Port to zoo and BG=Buenos

[ranles]

Will be in Buenos Aires on Feb 8. We want to go to the zoo and botanic gardens. We will be arriving on Holland America Lines.

 

Need help with transportation (taxi-cost, time), reasonableness of doing the zoo and gardens in 4-5 hours. Then how do we find a taxi to take us back? Usually gardens are open earlier that zoos, 8am vs 10, assume it is the same in BA? Going to the gardens would allow the greater time.

 

Thank you

[owl61]

Will be in Buenos Aires on Feb 8. We want to go to the zoo and botanic gardens. We will be arriving on Holland America Lines.

Need help with transportation (taxi-cost, time), reasonableness of doing the zoo and gardens in 4-5 hours. Then how do we find a taxi to take us back? Usually gardens are open earlier that zoos, 8am vs 10, assume it is the same in BA? Going to the gardens would allow the greater time.

Thank you

 

Taxis in BA are plentiful, inexpensive and easy to hail. Always try to hail a cab that says radio taxi on the side or on top and avoid old, shabby looking cabs in order to avoid troublesome pirate cabs. Pass on any cab that doesn't meet these tests. Another will be along in 10 seconds. Do not pay fares with large denomination bills as counterfeit notes are all too common. Watch that the driver doesn't try to claim the one you gve him was a phony and then slip you back a different note (a counterfeit one). The greatest danger cabs present to tourists is that one may run over you while you are crossing the street (with the light). Be careful crossing the street.

 

The Jardin Zoologico and Jardin Botanico are located across the street from each other in the Palermo barrio, a short distance from the pier. A cab from the pier should not take more than 15 minutes or cost than 15 -20 pesos. Not sure of the hours each maintains. Four or five hours should be plenty for both unless you have a Dr Doolittle complex.

 

The weather in BA in February is hot and muggy much like New York in August. Dress appropriately.

[ranles]

Thank you.

 

Now for the ignorance that I could find out on my own in a hour or just ask here.

 

We will be in Chile first. It is likely the currency is different in Argentina?.

 

The ship does not provide foreign currency. Will a taxi driver accept US dollars or visa? Other suggestions? Shops, eateries, and venues so readily take cc's. Most of the time we have taken cabs, we are coming from the airport and have hit the ATM machine (then bought a soda to get some smaller change). We could also get some currency here before we left, if I put some time into it.

[owl61]

Will a taxi driver accept US dollars or visa? Other suggestions? Shops, eateries, and venues so readily take cc's.

Arg pesos are different than Chilean pesos. The latter are not used at all in Buenos Aires. There are ATMS in the EZE terminal and Bank de La Nacion, also there, gives a fair exchange rate. Don't ask a cab driver to take US $ although s/he just might. Neither foreign currency or Visa are commonly used to pay cabs. Pay with as exact change as possible since many cabbies proffer counterfeit bills as change.