Travel: Flights to Buenos Aires

Ezeiza International Airport (IATA: EZE) (ICAO: SAEZ)

Ricchieri Highway, Km. 22. Tel. 5480-6111 - International and some domestic flights use the Ezeiza International Airport (referred to as Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini), located in the suburban area named Gran Buenos Aires, about 30-45 minutes from downtown by highway. Planes fly to most countries in South America, the United States, and Europe.

Some flights from Aerolíneas Argentinas to Ushuaia leave from Ezeiza during peak season, so check which airport you fly into or leave from.

There is also a useful Aerolínas Argentinas flight direct to Sydney, with a stop in Auckland and a twice-weekly Malaysian Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur via Cape Town and Johannesburg. Direct flights to Europe are available with British Airways (with a stop in Sao Paulo) , Lufthansa , Iberia and Air France. Also Air Canada flies from Toronto via Santiago. . There is a departure tax of $18 USD (about 54 pesos) for all international flights.

From the airport there are the usual taxis, private cars (remises), buses and minibuses.

Trips on the comfortable Manuel Tienda León coaches from EZE to Retiro cost 25 pesos (as of January 2007). The coaches leave at least once an hour - more frequently during daytime. From the Retiro Terminal, a smaller van will deliver you to any downtown address for an additional 3 pesos. Manuel Tienda León also offers transfers between EZE and Aeroparque. Tickets can be purchased from their booth just outside of customs.

Prepaid taxis (remises) from EZE to downtown cost about 75 pesos. Hailing a non-prepaid taxi is not recommended for tourists, but if doing so, be aware that there is a 2 peso toll and a 0.80 peso toll if the driver goes by the autopista; the driver will inform you as you approach the toll booths.

If you do speak some Spanish, you may find it cheaper to walk outside of customs, find a taxi that is dropping someone off, and hop in. You may see the taxi drivers slowly driving through. Put your bags in, and tell the driver "La reloq" (the meter). You may have to pay the aforementioned tolls, but it works out to around 50 to 55 pesos to downtown.

When you wish to return to the airport when you leave, you can talk to any cab driver and tell him that you need a ride to the airport. Frequently you can negotiate. They will come pick you up from your apartment or hotel and drive you to the hotel. Some of the best insights about Buenos Aires can be gleaned from taxi drivers. If you are new to the city, it's probably good also to have a map out, so that the driver knows he or she can't go in circles.

Another alternative is that some of the prepaid remises will provide you with a 20% discount coupon for your airport return. If you manage to hold on to this coupon, dial them directly to come and collect you and save yourself 20%. You must also keep the original receipt, as they need reassurance that you used the remise from the airport originally.

Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (IATA: AEP) (ICAO: SABE)

Located in the Ave. Rafael Obligado. 4576-5300 extension 107/122 (Information: 4576-1111). Most domestic flights use the smaller Jorge Newbery Airport (referred to as Aeroparque), 10 minutes away from the downtown area. You can take a taxi (25 pesos) or bus from there.