Getting there
Traveling to Argentina is relatively simple
and a painless.
There are a wide choice of convenient,
daily flights from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami,
and New York. Most flights are direct departing the States
in the afternoon or early evening and arriving early the next
morning. Airlines that service Buenos Aires daily include American,
United, Continental, Delta, LAN Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France,
British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Lufthansa and Varig.
Flying Times to Buenos Aires from: Los Angeles: 13 hours, Dallas:
11 hours, Houston: 10 hours, Miami: 9 hours New York: 11 hours,
Chicago: 11 hours.
Almost all the international flights into
Argentina arrive at the Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza) International
Airport of Buenos Aires, 35 Km from the Federal Capital. You
are required to fill out a customary arrival form, which will
be handed out to you on your flight down. First you will clear
Immigrations (Passport Control) then you will retrieve your luggage,
and clear Customs. The entire arrival process in Buenos Aires
should take between 1 and 1 1⁄2 half hours.
Specific flight details for La Villa
Typically Friday: Arrive Buenos Aires,
Argentina, transfer to hotel of your choice
Arrive Ezeiza International Airport; clear Immigrations (Passport
Control); retrieve luggage, and clear Customs. Auto transfer from
the Ezeiza International Airport to your downtown Buenos Aires
hotel. The rest of the day and evening is at your leisure to explore
the old-world city center of Buenos Aires.
Travel Note: Remember, there are
two airports in Buenos Aires, Domestic & International. The
domestic airport is about 20 minutes from the downtown area, and
the International is about 45 minutes. You will need at least
two hours for auto transfer between the International Airport
“Ezeiza” and the Domestic Airport “Jorge Newbery”
Domestic airport taxis are about $25-$30 from your downtown hotel.
Saturday: Arrival Rio Grande or Ushuaia,
transfer to La Villa:
You have two options for traveling to La Villa; flying from Buenos
Aires to Ushuaia and transferring by auto to the lodge (3 hour
drive) or flying to Rio Grande at driving to the lodge a 25 minute
ride. There are several daily flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
that make this routing extremely convenient, albeit the 3 hour
drive, which traverses some spectacularly beautiful country. The
advantages of the Rio Grande routing is the short drive from the
airport to the lodge, however this is a once a day flight with
a very early departure out of Buenos Aires. Either routing, we
will coordinate meet and greet at the airport and auto transfer
to the lodge.
After arriving at the lodge, you'll be shown to your private
room, given a brief orientation and tour of the facilities, guides
will be assigned, and you'll have a chance to organize your tackle
for the fishing day planned to start the next morning. There is
no fishing on the first day or evening.
Sunday – Friday: The Fishing Week:
Each of the angling days is spent fishing in both the morning
and evening. The beats are rotated, and normally anglers will
not have to repeat any pools during their stay. Fishermen return
to the lodge in the heart of the ranch to enjoy a mid-day meal,
and have the chance to relax for a few hours. The lodge is only
a short distance from the river, no more than half an hour to
the most distant beat on the huge ranch.
At the conclusion of the angling day, fishermen return to the
lodge for a hot shower, cocktails from the fully stocked bar,
hors d'oeuvres, and a wonderful Argentine meal accented by fine
Argentine wines and desserts that will add a marvelous finishing
touch to each day.
Saturday Return Home:
The Estancia Maria Behety will provide auto transfer to Ushuaia
or Rio Grande to start your trip home or continue your travels
in South America.
Immigration Requirements for entry Into Argentina:
A current passport is required with or
without visa depending on your nationality. For all U.S.
citizens, passports must be valid for a minimum of three months
beyond the visitor's proposed date of departure. U.S. citizens
do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism and
business. All visitors must be in possession of a return passage
to a country for which they have a right of entry.
Customs:
Generally, foreign tourists (especially
tourists carrying fly rods) are not bothered by customs officials
upon entry. You are allowed to bring personal items such
as clothing, footwear, toiletries, etc., as well as; any fishing
equipment needed during your stay and personal medications. You
are allowed to enter Argentina with 2 liters of alcoholic drinks,
400 cigarettes and 50 cigars. Expensive camera and video equipment
should be declared and you will have to bring it out with you
when you leave.
Inoculations and Health Concerns:
There are no formal requirements, or recommendations
for immunizations and very little risk of infectious disease in
Argentina. The risk would be about equivalent to what it
would be for a trip to Colorado. You should check with your personal
physician if you are concerned. We recommend that anglers be up-to-date
on their Tetanus, Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-B vaccinations.
Political Situation:
Argentina is a safe, pro-American country.
Argentineans are overall a very friendly people & welcome
foreign tourists. The hospitality of the country people
in rural Argentina (where all the fishing takes place) is genuine
and warm. Like in Chile the current president of Argentina is
a woman, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Make it easy on yourself.
Alicia Regueiro and here expert staff
at Holdy Tours (800) 446- 1111 or alicia@holdytours.com
are a full service travel agency. They’ve been our
first choice for ticketing for years because Holdy professionals
are intimately familiar with the intricacies of travel to Chile,
Argentina and all South America.
Holdy gets rave reviews from us for arranging
reasonably priced flights as well as city tours, hotels, transfers,
and optional add-on travel packages to our fly fishing trips.
They know the best routes and connections for even the most complicated
Patagonia angling destinations and they’ve teamed up with
LA to offer the best airfares and service to South America. Make
it easy on yourself and contact Holdy Tours for your flight accommodations
to, from and within Argentina. www.holdytours.com