Travelling around Buenos Aires with a dog or a cat is possible, but it is rarely something you can count on in advance: in taxis and ride-hailing cars the decision usually rests with the person driving. This guide sets out the options, what to ask before you get in, and when it makes sense to book a transfer and say that an animal is coming.
Your options in the city
- Taxi. A taxi driver may accept an animal or decline. A small carrier meets fewer objections than a large dog on a lead. Ask before the luggage goes in.
- Ride-hailing apps. Some have a pet category, which is not offered in every area or at every hour. Outside that category, message the driver as soon as the ride is accepted.
- Subte (the metro), trains and city buses. Each has its own conditions on size, carriers, days and times. Check the current ones on the operator’s site.
- Private transfer. You tell us when booking, and the vehicle arrives knowing who is travelling.
Assistance dogs have a right of access protected by law. Carry the paperwork that shows the dog’s status.
Flying in or out with an animal
The airline decides whether your pet travels in the cabin or in the hold, in what kind of carrier and with which papers. On an international arrival there is also a health check by SENASA, the Argentine authority that controls the entry of animals. What it asks for depends on the country you come from, so confirm it with the official source and with your airline well ahead.
An animal that flew in the hold may be handed over away from the baggage belt, and the health check makes the way out slower. Let us know that a pet is arriving with you. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, and we follow the flight by its number.
What we need to know
- The kind of animal and its approximate size.
- Whether it travels in a carrier, and how big the carrier is.
- How many animals and how many people.
- How many suitcases.
With that we choose the vehicle. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers; with a large carrier plus luggage a minivan is usually the sensible choice. The conditions are stated in your quote, as described in how to book.
Tips for the ride
- Bring a blanket or cover your pet already knows.
- Do not feed the animal just before leaving, and keep water to hand.
- Summer in Buenos Aires is hot and humid, so avoid long waits on the pavement.
- On long trips you can ask for stops so the animal can walk and drink.