WELCOME TO
BUENOS AIRES
The Andes Way is a regional social exchange project. The cities involved are Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and Tandil. This project will have a total duration of three months (June to August) and 90 volunteers will participate in di�erent NGOs. The Andes Way is the most important and biggest project in Southern Cone. It is a regional exchange project aimed at strengthening organizational work in NGOs in the country and to develop soft skills in young volunteers. This project will have a total duration of three months. The trainee will experience double impact on the region. The cities involved More info at The Andes Way Google Map in Buenos Aires: http://bit.ly/19ii2lG
Dear trainne,
AIESEC BUENO AIRES- congratulates you for being selected for this traineeship and wishes you a great staying. You are about to start your journey to have hopefully one of the greatest experiences in your life, an AIESEC experience. A journey with lots of interesting people and some awesome fun! But before you can start your journey, we at AIESEC Buenos Aires have decided to make a survival kit so that your journey here is memorable and understand where you’re going to be coming. Enjoy the ride because you are about to have a lifetime experience, in a multicultural city. We hope that this reception booklet will provide you a guide and can wait to meet you soon. Good luck!
The BUENOS AIRES team.
HOW TO START TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE CTY In the coast of Río de la Plata – which is so wide that many travelers usually mistake it for the sea –, Buenos Aires has a mild climate and many sunny days. The green and wet natural landscape can be enjoyed in parks, in the surroundings or in the enormous Ecologic Reserve located 5 minutes away from downtown city. However, many tourists visit Buenos Aires for other landscape. The city – with three millions of inhabitants – has 48 neighborhoods to go around. In each one, there are bars , squares, stadiums of football and other sports , temples, milongas and theatres, but the most visited areas by national and foreign tourists, are Abasto, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, Recoleta, Palermo, La Boca, the avenues of the Downtown, as Corrientes.
Buenos Aires is one of the main cultural centers of the continent. The city is considered as the fourth one in the world theatre scene. It has more theatres than New York. The traditional and modern museums of the city are famous. Tango music and dance can be found through the most sophisticated tango houses or the most popular milonga of a neighborhood.
With more than 3000 restaurants, eating in Buenos Aires is only question about choosing where and what to have dinner and lunch. From the typical dishes such as asado or pizza, or even up to those settled here during centuries of immigration. Football is passion and people fond of this sport plan their trips to make it coincide with the national classic match between Boca and River. Another characteristic that attracts locals and visitors is to do shopping, with fairs, open-sky commercial circuits and malls. The independent scene – alternative theatre performances and movies but also musicians and designer – is origin of international meetings and festivals. In Buenos Aires, there are fairs and cultural events all the year round. Travellers can take a walk around the city on their own and by foot, or with guides specialized in stories and details; they can enjoy Buenos Aires during months or even they can discover the most important things of it in few days, even a 24-hour experience. They also go home with the desire of coming back or they can, directly, stay here.
THE CITY Buenos Aires is a singular, open and integrating destination that allows the visitor not only to view the city but also to live an exceptional urban adventure. Because Buenos Aires combines varied experiences and this variety may suit all tastes – Buenos Aires is really close to any visitor. This section offers information for all those who want to live the experience of Buenos Aires: what a person invited to have a meal at a porteño’s house should know, the most usual expressions, the basic phrases needed to walk around the city, what precautions should be taken, the maximum and minimum temperatures in each month, and much more.
CLIMATE The climate of Buenos Aires is mild all year round. The mean annual temperature is 18º C (64.4º F), making extremely hot and cold days very infrequent. Thus, visitors can enjoy walking around the city in any season. July is the coldest month. Although frosts are rare, a woollen coat, a jacket or an overcoat and a scarf will be required when going out. In winter, cold is moderate during the day, but temperature considerably drops at night. In summer, the weather is hot and humid. Mornings are warm and during midday and the first hours of the afternoon, the temperature rises. At night, temperature goes down slightly, so people may wear light clothes; coats are not needed. Rains are more frequent in autumn and spring (from March to June and from September to December, respectively). They are mild or last a short time, thus activities are not hampered and people usually go out with an umbrella or a raincoat. In the sunny days of autumn and spring, mornings are slightly cold; the temperature rises at midday and drops again at night.
LOCATION The City of Buenos Aires is the capital of the Argentine Republic and is located in the southern hemisphere, latitude 34º 36? and longitude 58º 26?. The city extends on a plain and has 202 square kilometers (78.3 sq miles). Approximately 3 million people live in this city. Including the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above ten millions, making it one of the 10 most populated urban centers in the world. The Río de la Plata and the Riachuelo are the natural borders of the city on the east and south, respectively. The rest of the metropolitan perimeter is surrounded by the General Paz Avenue from north to west. This avenue provides a fast connection between the city and the Greater Buenos Aires, a densely populated area with important business and industrial activity.
SANITARY INFO Vaccination is neither obligatory nor necessary to visit Buenos Aires since the city is safe from the sanitary viewpoint. The public water supply is reliable. Public hospitals (available for tourists) offer a 24-hour emergency service, without charge. Argentine physicians are considered excellent professionals worldwide. The ambulance emergency service (SAME) is also for free.
SECURITY Buenos Aires is a safe city, but as in any other big city in the world, the tourist should take some precautions. For example, avoid leaving your purse or bag hanging from chairs in public places, as well as walking at night along poorly lit areas. TOURIST OMBUDSMAN If, during your visit, suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816 . To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Mail: turista@defensoria.org.ar TOURIST POLICE STATION This police station headquarters receives any formal complaints from tourists in cases of offenses, thefts, petty steal, losses, whereabouts and failed meetings. It also works on crime prevention. You can here also receive help in the case of extraordinary procedures before embassies or consulates. You will get information from people speaking in English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Japanese. Address: Avenida Corrientes 436 telephone: 0800 999 5000 / 4346 5748 mail: turista@policiafederal.gov.ar
CUSTOM Buenos Aires has always been an open-door city. Its inhabitants are called porte単os, which makes reference to the fact that the city is a port. The inhabitant of the province of Buenos Aires is called bonaerense. Porte単os are warm and hospitable: they usually invite tourists for lunch or dinner at their homes and prepare typical food. The characteristic infusion is the mate. It is prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, also called mate that contains yerba mate. Some people add sugar, but most prefer "un amargo" (a mate without sugar).
Bombilla It is a small metal pipe used to drink mate. Its lower end has a sort of strainer with small holes that allow infusion to pass but prevent the yerba mate leaves from reaching the mouth. Good manners are linked to an informal treatment. The habitual greeting between people of the same or different sex is a kiss in their cheeks. Also, a hug is common practice
CULTURE CUISINE Argentine cuisine may be described as a cultural blending of Mediterranean influences (such as those created by Italian and Spanish populations) within the wide scope of livestock and agricultural products that are abundant in the country Argentinian people have a reputation for their love of eating. Social gatherings are commonly centered around sharing a meal. Invitations to have dinner at home is generally viewed as a symbol of friendship, warmth, and integration. Sunday family dinner is considered the most significant meal of the week, whose highlights often include asado or pasta. Another feature of Argentine cuisine is the preparation of homemade food such as french fries, patties, and pasta to celebrate a special occasion, to meet friends, or to honor someone. The tradition of locally preparing food is passed down from generation to generation, and homemade food is also seen as a way to show affection.
Tango The tango is manifested in the lyrics - many of the words used in the tango come from lunfardo (porteños slang); in the music - the large accordion provided the music from the Río de la Plata with that melancholic and somewhat sullen sound that characterizes tango today; and in the dance? which is seen in tango shows and practiced in milongas).
Hours The time zone corresponds to GMT-3 and currently no change is made in the summer months. Activity in Buenos Aires starts in the first hours of the day and extends until late at night. This city has lost the habit of "siesta" a nap after midday -, which is still the custom in the interior of the country.
Shops Shops are open Monday through Fridays, from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm; however, shops located in important avenues are open on Saturday afternoon. In shopping centers, hours usually extend until 10 pm, including Saturdays and Sundays
Banks Banks open at 10 am and close at 3 pm (some banks extend their closing time to 4 pm). Cash extractions and other transactions may be made in ATMs, 24 hours a day.
Hours of meals The hours in which porteños have their four meals are variable, since this is accommodated according to their activities. Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 in the morning. In coffee houses and confiterías (patisseries), it is possible to find special offers for the typical coffee and milk with medialunas (croissants), both for breakfast and merienda (tea) time.
Holydays Banks, businesses and some shops close on holidays, but most cinemas and theaters are open. Generally, companies offering city tours and excursions do not suspend their services. If a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday or between Tuesday and Friday, it is generally transferred to the next or previous Monday.
Sports Sports are an important element of every day life in Buenos Aires. This is shown in the following events that took place in the city: two volleyball world championships, one basketball world championship, one soccer world championship, countless Davis Cups, fights for the boxing world title, international rugby matches. Every year, the International Open Tennis Tournament and the Polo Open take place in the city.
In Buenos Aires, there are newspapers, supplements, radio and television programs exclusively devoted to sports. A characteristic situation in the city may be observed on a Sunday afternoon when people walk around with their radios close to their ear listening to the broadcast of soccer matches.
SERVICE Shopping The city has several shopping circuits, each offering different articles: antiques in San Telmo, books in Corrientes Avenue, leather items in Retiro neighborhood, souvenirs in La Boca. The avant-garde in objects, clothes and decorative elements is in Palermo Viejo neighborhood. Buenos Aires offers extended shopping hours. The main shopping malls – where you may buy the most renowned national and international articles – are open until 10 pm. In Las Cañitas, Palermo Viejo, Palermo Hollywood, Barrio Norte and San Telmo, you may also shop until late at night: many shops close near midnight. These are circuits to buy clothes, shoes, accessories and gifts. There are also beauty parlors and art galleries.
TAX FREE 3 EASY STEPS TO GET YOUR REFUND 1. At the store: Shop where you see the Tax Free Shopping sign and ask for the refund cheque* 2. Through the argentinean customs: When leaving the country, show your receipts and purchases and have your Cheques Stamped 3. Collect your refund: Collect your refund in cash, through credit card or bank cheque. * Only for foreign tourists, for purchases over $70 (pesos) on national products.
Theaters, Museums, Cultural Centers The city offers traditional tours and secret places. The Colón Theatre and small experimental theaters. Old book stores and new cultural centers. More than one hundred museums. Handicraft fairs and modern shopping malls. Historic cafés. Tango, milonga. Parks. Bars to enjoy the first and last drink of the night. City’s Agenda It allows you to organize an activity program suited to your tastes. Detailed information on shows and entertainment you may find in the city. Consult the city’s web site agenda or the Entertainment section, and the special supplement Cultura BA of the newspaper Página 12 for information on tourist and cultural offer. This supplement is given for free in all information centers. .
Green signs with the City’s emblem are posted on sidewalks and provide information on shows organized by the Culture Secretariat. These are first-rate shows, with free admittance or very low fees. The information lists theaters, museums or cultural centers, including their telephones and e-mail addresses. Another option is to go to or call any of the tourist information centers of the city.
Discotheques Discos, discotheques or dancing clubs open at midnight and close between 6 and 7 am (some of these places extend the party until midday). It is quite common for young people to go to more than one place in the same night and have breakfast before going to bed. For those unfamiliar with the “movida” porteña, an important tip is that everything starts very late. People usually go to dance at 2:30 am. The city has discos offering music to meet the tastes of all youngsters: dance and techno music, music from the 1980’s, 1960’s, salsa, Brazilian. There are also bailantas, playing a music style originated in the interior of the country (more precisely in the province of Córdoba), where live shows with popular bands are offered until the first rays of the sun bathe the city.
TRASPORTATION Multiple means of transport allow you to travel around the city: six lines of subtes (the abbreviated name for subterráneo [subway]), more than one hundred lines of colectivos (name for "buses" in Buenos Aires) and interurban railways (or trains). Taxis and remises are very common means of transport because they are safer and more economical than in other cities. There are several transportation options to arrive at the city: by air and by ship from abroad; by air, bus and train from the interior of the country.
BUSES The bus (colectivo) is a fast and inexpensive means of transport to travel over the Capital. There are more than 180 lines going through the city and providing connection with all districts in the Greater Buenos Aires. The service is available at regular intervals. Sometimes, streets may be blocked in the downtown area due to traffic jams. The ticket is sold on the bus and only coins are accepted. Hours: Bus service is available all day long but its frequency decreases after 12 am.
BUSES The bus (colectivo) is a fast and inexpensive means of transport to travel over the Capital. There are more than 180 lines going through the city and providing connection with all districts in the Greater Buenos Aires. The service is available at regular intervals. Sometimes, streets may be blocked in the downtown area due to traffic jams. The ticket is sold on the bus and only coins are accepted. Hours: Bus service is available all day long but its frequency decreases after 12 am.
SUBWAYS This is the fastest and easiest way to reach your destination. The six subway lines (commonly known as “subtes”) are connected with the main avenues and railway and bus stations, and converge upon downtown, the main tourist and hotel area. Maps showing the subway lines in different colors may be obtained at the ticket offices located in every station. Information boards showing each line routes and transfer stations between lines are available in all stations. These connections that allow passengers to use more than one line are called “combinación”. The service runs Mondays through Saturdays, from 5 am to 10 pm, and Sundays and holidays from 8 am to 10 pm.
TAXIS They can be requested by phone or you may call them on the street. Radiotaxis (provided with radio systems) are considered safer. There is a great number of taxis in the city – getting a taxi near the tourist areas is easy at any time of day or night. Usually, you will wait for no longer than a few minutes. Taxis can be easily recognized by their colors – black and yellow. In addition, a red light on the taximeter indicates that they are available.
REMISES They are a sort of limo service that you request by phone to the numerous agencies spread out in the city. These cars are not identified with a special color. useful data for Subways The fare is flat: $ 2.50 (U$S 0,60) and payable at the ticket offices located in the different stations.
RENTING A CAR To rent a car is a good decision for those willing to be more comfortable and independent during their stay in the City. Buenos Aires has a wide offer of car rentals providing modern vehicles of different makes and types. You must be above 21 years old, have driving license issued at least two years before, and a credit card limit authorized to cover rental and guarantee. Garage or parking areas: you can rent a parking space by the fraction of an hour, a full hour or a day.
TRAINS If you want to visit areas outside the Capital such as the Delta or neighborhoods distant from downtown, the railways provide an affordable service. Several lines allow access to the center of the city.
Sube Information The SUBE or E-Ticket Single System is: A service to pay with one card in collective travel, subways and trains stuck in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. We recommend you adhere to the system to avoid having to use coins when traveling by public transport. also the ticket is cheaper with this card
CURRENCY The Argentine currency is the peso ($). There are $ 100, $ 50, $ 20, $ 10, $ 5 and $ 2 notes, and 1, 0.50, 0.25, 0.10 and 0.05 cent coins. The U.S. dollar is the most common foreign currency. Banks and casas de cambio (currency exchange offices), where you must present your passport, exchange foreign currency. Shops accept credit cards and dollars.
Rate of Exchange The exchange rate in Argentina is convenient for the foreign tourist. The main banking area is located in the so-called "city". This area comprises the first five blocks (numbered 100 to 500) of San Mart铆n, Reconquista, 25 de Mayo, Sarmiento, Presidente Juan Domingo Per贸n and Mitre streets. The U.S. dollar is accepted in most shops, but it is convenient to exchange them for pesos in casas de cambio or banks.
Currency Converter
http://www.xe.com/en/
ELECTRICITY Electric power in Argentina is 220 volt, 50-cycle alternating current. Power outlets have 2 cylindrical holes or 2 flat holes with ground connection. It is convenient to bring an adaptor for these outlets to use your electric devices without problems
WELCOME TO
BUENOS AIRES