Getting There

Argentina's main international airport is Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini (EZE; tel. 11/4480-9538), located 42km (26 miles) to the west of Buenos Aires. Allot at least 45 minutes to an hour for travel between the airport and the city, more in rush hour. You will be assessed a departure tax of approximately US$24 (£13) upon leaving the country, payable in pesos, dollars, or by Visa credit card. For flights from Buenos Aires to Montevideo (in Uruguay), the departure tax is US$5 (£2.65). Passengers in transit and children younger than 2 are exempt from this tax. However, visitors are advised to verify the departure tax with their airline or travel agent, as the exact amount changes frequently.

Below are the major airlines that fly into Argentina from North America, Europe, and Australia. Argentina's national airline is Aerolíneas Argentinas (tel. 800/333-0276 in the U.S., 0810/222-86527 in Buenos Aires, or 1800/22-22-15 in Australia; www.aerolineas.com.ar). The airline uses New York and Miami as their U.S. hubs. They do not fly daily, but as the country's national airline, Aerolíneas Argentinas is an interesting introduction to the excitement of Argentina and its culture.

Other operators include American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. or 11/4318-1111 in Buenos Aires; www.americanair.com); United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522 in the U.S. or 0810/777-8648 in Buenos Aires; www.ual.com); Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262 in Canada or 11/4327-3640 in Buenos Aires; www.aircanada.ca); British Airways (tel. 0845/773-3377 in the U.K. or 11/4320-6600 in Buenos Aires; www.britishairways.com); and Iberia (tel. 0845/601-2854 in the U.K. or 11/4131-1000 in Buenos Aires; www.iberia.com). LAN Airlines, formerly known as LanChile (tel. 866/435-9526 in the U.S. and Canada or 11/4378-2222 in Buenos Aires; www.lan.com) also provides connections from New York and Los Angeles to Buenos Aires via Santiago, and directly between Miami and Buenos Aires. Continental Airlines has begun flights from its hubs in Newark and from its headquarters in Houston. Contact Continental at tel. 800/525-0280 or www.continental.com. Qantas Airlines of Australia (tel. 13-13-13 in Australia or 11/4514-4730 in Buenos Aires) now has service from Sydney to Santiago with shared service continuing to Buenos Aires on LanChile.

Domestic airlines and flights to Uruguay use Jorge Newbery Airport (tel. 11/4514-1515), located only 15 minutes to the north, along the river from downtown.

The easiest way to travel Argentina's vast distances is by air. Aerolíneas Argentinas connects most cities and tourist destinations in Argentina, including Córdoba, Jujuy, Iguazú, Salta, and the beach resorts. Its competitor, Southern Winds (tel. 0810/777-7979; www.sw.com.ar), serves roughly the same routes. By American standards, domestic flights within Argentina are expensive. Technically, citizens and tourists get different airfares within Argentina. However, when booking through airline websites or even with travel agencies, tourists can sometimes get the Argentine rate.

If you plan to travel extensively in Argentina from Buenos Aires, consider buying the Visit Argentina Pass, issued by Aerolíneas Argentinas. You must purchase the pass in your home country -- it cannot be purchased once you are in Argentina. This pass offers discounts for domestic travel in conjunction with your international Aerolíneas Argentinas ticket. Passes are purchasable as one-way coupons for flights within Argentina. Each segment ranges in price from US$27 to US$294 (£14-£156), depending on the destination, not including additional possible fees and taxes. Slightly higher, but still reduced rates, ranging from US$38 to US$382 (£20-£202), are available if you fly into Argentina via other airlines as well. Tickets are exchangeable by date but not by destination and are nonrefundable. For more information, contact the Aerolíneas office in your home country or visit www.aerolineas.com.

U.S. Flight Connections

Be aware that while Argentina might not require a visa from your country of origin, continuing U.S. visa-requirement restrictions on connecting passengers from overseas have made connections via Canada or other countries easier for many non-American travelers. Foreign travelers using U.S. connections should contact the U.S. embassy in their country to find out restrictions, which are constantly changing, and incorporate the visa application time into the planning of their trip. This may also require an entirely new passport.

Getting Into Town From the Airport

Once at the airport, taxis and remises cost US$15 to US$20 (£8 to £11) to the city center. Take officially sanctioned transportation only, and do not accept transportation services from any private individuals. Manuel Tienda León (tel. 11/4314-3636) is the most reliable transportation company, offering buses and remises to and from the airport. Their buses cost about US$6 (£3.10) and use a two-part hub system at their downtown terminal in Plaza San Martín to connect you in smaller buses to your final destination. This can take 1 1/2 hours for connections.