Argentina is the second largest country in South America, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The country holds countless wonders to explore and places to visit including Mar del Plata, which is the top beach resort city in the country. If you love the idea of fun in the sun, this is one of the places you will want to spend some time. Of course, there are many other places to visit as well including the Natural History Museum, the Hispanic Art Museum, and the History Museum of the North.
See more with a rental car
When you take your next vacation to Argentina, consider renting a vehicle rather than relying on public transportation. With a rental car, you are able to visit more of the country and you will not feel dependent on the bus schedules and the availability of the taxis. Having your own rental car can be a more affordable option as well.
The road conditions and safety
Most of the Argentinian roads near the cities and major towns are paved and in good condition. You should not find too many large potholes. However, there are many dirt roads and gravel roads off the main roads in the southern part of the country. To traverse these areas, renting a 4x4 is the best option, especially if it is raining when you visit. You should make sure to have an updated map with you, as well as the emergency and contact numbers for the car rental agency, just in case you need to request their help.
The drivers are typically quite aggressive, and many tailgate. Others do not pay attention to the stop and yield signs, which means you need to drive defensively so you can better anticipate what the other drivers will be doing. The only traffic lights you will find in the cities are at the main intersections, and many of the corners will not even have yield or stop signs, so be careful and watchful. In Argentina, you are required to have your headlights on even during the daytime.
Understanding the signage
The road signs are all in Spanish, but many of them have the pictograms that you would expect on the roads in the United States. For example, the word PARE is inside of a red octagon, which everyone knows is a stop sign. It is still a good idea to brush up on some basic Spanish if you plan to drive in Argentina.
The speed limit
The speed limits in Argentina are as follows.
- 60km/h in the city
- 40km/h on the side roads
- 100km/h to 130km/h on the roads outside of the city and on the highways.
There are often police on the lookout for speeders, so you should make sure to follow all of the posted speed limit signs to be safe.
As long as you are driving defensively and you pay attention to the posted speed limits, you should have a great time with your rental car as you traverse beautiful Argentina.
