Buenos Aires (Argentina), June 14 (IANS) UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon's plane had to be diverted to land, 700 kilometres west of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, Monday due to the ashes from Puyehue Volcano eruption in Chile, Xinhua reported.

Ban told reporters that he was taken to the official residence of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez in Buenos Aires overland from Cordoba's airport in a trip which took almost eight hours.

"It has been exhausting. Six hours from Bogota, Colombia to Cordoba and then eight hours by bus, but I do not regret my decision," said Ban.

"It was a singular experience. This trip allowed me to see the landscape, relax and rest," he said.

Ban, who celebrated his 67th birthday Monday, arrived in Argentina as part of a tour to Latin America that also includes visits in Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil to seek support for a second term as the UN's secretary-general.

Argentina's air space continues to be affected by the ashes from the Puyehue Volcano which erupted June 6 for the first time since 1960. The eruption has created flight chaos across South America.