Argentina
Risk Overview
Argentina's traveller risk concentrates in its mountains. Aconcagua is the highest peak outside Asia and kills people most seasons, predominantly through altitude illness and weather; El Chaltén's trekking and climbing carry Patagonian weather risk similar to Chile's. Urban crime in Buenos Aires — particularly distraction theft — is the main lowland concern. Economic volatility affects logistics and cash handling more than safety.
Medical Infrastructure
Buenos Aires holds excellent private capability, with Mendoza the reference point for Aconcagua cases and reasonable regional capability in Bariloche. The Aconcagua park operates seasonal medical checks at base camps, a system worth understanding before an expedition. Patagonian towns hold basic capability, with serious cases moving to Buenos Aires or across borders as clinically sensible.
Entry Requirements
Most Western nationalities enter visa-free for tourism. Aconcagua requires park permits purchased in Mendoza with fees varying by season and route. Verify current requirements before travel.
Altitude and Dive Notes
Aconcagua's altitude is frequently underestimated because the normal route is non-technical: the mountain's fatality pattern is altitude and storm, not falls. Build genuine acclimatisation into the itinerary and respect the park medical checks — they exist because of the case history. In El Chaltén, register intentions for longer routes.