Buenos Aires Tourist And Financial Services

The government tourist agency, Turismo de Buenos Aires (www.bue.gov.ar), operates kiosks throughout the city and at both airports. These handy stations distribute free maps and guides to what’s going on around Buenos Aires. In addition to free guided tours (usually on Saturday afternoons, but check the website or a kiosk for more information), the office also offers free audio tours, complete with soothing documentary voiceovers, available for download at www.bue.gov.ar/audioguia. Play the tour on your iPod as you take in the sights. Listed below are tourist office locations in Buenos Aires, some of which focus on tourism within Buenos Aires only, while provincial offices offer recommendations and guidance for the rest of Argentina.

Buenos Aires Offices

Ezeiza International Airport (☎4480 0224). Open daily 10am-5pm.
Jorge Newbery Airpark (☎4771 0104). Open daily 10am-5pm.
Microcentro, Florida 100 at Av. Diagonal Rogre Sáenz Peña, one block from the Plaza de Mayo. Open M-F 9am-7pm, Sa 10am-4pm.
Puerto Madero, Alicia Moreau De Justo 200 (☎4315 4265), by Dique 4 on the western side. Also provides information on Uruguay. Open daily 10am-6pm.
Recoleta, Quintana 596 (☎4313 0187), at Ortíz. Open daily 10am-6pm.
Retiro, Av. Antártida Argentina Local 83 (☎4311 0528), at the bus station. Open M-Sa 7:30am-1pm. Additional location at the end of Calle Florida on the Plaza San Martín. Open daily 10am-6pm.

Provincial Offices

Buenos Aires, Av. Callao 237, Microcentro (☎4371 7045/47; www.casaprov.gba.gov.ar). Open M-F 9am-7pm.
Córdoba, Av. Callao 332, Balvanera (☎4373 4277; www.cba.gov.ar). Open M-F 8am-8pm.
La Pampa, Suipacha 346, Microcentro (☎4326 0511/1145/1769; www.turismolapampa.gov.ar). Open M-F 8am-6pm.
Mar del Plata, Av. Corrientes 1660 Local 16, Microcentro (☎4384 5658/5722; www.mardelplata.gov.ar). Open M-F 10am-4pm.
Mendoza, Av. Callao 445, Microcentro (☎4374 1105; www.mendoza.gov.ar). Open M-F 10am-6pm.
Salta, Av. Pte. Roque Saénz Peña 933, 5th fl., Microcentro (☎4326 2456/57/58/59; www.gobiernosalta.gov.ar). Open M-F 9am-6pm.
Tierra del Fuego, Sarmiento 745, Microcentro (☎4311 0233; www.tierradelfuego.org.ar). Open M-F 9am-4pm.

Tour Agencies

Eternautas, Av. Pte. Julio A. Roca 584, 7th fl. (☎5031 9916; www.eternautas.com). Tours for those in search of royal treatment. Launched in 1999 by historians out of the University of Buenos Aires, this agency delivers the city sights with a historical bent. Clients include dignitaries like the Queen of the Netherlands, but it remains affordable, despite its sterling reputation. Walking tours require no advance scheduling and start at AR$10. Bus tours cost about AR$30 and should be reserved beforehand. Check the website for the free tour of the month or to ask about one of the specialized tours, such as “Evita and Peronism,” or “Buenos Aires Writers.”
Say Hueque, Viamonte 749, 6th fl. (☎5199 2517/20; www.sayhueque.com). Targeted at the independent traveler crowd, this agency books tours all over Argentina and Chile starting at AR$159. Price includes a tango show. Excursions to the Pampas and Patagonia also available. Additional location in Palermo Soho at Guatemala 4845, 1st fl. (☎4775 7862).
OpcionSur, Juncal 4482 Local 2 (☎4777 9029; www.opcionsur.com.ar). Offers a variety of tours focusing on Buenos Aires and surrounding destinations, such as Tigre, with a personalized, innovative touch.
Tangol, Florida 971, ground fl., ste. 31 (☎4312 7276; www.tangol.com). Basic city tours start at AR$55. Tangol also organizes bike tours and soccer excursions. Open M-F 9am-8pm, Sa 10am-6pm.
Español Andando (☎5278 9886; www.espanol-andando.com.ar). Interactive Spanish class combines sightseeing with language skills. 4-day, 12hr. group course AR$250.
Cultour (☎15 6575 4593/6365 6892; www.cultour.com.ar). Note that the 15 in the contact number indicates that it is a cell phone. Walking tours focus on Argentina’s recent past, delving into the details of the military dictatorship, the 2001 economic crisis, and contemporary political trends. Tours run M-F. AR$55. Cash only.
South American Explorers, Estados Unidos 577 (☎4307 9625; www.saexplorers.org). A membership fee (from US$50) grants access to clubhouses across South America, discounts, storage, and trip planning resources, among many other services. Open M-F 1-7pm, Sa 1-6pm.

Bike Tours

Urban Biking, Moliere 2801, Villa Devoto. (☎4568 4321; www.urbanbiking.com). Tours at 9am and 2pm for AR$100. Helmet, lunch, and mate included. The Porteño Nightlife tour includes optional “more beer.” Since biking in Buenos Aires is always a good idea, it’s pretty clear that doing it drunk will be even better (read: extremely dangerous and ill-advised). Let’s Go does not recommend drinking and biking at the same time.
La Bicicleta Naranja, Pasaje Giufra 306 (☎4362 1104; www.labicicletanaranja.com.ar). Offers standard barrio tours, along with a “from the river” package, which includes kayaking on the “picturesque” (read: very brown) Río de la Plata. Bright orange rental bikes. AR$8 per hr., AR$48 per day. Tours M-F 9:30 am and 2pm, Sa and Su 2pm.
Lan & Kramer Travel Service, Florida 868 (☎4311 5199; www.biketours.com.ar), in unit H on the 14th fl. of Torre Mauri. S San Martín. Runs Bike Tours (www.biketours.com.ar), which offers a number of bilingual excursions around the city. Tours rendezvous at the Monumento a San Martín in the Plaza San Martín. Rentals also available. US$15 per day. US$100 deposit required. Cash only.

Currency Exchange

American Express, Arenales 707, Retiro (☎4312 1661). S San Martín. Will exchange American Express Travelers Cheques for no commission. Open M-F 9am-5pm.

Airline Offices

Aerolineas Argentinas, Perú 2, Monserrat (☎4320 2000). S Bolívar, Catedral, or Perú. Open M-F 9am-7pm, Sa 9am-1pm.
Air Canada, 656 Córdoba, Microcentro (☎4327 3640). S Florida or San Martín. Open M-F 9am-1pm and 2-5:30pm.
Air France, San Martín 344, 23rd fl., Microcentro (☎4317 4700). S Florida. Shared office with KLM. Open M-F 9am-5:30pm.
American Airlines, Av. Sante Fe 881, Retiro (☎4318 1111). S San Martín. Open M-F 9am-7:30pm, Sa 9am-12:30pm.
British Airways, Av. Libertador 498, 13th fl., Retiro (☎0800 666 1459). S San Martín. The office is occasionally not staffed during regular hours, though a computer and phone is always available. Open M-F 9am-6pm.
Delta, Av. Sante Fe 899, Retiro (☎0800 666 0133). S San Martín. Open M-F 9am-5pm.
KLM, San Martín 344, 23rd fl., Microcentro (☎0800 222 2600). S Florida. Shared office with Air France. Open M-F 9am-5pm.
LAN, Cerrito 866, Retiro (☎4378 2200). S Carlos Pellegrini or Tribunales. Open M-F 9am-7pm.
Lufthansa, MT de Alvear 590, Retiro (☎4319 0600). S San Martín. Open M-F 9am-1pm and 2-6pm.
United Airlines, Av. Madero 900, 9th fl., Retiro (☎4316 0777). S LN Alem. Open M-F 9:30am-5pm.