The easiest way to reach La Rioja from Buenos Aires is by air. Capitán Vicente Almandos Almonacid Airport (IRJ) is about 7 km east of the city centre and has daily flights from Buenos Aires operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM. Flight time from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery is around two hours.
By bus, La Rioja is connected to most major Argentine cities. The Terminal de Ómnibus is on Avenida España. Overnight buses from Buenos Aires take around 13–15 hours depending on the service; the journey from Córdoba is about 5–6 hours. Bus standards in Argentina are generally high, and the long-distance seats (cama or semi-cama) are comfortable enough for overnight travel.
Driving is an option from Córdoba or Mendoza — the roads are paved and in reasonable condition — but distances are long and the landscape, though spectacular, offers little variety for hours at a stretch.