Argentina
A little bit of history…
Settled by indigenous groups since around 10,000 BC, Argentina was marked as an Inca civilisation from the 1480s when the Inca’s conquered the northwest part of the country. In the northeast, the Guaraní tribe flourished while the Pampas and Patagonia regions were home to nomadic cultures, including the Mapuches. The foundations for the Spanish conquest of Argentina were laid down in the early 16th century which culminated in the founding of colonial cities, most notably Buenos Aires as a major trading port. Argentina became fully independent of Spanish rule by 1816 and by the 1860s the country had built itself up as an attractive destination for migrant workers. Buenos Aires’ economy was in full swing and the city’s population ballooned with European immigrants including Italians and Germans. These prosperous times were not without calculated tragedy. In 1879 the minister of war, General Julio Argentino Roca, carried out a process of extermination against the indigenous people of the Pampas and Patagonia regions. This became known as the Conquista del Desierto (Conquest of the Desert).
With not enough industry for the growing population combined with the effects of the Great Depression, the country’s booming economy could not be sustained into the 20th century. It was in 1946 that one of the country’s best known leaders came to power, Juan Perón, who, with the support of his wife Eva (Evita), strove to give greater political rights to the working class and women. But a grim economic landscape could not prevent him from being ousted from power. The 1960s saw social and economic unrest in the shape of political kidnappings and guerilla warfare. In 1973, Perón briefly returned to power before dying of illness the following year. A wave of violence erupted in the country during 1976-1983, a period that is referred to as the Dirty War, whereby the military government sort to rid the country of its opposition and leftist groups using harsh tactics. It’s thought that around 30,000 people ‘disappeared’ during this time. Following its defeat by the British over The Falkland Islands War, democracy returned to Argentina and a civilian government came to power.
A period of seemingly economic well-being during Carlos Menem’s term as president from 1989 to 1999, where the middle classes were comfortable and the peso was pitched against the dollar, was a slight calm before the storm. He was accused of corruption and by the end of his presidency the country was in economic crisis. The country has since been steadily bringing itself back from the brink and toward long-term stability.
Best time to go…
The seasons in Argentina are reverse to those experienced in the northern hemisphere, with January and February the hottest months while jumper and jacket weather is usually July to October. Buenos Aires is best visited when the temperature is mild and the streets are comfortably full; the city’s best suited to autumn (March-May) and spring (September-November), while summer (December-March) sees its streets deserted. During the summer months, beaches and resort towns are busy and Patagonia and the southern Andes are ideal destinations as the days are longer and warmer. A good time to head northwest is during winter (June to August) or spring when it’s drier and cooler. The ski season, meanwhile, runs from mid June to mid October and the slopes are at their busiest during July and August.
January, February and July are the big vacation months in Argentina so expect a healthy flow of visitors to popular tourist spots during these times, together with higher travel and accommodation prices. There are several festivals that are worth experiencing. Carnaval (Mardi Gras) takes place the week before Lent and is celebrated throughout the country and the Gaucho Parade in Salta in June sees Argentina’s own cowboys in full regalia.
Getting around…
Flying is the most attractive option especially for long distances in what is Latin America’s second largest country after Brazil. It’s best to shop around the country’s major airlines for the best fares available. For frequent flyers, national airline Aerolíneas Argentinas offers an air pass with discounted domestic flights but it must be purchased outside of Argentina. Most domestic flights are linked to Buenos Aires; flights from Buenos Aires depart from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), 20 minutes from the centre by taxi and some domestic flights leave from the international Ezeiza (EZE) airport, which takes around 45 minutes to get to from the centre.
Buses are the most popular mode of transport and there’s a variety of bus companies to choose from like Andesmar that serve major and remote destinations in air-conditioned comfort. Security is good and overnight services are available for long haul journeys. Sometimes two classes of service may be available, común and diferencial, with diferencial the better class. Local buses, known as colectivos, are efficient and can get you from A to B in good time. These are usually numbered and the final destination is in prominent view but it can be confusing as the same numbered services may travel different routes so it’s a good opportunity to use your Spanish and check with the driver. Depending on the city, buses may accept coins, prepaid cards or tokens only so it’s best to check before you board.
Car rental is a good possibility for getting around, if on the expensive side. The roads are generally good; like anywhere, it’s the other drivers that you need to look out for. Police checkpoints occasionally stop drivers so it’s good to have registration, licences and insurance details close at hand. Tolls also exist on some highways.
Useful links
www.lonelyplanet.comLonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.
www.aerolineas.com.ar
National airline Aerolíneas Argentinas.
www.andesmar.com
Bus company Andesmar.
www.aa2000.com.ar
Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 runs the nation’s airports and its site includes links to domestic airlines, a flight search facility and other important departure and arrival information.
