Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Esmeralda
(cnr Av Rivadavia & Esmeralda)
Travelers with Disabilities
Negotiating Buenos Aires as a disabled traveler is not the easiest of tasks. City sidewalks are narrow, busy
and dotted with many broken tiles. Not every corner has a ramp, and traffic is ruthless when it comes to ped-
estrians (and wheelchair-users). A few buses do have
piso bajo
(they 'kneel' and have extra-large spaces),
but the Subte (subway) does not cater to the mobility-impaired.
International hotel chains often have wheelchair-accessible rooms, as do other less fancy hotels - access-
ibility laws have changed for the better over the last few years. Some restaurants and many important tourist
sights have ramps, but BA is sorely lacking in wheelchair-accessible bathrooms - although the city's shop-
ping malls usually have at least one, restaurants don't often have the appropriate installations.
In Buenos Aires,
QRV Transportes Especiales
( 15-6863-9555, 011-4306-6635;
www.qrvtransportes.com.ar
)
offers private transport and city tours in vans fully equipped for wheelchair
users.
BA Cultural Concierge
( 15-3876-5937;
www.baculturalconcierge.com
)
offers service for low-
mobility travelers, by helping with errands. Or you could head to BA with a company like
Accessible Jour-
neys
(
www.disabilitytravel.com
), which has tours and cruises in South America - including one that in-
cludes Buenos Aires.
Other than the use of brail on ATMs little effort has been dedicated to bettering accessibility for the vision
impaired. Stoplights are rarely equipped with sound alerts. The
Biblioteca Argentina Para Ciegos
(BAC,
Argentine Library for the Blind; 4981-0137;
www.bac.org.ar
; Lezica 3909) maintains a brail collection
of over 3000 books, as well as other resources.
Visas
Nationals of the USA, Canada, most Western European countries, Australia and New Zealand do not need
visas to visit Argentina, but check current regulations. Most foreigners receive a 90-day visa upon arrival.
To get yourself a 90-day extension (AR$300), visit the
Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
(
4317-0234;
www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles
/?categorias; Antártida Argentina 1355; 8am-2pm
Mon-Fri). Set aside some time, as there are lines and this process can take an hour or two. Get your exten-
sion the same week your visa expires. Overstaying your visa (AR$300) costs as much as an extension, but
it's also much more stressful - and the rules can change quickly.
Another option if you're staying more than three months is to cross into Colonia or Montevideo (both in
Uruguay; Colonia can be an easy day trip) and return with a new three-month visa. This strategy is most
sensible if you are from a country that does not require a visa to enter Uruguay.
Americans, Australians and Canadians need to pay a reciprocity fee (
tasa de reciprocidad
) when arriving
in Argentina,
Click here
.
Women Travelers
