Goverment Presidentialist, republican, representative and federal.  Argentine has 23 provinces and a federal territory called Capital Federal or Ciudad de Buenos Aires.  Situation South Western Hemisphere.  Climate Great climate variety. Although the Argentine territory is situated in the mild zone of the American Southern cone, it has a great variety of climates due to its great territorial size, from the tropic of Capricorn to the Southern part of the inhabited land. That's why in Argentina we find from tropical temperatures to everlasting snow, since the country is situated in the Southern part of the American Continent thus sharing a portion in the Antartic Continent. 

There are 7.000 km. between Argentina and the nearest spot in South Africa and more than 10.000 km. from the American European parts on the North Atlantic. We find Bolivia and Paraguay in the North, the confluence between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the South, Brasil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean in the East and Chile to the West.  Surface Total area surface: 2.780.400 sq.km., excluding Antartida and South Atlantic Islands. As regards surface Argentina ranks 8 in the world after Rusia, Canada, EEUU, Brasil, Australia and India.  General Perimeter: 14.493 km. in the American Continent and 11.235 km. in the Antartic and Southern Islands. 

According to provisional information from the last census dated May 24, 1991
Total population: 32.608.687 inhabitants
Females: 16.639.837
Males: 15.968.850
Density: 11,9 % inhabitants per sq.km 

National health Free of charge in national and municipal hospitals all over the country.  Causes for death: Heart desease 43% - Cancer 17 % - Accidents 8% 

White: 99 % - Indians: 0,3 % - Blacks and yelows: 0,7 % 

There are absolute religious freedom, although the official religion is the Roman Catolic. Other religions and denominations are practiced such as Protestantism, Islamics, Greek Orthodox, Jewish. 

Official language is Spanish. In some areas quechua, guaraní, wichi and toba is also spoken. 

Ceibo

Present currency is Pesos. 1$ = 1 u$s  Coins will have the following values: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1.-  Notes will have the following designations: $ 2; $ 5; $ 10; $ 20; $ 50; $ 100.- 

The same time for all country.

The consumption, holding and traffic of drugs and non-medical drugs including cocaine and marihuana is illegal in the Argentina Republic.  Alcoholic drinks  There aren't any restrictions to the consumption of any alcoholic drink, except for people under 18. Foreign brands of alcohol can be obtained. 

Tourist  should bear in mind that average temperatures in summer range between 12/27° C and the minium in winter is around -7° C. It is wise to carry lights coats and raincoats all year round. Heavy snow is found in the Andean region and South Patagonia. Heavy rains are registered, approximately 4.000 mm during winter season).

January 1st
Good Friday Holy Week
May 1st. Labour Day
May 25 th. Creation of the First Argentine Government.
June 10 th. remembrance of Malvina's sovereignity
June 20 th. Flag Day
July 9 th. Independence Day
August 17 th. Libertador San Martín's Anniversary
October 12 th. Columbus Day
December 8 th. Virgin Mary's Day
December 25 th. Christmas.

The Patagonia presents distinctly two subareas: the Patagonic Andes and the Patagonic Plateau.
he southern subarea is formed by rows of hills separated by transverse valleys with abundant rivers or lakes of glacial origin, such as the Nahuel Huapi, Buenos Aires, San Martín, Viedma and Argentino. The extinguished volcanoes Lanín and Tronador and the mountains San Lorenzo and Fitz Roy are among the highest peaks. Plenty of raifall determines the presence of glaciers and beech woods.
Half way down South of the patagonic mountain range, the glaciers gain such proportions that most of the mountain is thickly covered with ice. This isn't probably found in any other place in the world, except for the polar areas. Natural beauties in this region have impelled the creation of several National Parks: Lanín, Nahuel Huapi, Los Arrayanes, Los Alerces, Lago Puelo, Francisco P. Moreno, Los Glaciares, Laguna Blanca and Tierra del Fuego.
On the sea front there are plateaux, valleys and depressions granting the landscape a very particular appearance. Sea wolves, elephant seals, penguins and sea birds live in this spectacular ecological reserve. Large whales annually visit the peaceful waters of the Golfo Nuevo in order to mate and breed. Puerto Madryn is the most important skin diving center. The mesetas are high plateaux descending in steps from the range of mountains to the sea, originating rocky cliffs along the coast. Covered by a shrub-like steppe with scarce hard grass, only apt for feeding sheep.
The low and deep depression areas, are sometimes filled by lakes, laggons or salt pits. The most relevant are Colhue Huapi and Musters lakes next to Comodoro Rivadavia. A layer of round pebbles of various sizes known as patagonic boulders, cover the surface in this region.  The patagonia comprises the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego.  Is the appropiate place for salmon fishing, trekking, sailing, rafting, canoeing, horse riding, parapente and winter sports.  National Parks 

Buses:
* From Buenos Aires: $ 75 / $ 90 - Full Service - (22 hs)
* From Córdoba: $ 90 Full Service  - (22 hs)

Air Transport:
* From Buenos Aires: BUE-BRC-BUE $  190.- (2 1/2 hs)
* From Bélgica: BRU-BUE-BUE: 63.740 / 79.680 Francos b
* From London: LON-BUE-LON: 1.028 / 1.238 Libras e
* From Los Angeles: LA-BUE-LA: u$s 1.280 / u$s 1.524.-
* From Madrid: MAD-BUE-MAD: 195.100 / 243.900 Pesetas
* From Miami: MIA-BUE-MIA: u$s 1.079 / u$s 1.175
* From New York: NY-BUE-NY: u$s 1.182 / u$s 1.278
* From Paris: PAR-BUE-PAR: 8.240 / 10.300 Francos f
* From Roma: ROM-BUE-ROM: 2.102.000 / 2.627.000 Liras.
Domestic and international flights Prices are an estimation and not  include any taxes.

Argentina has modern communications similar to those of the developed countries. These services are:  post telephones - direct dialling national and international country communication sea and river mobiles. Argentina ranks firs place in Latin America in relation to telephone per inhabitant. It is also communicated via satellite. 

The electric current in all the country is 220 volts A.C. (50 Hz) so appliances running on 110 volts must not be used, except with an adaptor, there are 2 outlet-plugs as in Europe and in some cases there are 3 outlet-plugs.

There are come international rent-a-car companies working together with the local companies who have offices all over the country.
Taxi services will be found in any city in Argentina. They can be taken either at fixed stops, by phone-calls or simply on the road. The taxiss are painted with easily identified colors, depending the characteristics of each city (Bariloche: White & Light Blue). They also have an identification chart on top. The rate is measured by a taximeter that indicates the fee in Pesos.

There are very important hotel facilities in Argentina  from 5 stars to smaller and more modest hotels and pensions. There is another category in the country called Hotel Alojamiento wich is a kind of  hotel for those who wish to spend a couple of hours or stay the night (exclusively used by couples).  Other facilities such as Apart-Hotels, temporary rent of flats and short periods in estancias, bungalows are possible. Many have also accommodations in Youth hostels.
More information: Hotel Edelweiss - "Complejo Turístico Vulcanche" - Albergue "Mochilero's"

The high quality of Argentine meat , the main ingredient of the local fare, bears a solid prestige all over the world. There is a big number of typical reataurants, "parrilladas" (argentine barbecues), that vary from the homely to the sophisticated. The "leit motif" is always the excellent quality of the meat, generally braised, roasted or grilled. Entrails may also be served in the same way.  The cooking is rich, varied and delicately seasoned. The strong influence of immigration has extended to cooking. Argentine food also includes pasta, pizzas, seafood, lamb and pork and a wide variety of fruit and vetetable, each of them having a different origin.  The Argentine cuisine is widely represented in the country by famous chefs. They own several restaurants where to get acquainted with their excellent dishes.  Regional Cokking: Curanto, deer and boar meat, marinated deer, smoked deer and boar patés, trout and salmon from hatcheries, fresh, in patés or smoked. There are regional fruit jams and over thirty varieties of chocolate.
More information: Tante Frida Chocolate Artesanal, Chocolates de la Abuela Goye.

Although the prices and the restaurant bill include taxes it is customary to hand a tip equivalent to 10% of the total to door men, hairdresser's assistants, ushers at cinemas and theaters, waiters, etc.

Water is perfectly apt for drinking in Bariloche and other cities were running water exists.  Out the great cities flowing water from the wells is perfectly edible.

In Bariloche, normally they are open from Mondays to Saturdays from 10  am  to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 9 pm , but this time tables aren't strict and some shops are open all day and even Saturdays and Sundays. Toilets You can find them at cafes, bars, train and bus stations and air terminals

Trekking: Oct to May
Four Wheel, Drive Safaris:  Oct to Apr
Fishing: Nov to Apr
Underwater: Nov to Apr
Winter Sports: Jul to Sep
Mountain Bike: Nov to Mar
Rafting:All year round
Mountain Climbing: Nov to Mar
More Information: BikeWay Mountain, Bariloche Rafting.