URBAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Urban buses (microbuses or collectives)
One of the most popular means of transportation in Argentina is provided by the collectives or microbuses. They operate 24 hours a day in Buenos Aires and are fairly cheap. They are packed during rush hours but they usually arrive on time. There are different lines running across the city and they are differentiated by their distinctive colours. The tariff is paid to the driver or at automatic machines installed at the entrance of the vehicle; therefore, it is advisable to carry some small change with you. The main legs of the route are shown at the bus stops.

The tariff is related to the number of bus stops passengers go by, and it is paid on automatic machines inserting the coins through the slots (these machines can give change, so you do not need to have the exact change, though you must carry coins for the driver cannot change bills). You climb through the front door and get down through the back and / or central door according to the model of the vehicle. They are painted with different colours according to the routes they serve, which are more than a hundred.

There are other bus services such as the so-called trolleybuses (in Mendoza, Rosario and Cordoba). The price depends on the distance; therefore you need to tell the driver your final destination. There is a very useful guide in Buenos Aires, called the Peuser Guide, showing a map and more than 200 bus routes; it can be purchased at newsstands and bookstores.

You can pay with magnetic cards in the City of Mendoza; they can be purchased at newsstands and small shops. In Buenos Aires you pay only with coins once you are on the vehicle, so you need to carry some change for such cases.

All the cities in the country have a good public transportation system.

Metro or Subway (Federal Capital)
Buenos Aires' tube was the first one built in Latin America in 1913. This is the reason why many of its cars are old, and some even seem to have come out of a movie from the far west. In spite of not being too comfortable and being rather hot during the summer, it proves to be fast and efficient to move around the main attractions in the city. It is one of the fastest ways to move across the city.

The metro runs throughout most of the City Buenos Aires through five lines, each one with a specific letter. The routes cover a distance of about 46 km running across 80 stations and transport more than 250 million passengers a year. It has five lines (named from A to D), and is fast and efficient. Trains run more frequently on weekends. The tube operates from 05.30 and prolongs its service into the night up till 01.30. The ticket is bought at the metro's box offices and is good for all the lines. It is advisable to purchase several cards at one time in order to save time and avoid the queues. The price of the ticket is of $ 0.70 and the service is offered Mondays through Saturdays from 6:00 hours up till 23:00 hours; and from 8:00 hours up till 22.00 hours on Sundays. The tickets or tube passes can be acquired at the proper metro stations. Every ticket is good to go anywhere within the city, even long distances combining several lines.