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Published: 09-06-2022
In general terms the answer is YES. The Lonely Planet has qualified it as one of safest countries to travel to in Latin America. Argentina is huge It covers 2.780.092 km2, and the population is not evenly distributed. Buenos Aires is home to 33% of the population, with other populated areas being Cordoba, Santa Fe and Rosario. Outside these big cities you will usually find small towns which are super safe to visit.
Buenos Aires
Most travelers to Argentina have a trouble-free time. As in all countries, there are always things to watch out for, especially in the busier urban areas. These include scams, unlicensed taxi drivers, pickpockets in tourist areas and the occasional mugging.
The Argentine economy is renowned for fluctuating. The Argentinian peso has experienced severe devaluation over the years and 35% of Argentinians live below the poverty line. There have been recent protests in Buenos Aires against austerity measures which sometimes turn violent. However, political instability doesn’t necessarily mean insecurity in Argentina. The local people are used to political and economic crisis, thankfully.
Argentine Pesos
The upside to Argentina’s financial struggle is that foreign currencies go a long way. As US the dollar get more expensive for Argentinians, you can have an excellent meal in a good restaurant for less than 15 USD.
We strongly recommend to get travel insurance, especially if you are traveling with valuable items, like expensive cameras, laptops or similar. Insurance is not expensive when you compare it with the value of your luggage. Even if you are just going on a short trip, you should always travel with insurance.
Argentina is huge and you can get to most places by bus. Thankfully, the roads are pretty good. Roads are safe, and it is safe to drive around in the country, but be careful, Argentinians can be pretty aggressive behind the wheel. Expect tailgating, speeding, sudden lane changes, jumping red lights and squeezing into small gaps in traffic, in typical South American fashion!
Buenos Aires Bus
Public transportation in Argentina is mostly safe, but there are some precautions to be taken.
The subway or metro in Buenos Aires (subte) used to be notorious for crime. That’s has changed recently, but you’ll still need to be aware of pickpockets. Watch out for people getting too close, “bumping into you” or even trying to slash your bag. If you’re traveling with a backpack, try to keep this on your front at ALL TIMES. The metro gets crowded in peak hours, like in most of the cities of the world, and at times it is not comfy and you’re more likely to be robbed.
Subte
Long distance buses are known as “micros”. These are often inexpensive and relatively comfortable. Make sure you pick a good bus company. Do your research and read reviews, you don’t want to sit on a terrible bus for hours. Generally, you will have to keep an eye on your stuff when riding on any bus. On the more expensive buses, however, your bags will be tagged and the security is much better.
You should be careful when hanging around the bus stops and train stations. Thieves love these places as they’re full of unsuspicious or distracted travelers. You don’t want to be one of them, so keep your eyes open for shady characters.
Bus Stop
The biggest precaution you can take when visiting Argentina and actually any country, is to basically NOT look like a tourist. Don’t flash your cash, don’t stand out too much, don’t look lost and oblivious.
At the end of the day, Argentina is safe. When you venture outside the cosmopolitan capital, it gets even safer. You will quite literally have to go looking for trouble.
Argentina is spectacular and you will get to explore a whole lot of truly epic landscapes, meet interesting, friendly people, and go on a delicious voyage of food without having to worry much at all.
Argentine Patagonia
Main safety tips you should pay attention to:
- Keep away from protests – these can turn violent on both sides. Don’t get involved.
- Don’t keep LOTS of money in your wallet. if anyone catches a glimpse of it, it could be gone before you know it.
- Know where you’re going, memorize the map, ask for directions before you head out, anything to keep you from looking lost.
Argentine Protest
- Be aware of pickpockets, sometimes they can work in groups, especially in and around public transport.
- Be careful walking around with your phone in public, especially in big cities, it can get snatched. Electronic goods are expensive in Argentina, so be extra careful with yours.
- If someone does try to rob you, don’t resist, this is a general precaution in South America
- Keep an eye on the weather if you’re out trekking, especially in the northern provinces; flash flooding DOES occur.
- Seek the tourist police if you need help!
