Currency & Money: Aluminé

When renting a car in Argentina, the primary payment method for the rental itself is typically a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) for the reservation and a security deposit. Ensure your card has sufficient credit limit for the deposit, which can be substantial. For fuel, tolls, and any other local incidentals, cash (Argentine Pesos obtained at the blue dollar rate) is almost always the best and often only option, especially at smaller gas stations or toll booths on remote roads.

Cash is king for fuel payments in Aluminé and throughout much of Argentina, especially in smaller towns. While some larger gas stations might accept credit cards, many smaller or independently operated stations will be cash-only, or offer a better price for cash. Always carry plenty of pesos in various denominations, particularly 500 and 1000 ARS notes, for fuel stops. Ensure your car rental tank is full before leaving larger towns.

While major toll roads are more common near larger cities, some regional routes in Patagonia might have small tolls. These tolls are almost exclusively cash-only and often require exact change or small denominations. Always have a supply of 500 or 1000 ARS notes handy for tolls when driving. Your car rental agency will not cover these.

Aluminé is generally a safe town. However, like anywhere, it's wise to exercise caution when carrying large amounts of cash. Use a money belt or secure pouch, distribute your cash in different places, and only carry what you need for the day. Avoid displaying large sums of money openly. If you've exchanged a significant amount, consider storing most of it securely at your accommodation.

You can use your debit card at establishments that accept credit cards (Visa/Mastercard), but remember these transactions will process at the unfavorable official exchange rate. For smaller vendors and cash-only businesses, your debit card will be useless. It's best to primarily use a credit card for larger card-accepted purchases, and cash for everything else.

Bring crisp, clean, untorn USD 50 and USD 100 bills. These typically fetch the best 'blue dollar' rate and are preferred by exchangers. Smaller denominations might be exchanged at a slightly less favorable rate or be harder to exchange.

Travelers entering or leaving Argentina with more than USD 10,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) must declare it to customs. It's generally advisable to declare any significant amount of cash to avoid potential issues upon departure.