Pre-Program Steps
Please complete the following steps at least two months before your arrival to Argentina. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to us any time by phone or email.
*IMPORTANT NOTE ON BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS*
Arrival timing: We ask that you arrive to San Carlos de Bariloche on a weekday, preferably before 6:00pm.
Overnight flights: Most international flights to Argentina are overnight and will arrive in the morning to Ministro Pistarini “Ezeiza” International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires. From there, you can get a flight to the San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC). Be mindful that domestic flights from Buenos Aires can either depart from Ezeiza (EZE) or from Jorge Newberry Aeroparque Airport (AEP). It would be recommended that you look for a flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche that departs from EZE. However, if your flight to Bariloche leaves from AEP, you would need to account for enough time for transportation between EZE and AEP, which could take one hour or even up to one and a half hours during rush hour times. Alternatively, you could fly through Santiago de Chile and then to Bariloche.
Orientation schedule: We will have orientation upon your arrival to Bariloche, as well as a city tour. We will share a personalized, detailed arrival itinerary with you in advance of your arrival date, which will provide details on airport pickup, housing, and orientation activities.
Once your flights are booked, please submit your flight itinerary here.
1. pre-program form
To help us prepare for your arrival, please complete the Pre-Program Form as soon as possible by clicking the button below. (Note that you can complete this form without having your flights booked because you can simply share tentative flight dates on the form and then share your finalized flight details once booked.)
2. internship work agreement
We will send to you by email a link to an Internship Work Agreement, which we ask you to complete together with your internship supervisor. The Internship Work Agreement includes information on expected dates for the internship and anticipated project work and outcomes. We want to ensure that your work plan and internship expectations are clearly defined in advance of your arrival so that you can hit the ground running when you land here and dive into your internship experience.
3. covid entry REQUIREMENTS
Argentina
The current requirements for international travelers entering Argentina are described on the Argentine Government website. We are also providing a more user-friendly summary of the requirements below:
Health insurance with a specific COVID-19 coverage plan.
Sworn statement completed online within 48 hours prior to boarding your international flight, stating the absence of COVID-19 symptoms and no contact with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to entry.
Reason of travel: “Tourism”
Transport: Buenos Aires City has two airports: “Ezeiza - Ministro Pistarini” and “Aeroparque - Jorge Newbery”, so keep that in mind when responding to “Indicate point of entry”.
Address of stay for the next days: we will provide you with the full address of your housing via email.
4. WhatsApp Messenger
In Argentina, everyone uses WhatsApp to communicate. Please send the following Puentes staff a WhatsApp test message with your “First Name Last Name Puentes.”
Ann Noguer: +54 9 11 4196 5400
Brianna Costa: +54 9 11 3888 5768
Madison Purnell: +54 9 11 5807 9621
When adding new WhatsApp contacts, be sure to include the plus sign (+), the country code (54 for Argentina), and the area code (9 2944 for Bariloche; 9 11 for Buenos Aires).
Please continue to contact Puentes staff by email or phone for any non-urgent matters as you prepare for your time abroad. We will use WhatsApp as a way to connect in the case of urgent matters.
ADDITIONAL STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE TRAVELING
Set up one of the following two cell phone options for your local communication in Bariloche.
Unlock your U.S. cell phone and use a local SIM card. Contact your U.S. cell phone provider before your departure and request that your phone be unlocked. In the Puentes Welcome Pack that you receive upon arrival, we will give you a local SIM card, which you can use in your unlocked cell phone. With the local SIM card, you can buy cell phone credit to be used as needed for your local calls, texting, and data, and you can also rely on widely available wifi for free over-the-internet messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and FaceTime.
Set up an international cell phone plan with your U.S. cell provider. Contact your U.S. cell phone provider to check cell service rates for your destination abroad, and then change your current cell phone plan to one that allows for temporary international service.
Decide how you will access pesos in country.
Bring U.S. dollars (US$100 bills are most widely accepted at exchange houses).
Notify your credit and debit card banks about the dates during which you will be out of the country so that you will not be flagged for fraudulent activities. Also ask your bank to waive the ATM withdrawal fee as an exception during the time that you are abroad; some banks will do this and others will not, but it is always worth it to ask.
If you plan to use Western Union to transfer yourself funds to pick up from a Western Union location abroad in pesos, create the Western Union account while physically located in the U.S. before you travel abroad.
Make sure that passport is valid for at least six months after your last planned date abroad.
Familiarize yourself with your insurance plan. You are responsible for understanding how your international insurance works (what’s covered, how to get pre-approval for medical visits, how to file claims, etc.). Puentes will help you navigate the medical system in Argentina but cannot assist with international insurance processes.
For U.S. citizens and nationals, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which is a free service to register your trip with the U.S. Embassy in Argentina so that you will receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in the city during your stay. The registration is simple and can be done on the STEP website in a few minutes with your passport number, emergency contact information, and flight itinerary.
Leave the Puentes contact information with your family or point of contact.
Review again the Puentes Participant Code of Conduct to keep these considerations in mind during your program.
Packing Suggestions
Important to note when packing:
No need to pack towels or sheets; your Puentes housing provides them. We also recommend that you do not bring any expensive or irreplaceable jewelry or personal items so that you do not have to fret about them while adventuring.
Review the Money section of the Living Abroad page to consider which peso cash access option is best for you.
Argentine electricity is 220 V, 50 Hz, which is different than the 110V in many countries. When using a computer, generally there is a voltage converter on the plug that protects your computer, but with bigger electronics like hairdryers and hair straighteners, you might need a 220 to 110 volt transformer. Argentina uses a mix of European and Australian plugs: either a plug with two circular prongs or one with two flat blades in a V shape with or without a third blade below. You can either bring adaptors or buy them upon arrival in any ferretería (hardware store).
A Note on Reciprocity Entrance Fee and Visas
As of March 2016, the Reciprocity Entrance Fee for U.S. citizens has been suspended. Thus, if you are traveling with your U.S. passport and staying no longer than 90 days, you can simply enter Argentina as a tourist without a visa. If you are entering Argentina on a passport from a country other than the U.S., please review the possible visa requirements for Argentina.