Long-distance buses were unknown to me until I moved to Argentina. They are immensely popular in Buenos Aires. You really get everywhere in Argentina from the capital. Although it took a while to find where your journey starts with long-distance bus travel from Buenos Aires.
Read also: the best 20 things to do in Buenos Aires
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Long-distance bus travel from Buenos Aires
Argentines are used to spending a long time on the bus. For me, I need to get used to the idea of traveling by bus for 6-7 hours. You can even travel to Iguazu all at once. The trip will then last 17 hours. In other words, you can travel from Buenos Aires to all ends of Argentina by long-distance bus. On top of that, it’s an excellent and cheaper way to get around in the country.
Safety of long-distance buses
The roads in Argentina are in good condition. There are some parts that are a challenge to drive over. The buses almost always use the motorways. There is a difference in maintenance between different bus companies. You don’t actually know in advance what condition the bus is in. In Argentina, buses are limited to driving a max of 90km/u (55mph). I don’t hear often news of severe bus accidents.
My three major journeys with long-distance buses have always been good and safe. My friends and my favorite bus companies are Via Bariloche or Andesmar.
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Comfort onboard
The comfort on the buses clearly differs from company to company. For shorter distances there are fewer facilities, but certainly for longer trips you have several options. Usually, you have three options: a standard bus seat with a footrest (semi cama) half reclining seat (cama ejectivo) and fully reclining seat (cama suite). I definitely recommend a fully reclining seat option for trips longer than 6 hours. It looks like a business-class seat on a plane.
The seat configuration is mostly 2 seats on the right and 1 seat on the left. If you are a single traveler I would recommend booking your tickets in advance and selecting the left seat.
During the journey, the bus regularly stops at a gas station. When booking your tickets, be sure to check what is included in the price. Only snacks are provided for shorter distances. With longer distances there is dinner. Again, check during the booking if it is included. Dinner is mostly around 20h (8 p.m.) but don’t expect a restaurant dinner. I take always some extra snacks or fruits with me.
Platform signs at the Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires
Where booking your long-distance bus tickets?
For long-distance travel from Buenos Aires to the rest of Argentina I use Plataforma10 or Omnilineas. It’s pretty easy to make a seat reservation. Some routes are very popular and I recommend booking in advance. If you want to decide on the day itself? No problem, just go to the bus station and buy your ticket there.
Where are the long-distance bus terminals?
The biggest long-distance bus terminal in Buenos Aires is near the train station Retiro. It is a coming and going of buses there. A busy location but well organized. You will find large signs in the hall with your bus and destination and associated platform mentioned. Afterward, step outside and step towards the platform.
The other bus terminal is near Puerto Madero. Is a bit smaller and newer. Type “Retiro” when booking your tickets as the departure location.
I was traveling in South America last summer and had the pleasure of visiting Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina, as well as other countries, including Brazil. Bus trips are the easiest way to get around these countries and I ended up finding a website option that brings together all the options of the various companies and agencies in one place, which made it possible for me to choose the times that best suited me, to my itinerary and also allowing me to choose the best and cheapest fares. Here’s the tip: http://www.checkmybus.com.ar
The last time I took a long haul bus in Argentina, the service was excellent–comfy seats, hot dinner, unlimited beverages and even cognac! When checking schedules for an upcoming trip, I noticed that Rio Uruguay is reporting the suspension of all meal/blanket services in adherence to government Covid guidelines. Can any recent travelers confirm this? I just want to be well prepared for the 18 hour drive to Iguazu. I’ve reached out to Omnilineas and Rio Urugay, but have not received a reply.
Hello Glenn. What about flies and trains travelling in Argentina? Thank you
Flying in Argentina is easy. You have the national carrier and some low-cost airlines. Train is also possible but is not that easy to book a ticket in advance and the traveling with train takes longer. Often not faster than a bus.