Page 320 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

318  Sur v I v AL Gu I d E

Personal Security and Health

Argentina is relatively safe, though in popular tourist cities
such as Mendoza, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, and other areas,
petty theft and assaults are increasing. Take particular care
in the La Boca area of Buenos Aires and keep valuables locked
away in the hotel safe. It is advisable to bring prescribed
drugs, as well as a first aid kit and water puri fication tablets
when traveling anywhere off the beaten track. If you have
a persistent medical condition it is a good idea to have a
doctor’s letter translated into Spanish, although most
Argentinian doctors will have at least a basic grasp of English.
Traffic jam along a city road, a common
sight in Argentina
Comisaría del Turista, which
has English-speaking staff. at all times and look carefully
Never hand over impor tant while crossing a busy junction.
documents, such as a pass port, Be prepared for uneven road
to a police officer without a sur faces and pavements, and
witness being pres ent and a flying grit while driving on
receipt provided. gravel roads.
Noisy street marches and
Lost and Stolen Property protests are part of the daily
routine in Buenos Aires,
There is little point in reporting although their effect is mainly
lost or stolen prop erty to the felt by commu ters traveling
police unless there is a need to from the province to the city.
A Federal policeman in his uniform, file a levantar un acta (official It is safer to always allow for
Buenos Aires report) for insur ance pur poses. a bit of spare time to reach
Visitors will need to do this at a destination.
Police the nearest comisaría (police
The Federal Police has station), usually within 24 hours Natural Disasters
jurisdiction across Argentina of the robbery. Lost passports
but in reality is active mainly and credit cards should be Argentina has had very few
in the capi tal, alongside the reported as soon as possible large-scale natural hazards
Metropolitan Police Force. Most to the embassy (see p317) and that pre sent a threat to human
routine police work is under- to the card issuer respectively. life. Heavy rainstorms result
taken by the provincial police Petty theft is not a major in flooding due to a poor
forces. Visitors may find that problem in Argentinian cities drainage system in some parts
local police are not always but visitors must always be on of the capital. Earthquakes are
helpful and the prob lems guard, parti cularly in unsafe a theoretical risk in provinces
afflicting police forces in most neighbor hoods and when using such as Mendoza and San
develop ing nations, such as ATMs outside banking hours. Juan, which bor der the
corruption and low salaries, are Hotel thefts are rare but it is Andean range. The last tremor
evident here. wise to leave valu ables in a safe. of serious note occurred in
Those who find them selves a Santiago del Estero in 2011.
victim of, or wit ness to, a serious Street Hazards In the unlikely event of an
crime must report to their earthquake, it is advisable to
embassy and the rele vant law Not all Argentinian drivers move away from electricity
enforcement author ity. In follow road regu lations and as a poles and high structures.
Buenos Aires, this is the pedestrian it is best to be alert
In an Emergency
It is best to call an ambulance in
case of an emergency and to go
to a state hospital emergencia
(emergency room) if not
covered by medical insurance.
Visitors are advised to carry
along their medical papers in
case the doctor wants to take
A black and white police car in Buenos Aires a look at the prescription.

AR_318_AD321_1077_Pra.indd 318 15/08/2014 10:54
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm