Argentina

Recommended Vaccinations For Argentina

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, and the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travellers ≥9 months of age going to Corrientes and Misiones Provinces. It is generally not recommended for travellers going to Formosa Province and designated areas of Chaco, Jujuy, and Salta Provinces. Not recommended for all travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas and provinces not listed above.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Argentina

There are no recommendations for Argentina at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Argentina

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A

There is a risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Argentina.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks have occurred in the north and northeast areas of Argentina.

Hepatitis B

There is a low risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever occurs in this country.

For Some Travellers

Zika Fever

There is a risk of acquiring West Nile virus in this country.

Leishmaniasis

There is a risk of acquiring Leishmaniasis in this country through sand fly bites.

Malaria

There is no risk of malaria in Argentina. **Bite avoidance is recommended in all areas.**

West Nile Fever

There is a risk of acquiring West Nile virus in this country.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Measles

There is a risk of acquiring Measles in this country.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in this country, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Yellow Fever

There is a limited risk of yellow fever transmission. The yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travellers ≥9 months of age going to Corrientes and Misiones Provinces. It is generally not recommended for travellers going to Formosa Province and designated areas of Chaco, Jujuy, and Salta Provinces. Not recommended for all travellers whose itineraries are limited to areas and provinces not listed above.

Chagas Disease

Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) occurs in northern Argentina. However, the risk of travellers acquiring this disease is low unless staying in very poor quality housing or camping.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in Argentina. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Argentina

Personal Safety

Argentina currently records one of the lowest homicide rates in Latin America, at approximately 3.8 per 100,000 people in 2024, placing it among the safer countries in the region. However, crime remains a genuine concern - particularly petty theft and bag snatching in tourist hotspots. In Buenos Aires, areas such as La Boca, San Telmo, Recoleta and Palermo are known for frequent theft, and incidents involving motorcycle-based theft (“motochorros”) are documented. Short-term abductions, known as “express kidnappings”, in which victims are forced to withdraw money from ATMs are also reported. Areas around Retiro station warrant caution, and exorbitant economic volatility is cited by sources as a contributing factor to the rise in non-violent criminality. While Argentina’s rate of violent crime remains comparatively low by regional standards, travellers should still remain vigilant, especially around ATMs and currency exchanges, and in less-monitored areas of the city.

Extreme Violence

Argentina registered no reported domestic terrorist incidents in 2023. The government’s counter-terrorism efforts focus on the Tri-Border Area with Brazil and Paraguay, a region where suspected terrorism-financing networks tied to Hezbollah have been identified. Argentina’s terrorism index fell to 0.80 points in 2024, down from 1.27 points in 2023. Nationally, the homicide rate stood at approximately 4.4 per 100,000 people in 2023 - among the lower rates in Latin America. However, violence is concentrated in certain cities such as Rosario, where drug-trafficking linked gangs have driven much of the elevated homicide rate; authorities report a steep drop in murders in Rosario in 2024 following enhanced security operations. Drug trafficking continues to drive violence in key urban zones. While the overall terrorism threat is assessed as low, it cannot be considered zero in view of regional vulnerabilities. Visitors should remain cautious near border-crossing zones and prevailing crime hotspots, though there is no evidence of systematic targeting of tourists in large-scale violent incidents.

Political Unrest

Demonstrations have become a recurrent feature in Argentina and can escalate into violence. A protocol introduced in December 2023 criminalises public assemblies that block streets or disrupt vehicular traffic and grants broader powers to police for crowd dispersal. Major protests between January and June 2024 challenged the economic-reform agenda of the Javier Milei administration; in one June 2024 demonstration outside Congress at least 33 people were arrested and police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. An Argentine NGO reported that during 2024 more than 93 individuals were arbitrarily detained and over 600 injured in protest-related operations. Protest activity is particularly visible in central Buenos Aires around the National Congress and Plaza de Mayo, and traffic disruption from road-blocks and transport stoppages is common. Under the new rules, organisers can be held financially liable for policing costs or damage. In 2025 protests have continued over pension-cuts and funding reductions in universities.

Areas To Avoid

In Argentina visitors should take special care in informal settlements (locally known as villas miseria) in major cities, where criminal activity may be more frequent and response times may be longer. In Buenos Aires, the district around Retiro and Constitución train stations is identified as having elevated risks of pick-pocketing, bag snatching and theft. Areas adjacent to La Boca’s tourist-oriented Caminito street have been flagged for increased theft; staying only on the pedestrian-tourist streets during the day and avoiding nearby streets after dark is advisable. The Tri-Border Area near Iguazú, where Argentina meets Brazil and Paraguay, is also known for illicit-trafficking and organised-crime marshaling; extra caution is warranted. In Córdoba the overall crime index suggests limited safety at night, especially when walking alone in less-populated areas. Visitors are encouraged to remain in well-lit, busy areas after dark and avoid isolated neighbourhoods or bus-stations at night.