Ride-Sharing in Argentina: Uber & Cabify

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber are a popular option for visitors to Buenos Aires and other large cities in Argentina. They are often more cost efficient and also remove some of the uncertainty or confusion that language issues can cause using a normal city taxi.

In Buenos Aires particularly, using ride services is less stressful than renting a car and driving and faster than the bus or subway.

The main ride-sharing service that foreigners are familiar with, Uber, is generally about 30% cheaper than taking a taxi, except during peak times, such as holidays that cause surge pricing. Unlike most taxis, Uber can be paid with (non-Argentine) credit card, users know the cost of the trip beforehand and the app provides information about the driver, such as their name and customer rating.

This means Uber users don’t have to deal with cash and the perpetual problem of making sure one has change on hand with which to pay the driver.

Using the Silicon Valley-born app also cuts down on the possibility of taxi scams that include costly detours, sped-up meters or getting counterfeit bills as change.

The biggest drawback to using ride sharing apps in Argentina is that it usually takes five or ten minutes for a car to show up, while hailing a taxi is usually instantaneous.

Sometimes drivers will also cancel the ride if they see you are paying with a credit card instead of cash.

→ Get your first Uber ride free using the code: anden38ui

Anger in Argentina over Uber

Taxi drivers stage a roadblock in Buenos Aires to protest Uber. Courtesy CN5

Buenos Aires’ taxis drivers are angry at being undercut by an unregulated service, and there have been loud protests about the app, taxi-led roadblocks and a few incidents of Uber drivers and passengers being mobbed by cab drivers.

The government has backed up the taxi union in the struggle. The day after the service debuted in Buenos Aires in 2015 the courts ordered the service shut down. Uber paid a fine but due to its unregulated nature, continued to operate and even pushed back by offering the service for free for a few days.

The government then blocked Uber from processing major credit cards issued in Argentina — locals have to use alternative prepaid methods (including bitcoin) or cash in order to pay for their ride. Travelers using a foreign credit card, can pay using it, but some drivers don’t like to accept rides paid with credit cards.

In 2018 the city of Buenos Aires voted in a law that imposes fines on Uber drivers caught using the app. The Supreme Court later backed Uber but the service remains in legal limbo in most of Argentina.

Some people remain loyal to taxis and not only because they are slow to warm to new technology. Argentines often view U.S. companies with suspicion and the country has a strong tradition of unionization and workers’ rights.

Uber drivers are independent contractors with no benefits or labor protection, but many Venezuelans coming to Argentina are enthusiastic to work as drivers with the app.

Safety of Uber in Argentina?

A sign in the window of a Buenos Aires taxi says (in Spanish) Uber= Loss of Work For now, passengers in most of Argentina use Uber at their own risk. Uber in Argentina has looser requirements than in some other places, particularly when it comes to the cars.

Occasional police checkpoints have been set up to crackdown on Uber drivers, which means drivers frequently request a passenger sit in the front.

Also, it is important to note that in the case of an accident, the insurance company will most likely get away with not covering Uber passengers, since the service is unregulated and technically illegal.

Those using Uber may want to make sure they have travel insurance.

The one exception is the city of Mendoza, where legislators have kept up with technology and thus legalized Uber in that city.

Getting Uber at Ezieza Airport

It’s worth noting that using Uber after landing at the international airport does not tend to go as smoothly as one would hope.

While the airport has free wifi, the Uber app is blocked. Even if one orders an Uber with their own data-plan they will have to walk away from the terminal, find the driver, luggage in hand, among a sea of cars.

Taxi drivers may become aggressive if they catch on that the car is an Uber. Because of this many Uber drivers avoid the airport, but if you do call Uber and actually find your driver, it is best to act like the driver is a friend and get in the front seat.

(If that prospect sounds dodgy, Wander Argentina offers safe, reliable prepaid airport pickup.)

Getting an Uber from Buenos Aires to arrive at the airport is not a problem. Although users should keep in mind that drivers prefer cash. Those who have their Uber app set to withdraw from their card should be aware that if the driver asks for cash, Uber will also automatically charge your card.

If one finds themselves in this predicament, take a video of the cash changing hands. It can help to get a refund, but it will take some arguing with Uber support staff unaware of the strange quirks of the Argentina economy.

A user internet comment from about Uber in Buenos Aires in which a woman claims she was detained by police for using Uber in Buenos Aires. — A user comment from Soon.news

Uber Alternatives: Cabify, Easy Taxi & BA Taxi

The Spanish-owned Cabify is an alternative to Uber with no price surging that is said to have more rigorous requirements for driver and cars, but it does tend to be more expensive. The ride service Lyft is not yet available in Argentina.

Although not ride-sharing app, Easy Taxi is a Brazilian-developed app that may be useful for travelers, as it is popular throughout Latin America. It locates a taxi using GPS, but the fare is usually paid with cash — just a few cars accept credit cards. It has been in the country four years and operates in Buenos Aires, Rosario and Cordoba.

BA Taxi is an app that the city of Buenos Aires government rolled out in early 2017 to compete with Uber. The app, which you can download on Google Play or Apple , allows users to order a taxi in Buenos Aires with their smartphone and is similar to Uber, although it is for registered taxis only and the platform is in Spanish.

BA Taxi fares can also be paid with a credit card. Unfortunately it has poor reviews, with taxi drivers and users saying it doesn’t open, it stalls, it’s slow — basically an Uber copy that doesn’t work well.

→ Click here to learn more about taking taxis and remises in Buenos Aires

→ Click here to arrange pickup and transfers to or from any Buenos Aires airport.

→ Use our affiliate code Anden38ui to get your first Uber Ride free and help us out too! Thanks!

Buenos Aires Airport Pick-up & Transfers

Argentina’s main international airport, Ministro Pistarini (commonly called Ezeiza) is 35 km from the Buenos Aires city center and is not serviced by subway or light-rail.

After a long international flight landing in Ezeiza’s chaotic arrivals area, the last thing you want to do is change money at the airport (you’ll get a horrible rate, unless you go wait in line at the airport’s National Bank, which is only open during office hours) and then hunt down a legal taxi and haggle in funky Italian-like Spanish.

Ezeiza’s ‘Taxi Mafia’

Travelers should be aware that there is what is referred to as a ‘mafia’ of taxis at Ezeiza and even locals consider hailing a cab at the airport a sketchy prospect.

Those who do decide to take a chance and just hail a taxi at the airport would be wise to go out of the terminal and find an official taxi that is dropping passengers off in the departure area, instead of grabbing an empty one waiting like a vulture looking to prey on tourists outside of arrivals.

Recently a crime syndicate was uncovered where shady chauffeurs ‘tip off’ robbers to potential theft targets, who are then robbed immediately upon arriving at their hotels. In November 2019, a Canadian man was assaulted and robbed of his Louis Vuitton bag containing a laptop as he was checking in to his downtown hotel. A British man was robbed of his Rolex watch while unloading bags in the street after arriving at his Airbnb with his family. In the saddest case another British man was shot and killed as he tried to fight off the robbers outside of the Faena, one of the city’s most exclusive hotels.

Buses & Shuttles from Ezeiza to Buenos Aires

The absolute cheapest way to get to Buenos Aires from Ezeiza is to take the public bus number eight. Few travelers go for this option because it takes at least 1.5 hours, it can be a struggle to get on and off the bus with luggage and you need a pre-paid subte smart card to pay the fare.

Previous travelers to Argentina who already have a subte card and want to fetch the number eight to get to downtown can do so by walking about 60 meters down the road leading out of the airport to the bus stop. The number eight bus comes about every 30 minutes.

The second most affordable option to get to downtown Buenos Aires are the shuttle buses available at the airport such as Manual Tienda Leon, which leave approximately every thirty minutes.

The drawback to the shuttle bus option is that there is often a line after flights land, so there may be a wait of up to an hour. At slow times they wait for the bus to fill up before heading to the city.

You have two choices if you take Manuel Tienda Leon (or one of the other shuttle minibus services): get dropped off at their office in downtown Buenos Aires and take a taxi from there, or pay an additional fee to be dropped-off at your hotel or AirBnb.

Those who who choose to only book the shuttle service to Manual Tienda Leon’s downtown drop-off point across from Luna Park will want to be mindful about being in the busy downtown area with luggage.

It is also a good idea to calculate the distance from the Manuel Tienda Leon office to your hotel or Airbnb because the total price between the shuttle and the taxi may end up being similar to private pickup for two or more people, but with a lot more hassle.

The higher-priced Manuel Tienda service to your ultimate destination involves getting dropped off at their downtown office, unloading luggage and then waiting for their taxi service to take you to your final destination.

Because they try to consolidate rides, customers may have to wait or go pick up passengers going the same direction, so the whole process can be tiresome and time-consuming and leave weary travelers wishing they had just booked private airport pickup.

Those who prefer a direct Ezeiza shuttle service with no stops, unloading luggage or waiting can book it online here (at no extra cost to you).

Uber & Ride-Sharing from Ezeiza

Normally ride sharing apps are great option internationally, but in Argentina some online ride-sharing apps are in legal limbo or are Spanish-only.

Uber is blocked on the airport’s free wifi because the government supports the taxi unions in their fight to preserve their jobs in the age of ride-sharing.

If you have your own cellphone data plan that works locally you can try to call an Uber, but be aware drivers often cancel airport pickups because of ongoing clashes with aggressive taxi drivers.

→ Read more about the Uber controversy in Argentina and other available ride-sharing apps here.

Renting a Car at Ezeiza

It is also possible to rent a car to get into town from the airport, check out our Argentina driving information and car rental page here.

Since Buenos Aires has pretty aggressive driving and travelers may be tired after a long flight, renting a car immediately after landing at the airport is only recommended for experienced drivers.

Wander Argentina’s Airport Pickup Service

For safety, comfort and convenience, Wander Argentina offers private pick-up from Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini (EZE) to anywhere in Buenos Aires city as well as transfers to the domestic airports and cruise terminal.

After booking online below, you’ll receive an email confirmation.

Once you land in Buenos Aires, our procedure is to send a Whatsapp message via the airport’s free wifi (AA2000) when you are going through customs.

Our friendly driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals area by the Starbucks. You will know what he looks like from his Whatsapp profile picture.

The car is a roomy sedan with air conditioning, heat and wifi.

Transfers between Ezeiza and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery

It is important to note that Ezeiza is Buenos Aires’ international airport, but domestic flights do not fly out of there.

Those traveling immediately to another destination in Argentina will have to get a transfer to the local domestic airport.

In the pull-down menu below, we offer direct transfer from Ezeiza (EZE) to the domestic airport, Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and vice versa, as well as transfers to newer domestic airport El Palomar (EPA), which is the hub for budget airlines such as Jetsmart and Flybondi.

Book your Ezeiza Airport Transfer

* We have used the same dependable and friendly airport driver for a several years. He only speaks some English, but we are just a call away in case there is any language issue.

We are all about giving you options. If you prefer, click here to book an Ezeiza transfer with an English-speaking driver.

The only drawback to booking your airport pickup online using our partner link above is that they request a lot more information to make a reservation and the service is slightly less personalized and reliable than our service.

They also may not provide a replacement pickup or refund if your flight is delayed or changed.

(Those who book directly with us will find that we provide our clients with a phone number, so that they can advise us of any changes to their itinerary.)

→ For solo travelers, a shuttle is a less expensive option. The shuttle bus waiting times described above can be avoided by booking the shuttle online in advance.

Click here to book the airport shuttle from Ezeiza airport while avoiding the lines to downtown Buenos Aires.

Airport Transfers

Number of Passengers

Arrival Date & Time: d/m/yr

Airline Name & Flight Number

Additional Airport Pickup Information

* Please note: the above rates don’t apply to major holidays. To arrange a pickup on holidays such as Christmas or Easter, please get in touch via our contact page.

-Private car services and taxis do not provide car or booster seats, but they are required by law. If you are traveling with children you will need to bring a car seat for children under four and a booster seat for older children.

As of 2018, all children between the ages of 4-12 are required to sit in the rear of the car and have a booster seat. An inflatable booster seat like this one is a good option for travel.

* If you are a group of four passengers, please be aware that we can only fit two full size suitcases and two carry-on bags in the car. If your group has four people with a lot of luggage, surcharges to hire a larger car may apply.

– The cruise port terminal is near downtown, so select the ‘Buenos Aires city’ option if you’re coming or going to the port to catch a cruise.

– Transfer rates to and from Palomar, the newer local airport servicing budget airlines cost the same as transfers to and from Ezeiza to Buenos Aires.

-Reservations cannot be made less than 30 hours in advance of pickup. Administrative fees may apply for reservations that cannot be fulfilled because of too small a time window or due to missing or incorrect passenger information. Please be sure to provide your arrival date and the flight number of your final flight to Buenos Aires.

– Please let us know as soon as possible if your flight is delayed or canceled and we will be happy to change the pickup time. If your flight is delayed in the air, no problem — we always check the landing time before heading to the airport.

-We also take bitcoin at the day’s USD equivalent, get in touch on our contact form to request our barcode.

How our Ezieza or Aeroparque Airport Pickup Works

As soon as we receive your payment we will be in touch to confirm your pickup. Please check the email address you provided to Paypal, or make sure to send us a separate message with your email address if a different one is attached to your Paypal account.

We can also arrange pick-ups for groups larger than four people, get in touch with us via our contact form.

→ Also check out our Buenos Aires City Tours and Day trips

→ Also don’t miss out on seeing Tango Show & other Tango-related activities such as classes and a milonga visit

→ Read about why you should book accommodation online to save the 21% sales tax

→ Get a free quote for travel insurance

*Falamos português (y español, por supuesto) escreva-nos através do nosso formulário de contato ou reserve on-line agora

Gualeguaychú Travel Information

Carnival takes place in Gualeguaychú from the beginning of January until early March, but February is the main carnival month here and around Argentina. Gualeguaychú and the entire province of Entre Rios is otherwise a laid-back, pretty, and generally under-appreciated Argentine destination.

Getting to Gualeguaychú from Buenos Aires

Gualeguaychu is 225 km north of Buenos Aires. The trip take about 2.5 hours in a car and three hours in a bus. Renting a car isn’t a bad option, especially for a family or group of friends because Gualeguaychú is close to Buenos Aires and the drivers in Entre Rios are some of the most relaxed in the country.

View Larger Map

– Gualeguaychú from Buenos Aires by bus:

Buses depart approximately every half hour from Retiro bus station. Carriers include Flecha Bus, Ciudad de Gualguay, and San Jose S.R.L.

While timetables can be viewed on the Retiro station’s website, tickets must be purchased on the carrier’s respective website, on the phone with a credit card, or at Retiro station. Make sure to book in advance if traveling to Gualeguaychú at the peak of Carnival.

Accommodation in Gualeguaychú

There is a wide selection of lodging options in Gualeguaychu, but you’ll want to book ahead for carnival season. Among the offerings are campsites, hostels and all-inclusive hotels.

Those who wish to be more removed from the town’s booming carnival nightlife can opt for something near Gualeguaychu’s natural hot springs about one mile outside the city or consider staying at an estancia—Argentina’s quintessential, ranch-style bed and breakfast accommodation, just outside of town.

Female performers at Carnival in Gualeguaychú — photo: Seb Onzeroad

Camping at Carnival in Gualeguaychu

Necessary items for a Carnival camping excursion include a tent, sunscreen with a high SPF, toilet paper, a bottle opener, mate gourd and thermos, beach wear — and if you’re a female as proud as the Latina locals — a thong bikini. Leave valuables at home, and conceal cameras while swimming on the rio’s sandy banks

If camping, arrive well-rested, as parties go well into the night and campers wake up a few hours after the heat of the sunrise resurrects them from their tents.

Carnival Tickets

Carnival celebrations take place every Saturday in February, and on the national holiday of the four-day weekend.

Tickets to the parade and competitions can be purchased with a major credit card online or paid for with cash at the corsódromo’s ticket window. Parade goers who choose online purchase should bring emailed vouchers to the corsódromo ticket office to redeem true tickets.

Ticket office hours are listed below. As for seating options, the more front and center the seat, the more expensive the ticket.

Corsódromo ticket office:
Monday— Friday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday — 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tel:(03446) 433-086/431-283/430-528
-Cash only

Gualeguaychú Tourist Office
Plazoleta de los Artesanos – Paseo del Puerto
Tel: 03446- 422-900 / 423-668

How to Get to Tigre from Buenos Aires

There are two trains, a couple of buses and a commuter boat that go to Tigre from Buenos Aires.

• Mitre Train

The most economical way to get to Tigre from Buenos Aires is via the Linea Mitre train. This train begins at Retiro station.

This line has a new viaduct which has cut travel time between Retiro and Tigre from almost an hour to about 40 minutes. There are several branches of the Mitre line — make sure that you take the line that has ‘Tigre’ station as it’s ultimate stop.

Those staying in the northern areas of the city can also board at a later stop such as Lisandro de la Torre or Belgrano C.

Tickets cost roughly AR$18.50 with a Sube card and AR$37 without. Trains leave every 10 minutes on weekdays, every 20 minutes on weekends and the journey takes about an hour.

• Tren de la Costa

For those who want to travel in style, the Tren de La Costa (Coastal Train) takes tourists to various stops along the river.

Revamped as a tourist attraction in 1995, this train offers picturesque Delta views and stops at 11 train stations, many refurbished, along the way.

One type of ticket takes you straight to your destination while another allows you to get on and off the train as you please.

To ride the Tren de la Costa, take the Mitre train described above from Retiro via the Mitre line (which has ‘Mitre’ station as the last stop). Once at Mitre station, cross the tracks and head to the Tren de La Costa station.

The standard gauge electric train cabins are climate controlled. The train costs almost exactly eight times more than the very affordable Mitre train outlined above, but it is intended as an half day or day-long excursion in itself.

Some worthwhile stops include Borges Station, named after the writer, and dubbed the ‘Station of the Arts;’ the English-style Barrancas Station; and San Isidro where a small urban center offers leisurely shopping and outdoor pubs and restaurants.

Due to political problems with the train system, the Tren de la Costa is not as exclusive as it once was, with aging upholstery on the seats and graffiti (not the good kind) marring some cars. As tourist use has declined, some locals simply use the Tren de la Costa to get around locally for free – they get away with not paying the fare because the ticket offices along the route are often closed.

map of the Tren de la Costa — Map by Moebiusuibeom (Wiki)

• Buses to Tigre

It is also possible to take the number 60 bus from various points throughout the city but the journey takes at least an hour and a half, usually more.

Another option for those staying in a northern part of the city such as Palermo or Belgrano is to take the 152 bus to Mitre station where you can catch the Tren de la Costa. This option avoids backtracking to Retiro to take the train.

• Commuter Boat to Tigre

Monday through Friday it is also possible to take a commuter boat from Dock Four in Puerto Madero to Tigre, but there is only one boat per day, at 6:30 p.m.

The boat is a good Friday evening option if planning to spend the weekend in Tigre. Tickets need to be reserved at least 20 minutes before launch time and riders need to carry an I.D. SturlaViajes is the company that runs the commuter boat. You can book a $20 round-trip boat ride with them online that includes a hop-on, hop-off bus in Tigre. If you’re having fun in Tigre, there is always the option to ditch the ride back and just hop on the train back to Buenos Aires or stay in the delta overnight and get the boat back the following day.

Getting to Tigre by Bike

One of the most popular longer cycling excursions in Buenos Aires is the trip to Tigre. The bike route goes along the River Plate, and if you get tired you can hop on the train along the way. Since it is an easy, flat ride, most bikers successfully make it to Tigre and return to the city by train.

To get to Tigre by bike, take the bike path along Liberador Avenue heading north to Figueroa Alcorta. The 26 km trip takes about three hours. It’s pretty straight forward but a few twists and turns means it is worthwhile to download the google map before you go.

Another option is to take the slightly longer Super Panamerican Bike lane, but this option doesn’t go along the river, so it’s not as scenic.

• Driving to Tigre from Buenos Aires

To get to Tigre from downtown take General Paz to the Panamericana Highway. Head north until passing over Avelino Rolón and veer onto the ‘Ramal Tigre’ heading northeast. Once you are in Tigre, veer east to reach the city center.

→ Check prices on rental cars

Tigre Tours →

→ Book a five-hour visit to the Tigre Delta with hotel pickup from Buenos Aires

→ Book a five-hour premium boat tour of the Tigre Delta now

Subte: The Buenos Aires Subway

Part of the daily grind for residents, visitors will find the Buenos Aires subte provides fluorescent-hued flickerings of insight into the lives of porteños of all incomes.

In among tired workers, embracing couples and entire families on day trips, panhandlers make their pleas and vendors plug anything from chewing gum to mini-sewing machines and musicians belt out tunes of varying quality.

Buenos Aires was the 13^th city in the world to get a subway system and the oldest subway coaches in service worldwide still ran on the historic línea A until the city decided to replace them in early 2013 for safety reasons.

The network consists of six lines, líneas A – E and H and covers over 52.4km of the capital. Tourists will find the subte is relatively clean, goes to the majority of attractions and is faster and easier to navigate than the more complex bus system.

Subte Fares and Operating Hours

Unlike some other cities where fare is determined by distance, in Buenos Aires a single fare covers the whole subte network. Passengers can travel for two stops, change twice or ride to the end of the line — it’s still the same low price.

While still very affordable, the subte’s fare have been steadily increasing year after year to keep up with inflation. With the price rises, and the addition of bike lanes and a bike lending program, passenger numbers have dropped by an average of 200,000 per working day.

Waiting times for trains are generally between 3-6 minutes, though this depends on the line, time and day of the week. Television screens at the stations display train frequencies, as opposed to specific arrival times, along with news, short general interest programs and adverts. Wi-Fi is also available at most stations.

History and Controversy of the Buenos Aires Metro

Before the inauguration of the A line in 1913, the first subway line in South America, the capital’s transport network consisted of an intricate web of tramway and train lines, which congested its narrow streets.

The first proposals to build a subway system were submitted in 1886. After various plan rejections, delays and hiccups, the then-thriving Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company began the build in 1911.

The subway system has changed hands various times in accordance with the political whims of the government.

Two companies, Corporación de Transportes de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and Administración General de Transportes de Buenos Aires were in charge of the subway and then liquidized, before the state-owned company Subterráneos de Buenos Aires took over in 1963.

Today, Subterráneos de Buenos Aires, or SBSAE, owns the stations, and through SBASE, the city government is in charge of the expansion of the network.

When the subte was privatized under President Carlos Menem’s rule in 1994, the company Metrovías S.A began to operate the system. In 1999 this contract was extended until 2017.

As of 2012, the national and city government have been wrangling over ownership of the subway system. No one wants the hemorrhaging network on their hands.

Per prior agreement, the city government took over the subte in 2012 and consequently increased the fares, before later trying to return it to the national government, who didn’t want it.

As the national and city government continue to squabble, citizens take the hit with a dearth of police officers in stations and frequent strikes by workers.

Connections and Expansion of the Network

As three out of six subway lines fan out from main square Plaza de Mayo and run parallel to each other, passengers often have to travel to the center to switch lines. Connections between the busiest lines B, C and D happen at the crowded downtown intersection below the Obelisk of stops Carlos Pelligrini, Diagonal Norte and 9 de Julio.

After a 60-year lull in construction, the modern H line was created in 2007 and is still being expanded. This line allows passengers to connect across the E, A and B lines without first traveling to the city center. An SBASE representative describes the H as being “fundamental to improving the operation of the whole system” and this explains why the H was constructed, before the F and G lines, which were planned at the same time. When finished, línea H will connect with the D line, and join main tourist destination Plaza Francia, home to Recoleta cemetery, to the rest of the city.

There are also plans to extend the A, B and E lines and build new lines F, G, which will run between 56 new stations. The extensions will add 39.3km to the network and subte riders are expected to increase by the thousands once they are completed. — Rosie Hilder

→ How to Take the Buenos Aires Subte

Metrovías
Subte Fare — AR$

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat: 5 a.m.—11 p.m.
Sundays: 8 a.m. —10 p.m.