminal has a full slate of services, including first aid station, restaurants, shops, pharmacies, Internet/phone centers, bus information kiosk (2nd floor), ATM (2nd floor) and bank (3rd floor).

Train

Buenos Aires has four train stations: Retiro, Constitución, Lacroze and Once. Some trains have sleeper cars and auto carriers. For details about schedules and fares, visit the companies’ websites.

Retiro station is the largest of the train depots. It is next door to the bus terminal, in downtown (Av. Ramos Mejía 1358, Retiro; Subte Línea C,k Estación Retiro). Trains heading to the northwest and west depart from here. Besides the following, commuter trains to towns outside the capital depart from Retiro.

Trenes de Buenos Aires (TBA) (Monday-Friday 3:45-4:45 a.m. Tel: ­­­­­­­­0800-333-3822, URL: www.tbanet.com.ar) operates the Línea Mitre to Tigre (every 20 min 5 a.m.-12:30 a.m.), and Rosario (once daily Monday-Friday). Other services include to Capilla del Señor, Zárate and other locales.

FerroCentral (FC) (Tel: 0800-1221- 8736, URL: www.ferrocentralsa.com.ar) has services to Tucumán (twice weekly) and to Córdoba (twice weekly); both pass through Rosario.

Estación Constitución (Av. Brasil, between Hornos and Lima; Subte line C, Estación Consitución) is just west of San Telmo. This depot is home to Buenos Aires’ provincial rail system, Ferrobaires (Tel: 4304-0028, URL: www.ferrobaires.gba.gov.ar). Trains go to coastal towns like Pinamar (weekly), Mar del Plata (twice daily), Miramar (weekly), Tandil (weekly), Bahía Blanca (Monday-Friday) and Carmen de Patagones (weekly).

From Estación del Tren Federico Lacroze (Avenidas Corrientes and Federico Lacroze, Chacarita; Subte Line B, Estación F Lacroze), Trenes Especiales Argentnos (TEA) has a weekly train, El Gran Capitán, to various destinations in Entre Ríos Province and to Posadas (Tel.: 4554-8018, URL: www.trenesdellitoral.com).

Once station (Av. Pueyrredón, between B. Mitre and Plaza Miserere, Balvanera/Once; Subte lines A and H, Estación Miserere) is the starting point of the Línea Sarmiento, operated by TBA, with services to Luján and other Buenos Aires Province destinations.

Air

Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza handles international flights (Tel: 5480-2500, URL: www.aa2000.com.ar). Terminal A is used by most of the international carriers, and Terminal B by Aerolíneas Argentinas and other national airlines. The airport has a full array of services, including eateries (expensive), phone, internet, car rental and other businesses. It is fully handicap accessible. At the arrival gates is an exchange house that gives low rates; it is best to wait until after passing through immigration to change. Banco de la Nación has a 24-hour bank in Terminal A. There are also ATMs. Tourism information booths are in both terminals.

Presently this is the only airport where citizens of the some countries must pay a “reciprocity fee” upon flying into Argentina: United States ($140 US, good for 10 years, multiple entries), Canada ($70, single entry) and Australia ($100, single entry). It may be paid in Argentine pesos, US dollars (excellent, unmarked condition only), travelers checks or credit card (plus 2-3% international currency converter fee). Travelers with diplomatic or official passports are not charged, nor are in-transit travelers. The fee is collected before queuing for immigration. For more information, see www.migraciones.gov.ar.

Ezeiza is 35 kilometers (21 mi) southwest of the city. A taxi costs about $20 one way (45 min); order from the official kiosk inside, for safety. Several companies run shuttle buses ($10), including Manuel Tienda León which departs for Retiro every 30 minutes, dropping passengers at hotels or its office near Retiro station (look for the booth at arrivals, no need to book in advance.). City bus Línea 8 connects Ezeiza with Plaza de Mayo downtown and La Boca ($0.50).

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery is used mainly for domestic flights, though some to neighboring countries use it also (Av Costanera, next to Río de la Plata, Palermo. Tel: 5480-3000, URL: www.aa2000.com.ar). It is three kilometers (1.8 mi) northeast of Plaza de Mayo. City buses 33 and 45 connect the airport with Retiro station and downtown (0.5 hr, $0.50); other lines go to Ezeiza. A taxi costs $5.10, depending on distance (30 min) and the Manuel Tienda León shuttle to Retiro, $4. Like Ezeiza, the airpark has full services.

Boat

The Terminal Fluvial is in Puerto Madera (Dársena Norte, Grierson and Av Antártida Argentina). From there, Buquebus boats depart for Colonia (1 hr) and Montevideo (3 hr), Uruguay (Tel: , URL: www.buquebus.com). Some ships have car transport. Check Buquebus’ website for complete schedules and prices. Tickets may be bought on-line. Immigration and customs procedures are done in the countries’ respective ports. The terminal is closed midnight-5:30 a.m. In high season, arrive two hours before departure.

Here are some related tips to help plan your trip to Buenos Aires: Getting To and Away, Getting To And Away From Isla Martín Garcia and Getting to and away from Villa Paranacito.