Buses arround Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires

The buses run 24 hours a day and takes you to the places where the subte can't and where it isn't advisable to walk to on your own. It costs around 1,20 ARP (January 2010) for an one way journey. However, BA is known for its high congestion of traffic and there's a high chance of being stuck in traffic and end up getting to your destination later than anticipated.

We used the local bus ('colectivos') in Buenos Aires. It is a very cheap and common way of transportation and if you are just looking around in Bs As it seems if there are ‘thousands’ of buses. It is a great experience, at least one should travel once by bus like many local people do. In Buenos Aires you can ‘enjoy’ the crazy traffic on the roads while sitting in a 'colectivo'.

Your host or reception desk will tell you which bus you need (there are almost 150 lines !!). Or just buy a ‘Guia T’ or 'Guia Lumi' at a kiosk. Once you know were to go, find a bus stop and flag ‘your’ bus down. You have to buy your ticket through a machine which only accept coins. A ticket is just 1.25 pesos, but the machine returns change. You have to know where to get off the bus, because the driver does not announce anything.

Difficult ?? No and if you do have any trouble (finding the right bus, buying your ticket or getting off) it is for sure there is a friendly ‘porteno’ to help you.
Most buses do still run after 10 pm, when the metro is not operating any longer.

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I heard that there are over 146 different bus lines (collectivos) in Buenos Aires and it is quite evident as I saw so many different numbers that I felt confused and dizzy at times.

We actually used the collectivos more than I usually use when visiting a city as Ferni was sick for most of this trip. He had gotten a terrible cold and was quite exhausted from the heat most of the time, so we would hop on a collectivo.

Because there are so many different collectivo lines that it doesn't matter where in Buenos Aires you are going, the collectivo will get you there. Another added advantage is that the collectivos run all night where the subte runs until 11:00 pm.

When you board the collectivo let the driver know your destination and he will give you the price of the ride, You then put your change in the machine and it will print out a receipt. Don't worry if you don't have exact change, the machine will give you the difference.

Please also note that each line has its own stop, which it may share with another line and you will also find that there may be many stops in one street, so make sure to check that the stop you are waiting in has the colletivo line you want.

I noticed that within the city the average price was about $1.20 (un peso venti centavos). (11/08)

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There are more than 120 lines of Colectivos, that includes around 16,000 buses that transport people in Capital federal and Gran Buenos aires.
Most line buses are available 24x7 - 24 hs 7 days a week! (there are some lines that don't work at night)

Cost: if you will make a short trip (less thatn 60 blocks) it will cost you $arg 0.90 if it's more than 60 blocks the cost is $arg 1.00. If you go outside Capital Federal to the grand buenos aires, prices are from $arg 1.00 to $arg 1.50 aprox

Most Common buses:
line 152 - from La boca (capital federal) to Olivos (gran buenos aires
line 12 - from palermo - Barraca
line 106 - from liniers - Retiro

Remember that you have to use Coins to travel in buses! there is a ticket machine on the bus where you have to insert the coins (you have to tell the bus driver where you are going or the amount you are paying, like saying: Un peso, or Noventa (for 0.90) before inserting the coins on the machine)

extra tip: Each bus line has a Stop every 2 blocks!!

Great and very inexpensive way to get around B.A. Make sure to buy a "Guia T" to get yourself oriented. WARNING: As of january 2008, you must have coins (1 peso) to board the bus. Small change is hard to come by, so save your 1 pesos and other change if you plan on riding the bus.

The most wonderful thing about Buenos Aires Transportation is that the machine provides CHANGE! Isn’t that great news? Most rides are 75 to 80 centavos. The buses run 24 hours too, although with less frequency in the wee hours.

Compare this to most public transportations in major cities, like London, which stop by mid-night or so. Indeed, Buenos Aires is the city that never sleeps.

The slight problem to the ticketing machine is that one needs to drop in the coins one by one and can be quite a delay when there is a crowd.

Buses are a good way of transportation.
You can buy a "guia T" at any news paper's kiosco. I think it costs $3 (argentinian peso => less than Usd 1). I bought mine at Belgrano C train station on may 2006.
You must know that you can pay only with coins, the machine gives u change from coins but notes are not accepted at all. If you don't have coins, the bus driver will ask you to go down...
The average cost of a ticket is $0,80.

An impressive local bus network run up and down all the city... you have to look to the front and located in wich direction you are ...so you will know if its the right bus or not... just for the origin and the final point....the main buses starts on the main avenues or squares so its not hard to take it ..the fee is 0.70 also....
The best important thing is that you will need COINS ...its the sole chance to buy the ticket because the driver dont charge it ...there is a machine.....you have to tell to the driver where you want to go and release the machine with the fee...0.70 this is usefull if you go outside the city (quilmes, Avellaneda....) ..in other case is just 0.70....so keep well the coins and use to pay with bank notes in order to receive them as change