Floods in Central Argentina
 

We originally planned to drive with a rented car from BA via Rosario and Cordoba to Salta, then to Mendoza and back to BA in April. I know that's a lot of driving but we are generally on a tight budget, so no inland flights.

Now I read that Santa Fe, Cordoba and Tucuman provinces are flooded due to heavy rain and that it is not wise to visit at the moment. The first dengue occurrences are reported from Cordoba.

Does anybody have further insight into the present situation?

No direct experience. There has been some flooding however it's pretty localised from what I've seen and heard from my wife's relation in Cordoba.
The news has mostly been dropped by the news channels so it looks as if the situation has got much better. By April I can't see your travel plans being disrupted.

Hm, these pictures look kind of serious to me: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/inundaciones-t48764 (except the coverage of somebodys Bat Mitzva festivities of course).

Seems that even Salta is affected?

You are still some weeks in advance, so things can change rapidly. If you are on a tight budget, then consider the bus but forget a rental car. Unless you are a party of at least 5 (five), then you will not save by driving. Also, are you fluent in Spanish....??? This is a must for extended road travel in Argentina.

If we can't visit places like Cordoba on the way due to the floods I will think about a bus. That's why I'm asking. I would prefer to visit places on the way and not drive 1000 km without stopping.

We would have to rent a car in Mendoza anyway. I can't imagine how we could get around without a car?

Why would we need to be fluent in spanish for driving? We drove in Greece without a problem and we don't speak a word - we can't even read their alphabet

While fluency in the language is not a must (roadsigns are pretty much the same all over the Western hemisphere, and it's not that you really interact with people in petrol stations), I agree with Gaucho that some adequate knowledge of Spanish could be useful should you have any problems en route. Bear in mind that from Salta to Mendoza you'll go through many desert-like areas without any mobile phone coverage whatsoever, especially when crossing Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan (roads in La Rioja rank among the worst in Argentina).

Even though things will definitely change over the following weeks, as far as I know Córdoba city and San Miguel de Tucumán were not affected by floods. Some areas of both provinces have been, but things are getting better, especially in Córdoba. In Tucumán they still have problems in the southern part of the province. If you're going from Córdoba to Salta straight through RN9/RN34 you should be fine. If you take the detour via Tafí del Valle (Tuc.) then the road from Acheral to Tafí has been closed for a few days now (RP307), police are diverting traffic to RP324 (also known as "Ruta Interpueblos"). Once again this may change over the next days/weeks.

Last but not least, for some awkward reason Google Maps has been showing for years that RN7 (Buenos Aires - Mendoza) is closed near Vicuña Mackenna. That road was indeed closed - 10 years ago!

Considering your itinerary and from reading your other thread you'll be taking a child along as well I get the feeling you've left the planning of this trip far too late.

What exactly have you booked so far?

Marambio, that was the information I was looking for, thank you very much. I would not want to drive into a disaster area for holidays, for obvious reasons.

Ha, I've noticed that too! But if you look at the satellite version in greatest detail, you can see the cars driving through. Really weird.