Be Safe in Buenos Aires

Although there are no particular health concerns for visitors to Argentina, there are some safety concerns regarding petty theft, muggings and demonstrations. It is important for tourists to be aware of the possibility of these occurrences, and to take proper precautions, but certainly not to be so overly concerned as to avoid exploring the city.

Safety

Tourists in Buenos Aires should be on the alert for pickpockets, scam artists, purse-snatchers and muggers on the streets, at bus and train stations, and at the cruise ports. Thieves often work in groups and use a few common scams to rob unsuspecting visitors, and they are likely to be armed. Wearing expensive jewellery or watches or can increase the likelihood of you being a target. It is a good idea to lock your valuables and passport in a hotel safe, carrying a photocopy of your passport for identification. 

There are a couple of common scams that you should be aware of: in the first, a member of the group sprays mustard or something similar on the tourist, and then another member approaches pretending to help clean off the stain while an accomplice picks the tourist’s pockets; in the second, the victim is approached by someone who unfolds a map and asks directions, while the thief picks the victim’s pockets. Although physical injury is not often reported, it is best to immediately hand over all cash and valuables. 

There are also so-called ‘express kidnappings’, in which victims are snatched off the street and made to withdraw as much cash as possible from an ATM machine. If the victim is young, it’s possible that they will try to contact the family and demand ransom as well. Victims are mostly always released unharmed, but since foreigners have been targeted, it is best to make sure that children and adolescents do not travel alone. There is a Tourist Police Unit to handle complaints and investigate these and other types of incidents targeting tourists.

Emergencies: 911

Health

There is a public health system that provides both emergency and non-emergency healthcare services free-of-charge to everyone, regardless of nationality. The quality of care in public hospitals in Buenos Aires is generally below the standards that visitors from the EU or US would expect, however.

Private hospitals in the city usually provide a good level of care. You will find that private clinics and hospitals often expect immediate payment – in cash - for their services.