Destinations
Internet in Argentina: Buenos Aires is fine and Patagonia is another matter
Well-covered cities and enormous routes with gaps lasting hours. What to expect on each leg, what to download and how to avoid the roaming bill.
Irene Salazar 6 min Photo by Ignacio Estevo on Unsplash Argentina is travelled in long legs, and that is the key to everything to do with connectivity: in the cities you will have no problem at all, and between them there can be hundreds of kilometres with intermittent signal.
By area
| Where | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Buenos Aires and large cities | Broad 4G and 5G rolling out |
| Mendoza, Córdoba, Salta | Good in the city and around it |
| Patagonian roads | Long gaps between towns |
| National parks in the south | Little or none |
| Iguazú Falls | Good at the entrance, patchy inside |
What to download before a leg
- The map of the whole journey, not just the destination.
- Music and podcasts, because the legs are long and dull with nothing playing.
- Accommodation and excursion bookings, in a format that can be read offline.
- The insurance and rental company numbers, in your contacts.
Day to day in the city
Messaging is the usual channel for booking and confirming, and ride-hailing apps work well in Buenos Aires. Card payment is widespread, though cash is still useful and currency exchange has its quirks: it is worth reading up just before travelling, because it changes often.
What you are going to use
Between 300 and 700 MB a day. A route-based trip uses less than you might think because of the stretches without signal, and more in the cities.
If your route crosses into Chile or Brazil, watch out for this: each country is a different zone on your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is coverage good in Argentina?
Yes in Buenos Aires and the large cities, with broad 4G. On the Patagonian roads and in the national parks in the south there are long gaps.
Will I have signal in El Calafate or Ushuaia?
In the towns yes. On the roads between them and inside the parks, expect to be without signal.
How much data do I need?
Between 300 and 700 MB a day, that is roughly 5 to 10 GB over two weeks.
Do ride-hailing apps work?
Yes, above all in Buenos Aires. In smaller cities the supply is thinner and it is worth having the number of a radio taxi.
What should I download before setting off on a route?
The full map of the journey, music and podcasts, the bookings in an offline format and the important numbers in your contacts.
