Brazil, Iguazu & Argentina Delights — Self-Launched Rio to Buenos Aires
13 days · Brazil & Argentina
Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore charges £2,040
No-markup version: ~£1,385 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 13-day version of the Rio → Paraty → Iguazu → Buenos Aires route, done solo on local buses and flights instead of a coach group. You'll hit Christ the Redeemer and Lapa's Selarón Steps, ride a schooner around Paraty's islands, stand under both sides of Iguazu Falls, and finish with steak, tango and La Boca in Buenos Aires. Everything is bookable yourself via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct — realistic backpacker/mid-range hostel-and-guesthouse costs estimated at roughly £1,300-1,450 per person (excluding international flights).
Day-by-day
Arrive Rio de Janeiro — feijoada welcome
Rio de Janeiro
Land at Galeão (GIG) and take the BRT/901 bus or a 99/Uber (~£7-10) to a hostel in Botafogo, Flamengo or Santa Teresa — all well connected and much better value than Copacabana beachfront. Settle in, then head out for dinner at a boteco and order feijoada, Brazil's black-bean-and-pork national dish, plus a caipirinha. Evening stroll along Aterro do Flamengo if you're not too jet-lagged.
🚌Airport bus 901/BRS or rideshare ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Botafogo/Flamengo (~£15-22)
- →Self-guided wander of Flamengo/Botafogo neighbourhood
- →Feijoada dinner at a local boteco
Christ the Redeemer & Lapa's Selarón Steps
Rio de Janeiro
Book a timed Christ the Redeemer ticket direct with the Parque Nacional da Tijuca (or a GetYourGuide combo including the Corcovado van transfer from Cosme Velho, ~£25-30). Go early — the 8am slot is far less crowded and cloud-free. Then take the metro to Cinelândia for the Metropolitan Cathedral, walk through Lapa to the Selarón Staircase (free), and optionally loop past Maracanã stadium by metro if you're a football fan.
🚌Metro + Corcovado transport included in ticket
🛏Hostel, Botafogo/Flamengo (~£18)
- →Christ the Redeemer via Corcovado train/van (book ahead ~£25)
- →Selarón Staircase & Lapa arches (free)
- →Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio
- →Maracanã Stadium exterior walk
Sugarloaf, Ipanema sunset & optional Samba City
Rio de Janeiro
Build your own 'Rio+' day: buy a Sugarloaf Mountain cable car ticket (~£22) and go up in the late morning for the bay views, then walk the Kobra graffiti mural on Boulevard Olímpico (free) near the port. Spend the afternoon on Ipanema beach and stay for sunset at Arpoador rock. If it's a weekend, check Samba City (Cidade do Samba) opening times; otherwise an evening of live samba in Lapa is the cheaper and better-value substitute.
🚌Metro and walking, ~£3
🛏Hostel, Botafogo/Flamengo (~£18)
- →Sugarloaf Mountain cable car (~£22)
- →Kobra graffiti wall on Boulevard Olímpico
- →Ipanema beach & Arpoador sunset
- →Lapa live samba bars (evening)
Bus to Paraty — colonial old town walk
Paraty
Take a comfortable Costa Verde or Reunidas bus from Rio's Novo Rio rodoviária to Paraty (~4.5-5 hrs, ~£18-22 — book on Brazil Bus or at the terminal). Paraty's cobbled historic centre is a UNESCO-listed car-free zone; do a free self-guided loop of the Igreja de Santa Rita, the waterfront and the old slave-trade landmarks, and finish with a beach afternoon at Praia do Jabaquara. Note the centre floods at high tide in the evening — bring flip-flops.
🚌Long-distance bus Rio → Paraty ~£20
🛏Pousada or hostel, Paraty old town (~£18-25)
- →Self-guided walk of Paraty Historic Centre
- →Jabaquara beach afternoon
- →Cachaça tasting at a local alambique
Schooner island-hopping day
Paraty
Book a shared schooner (escuna) day trip at the pier or via Klook/GetYourGuide the night before — typically ~£20-28 including lunch, with stops at 3-4 islands and beaches (Praia do Sono, Ilha do Algodão area depending on operator). Bring reef-safe sunscreen and R$ cash for drinks and entry fees. Back in town by late afternoon; if you have energy, rent a bike or take a jeep transfer to see the Serra da Bocaina forest edge.
🚌Walking to pier; tour boat included
🛏Pousada, Paraty (~£20)
- →Shared schooner island tour with lunch (~£24)
- →Snorkelling at island beaches
- →Optional Serra da Bocaina trek/waterfall stop
Paraty → São Paulo → Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu
Bus Paraty to São Paulo (Tietê terminal, ~5-6 hrs, ~£16-20), then fly the cheap evening GOL/LATAM/Azul route from Guarulhos or Congonhas to Foz do Iguaçu (~£45-70 booked 6-8 weeks out). This is a long transit day — pack snacks. In Foz, settle into a hostel and grab dinner at a churrascaria or, if you want the group BBQ vibe cheaply, a self-catered grill night at the hostel with new friends.
🚌Bus Paraty → São Paulo ~£18 + domestic flight ~£55
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Foz do Iguaçu (~£16-20)
- →Transit day — Paraty to Foz do Iguaçu
- →Hostel BBQ / churrascaria dinner in Foz
Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls
Foz do Iguaçu
Take local bus 120 from the terminal to Iguaçu National Park (~£1) and buy your ticket at the gate (~£18-20 for non-Mercosur visitors). Walk the Trilha das Cataratas and the boardwalk to the Devil's Throat (Garganta do Diabo) — allow 4-5 hours. Optional: the Parque das Aves bird sanctuary right next door (~£13) for macaws and toucans. Bring rain jacket, water and cash for snacks.
🚌Local bus 120 to park ~£1 return
🛏Hostel, Foz do Iguaçu (~£18)
- →Iguaçu National Park Brazilian side entry (~£19)
- →Devil's Throat boardwalk
- →Parque das Aves bird sanctuary (~£13)
Argentine side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu / Puerto Iguazú
Cross into Argentina — either join a shared day tour from Foz (~£35-45) or DIY: taxi/uber to the border, then a local bus to Puerto Iguazú. Buy your Argentine park entry online (~£22-25) and ride the ecological train to the Garganta del Diablo; also do the Upper and Lower Circuits. Keep your passport stamped for the border crossing. Evening option: churrascaria dinner in Puerto Iguazú or the Rafain show back in Foz if you want the folklore performance (~£35).
🚌Shared tour or border taxi + local bus ~£10
🛏Hostel, Foz do Iguaçu (~£18)
- →Argentine Iguazú National Park entry (~£24)
- →Ecological train to Garganta del Diablo
- →Upper & Lower Circuit trails
- →Optional Rafain churrascaria & folklore show
Paraguay border hop or helicopter over the falls
Foz do Iguaçu
Your free day. Cheapest option: local bus to the Ponte da Amizade and cross the bridge on foot into Ciudad del Este, Paraguay (visa-free for most nationalities, bring passport) — browse electronics markets and see Itaipú Dam, one of the world's largest, on the Brazilian side (visitor centre tour from ~£6). Splurge option: a 10-minute helicopter flight over the falls (~£100). Or simply rest, swim and plan Buenos Aires.
🚌Local buses ~£4
🛏Hostel, Foz do Iguaçu (~£18)
- →Cross friendship bridge into Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
- →Itaipú Dam visitor centre (~£6)
- →Optional helicopter flight over Iguazu (~£100)
Fly to Buenos Aires — asado dinner
Buenos Aires
Fly Foz do Iguaçu to Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART, ~£50-80; book ahead). Take the airport bus (Tienda León ~£6) or remis into Palermo or San Telmo. Once settled, walk Palermo Soho's plazas, then have a proper dinner: an asado for two or a bife de chorizo with empanadas at a neighbourhood parrilla, easily £12-18 a head including wine.
🚌Domestic flight ~£60 + airport bus ~£6
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Palermo/San Telmo (~£20-28)
- →Palermo Soho & Plaza Serrano wander
- →Parrilla asado dinner with Malbec
Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta Cemetery & La Boca
Buenos Aires
Free walking tour of the centre (Buenos Aires Free Walks, tips ~£5-8) covers Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada and the Obelisk. Then take the subway to Recoleta Cemetery — free to enter, open daily. Afternoon in La Boca: walk Caminito's painted houses (stick to the main tourist strip, take a taxi in/out), and peek at La Bombonera stadium. Evening option: a tango show in San Telmo (~£25-45 with or without dinner) — or the free milonga at La Viruta if you're brave.
🚌Subte card ~£5 for the day
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Palermo or San Telmo (~£24)
- →Free walking tour of Plaza de Mayo & Casa Rosada
- →Recoleta Cemetery (free)
- →La Boca & Caminito
- →La Bombonera exterior
- →Optional tango show (~£30)
Museums, tango class or Colonia del Sacramento day trip
Buenos Aires
Choose your own adventure: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is free; MALBA is ~£4. A group tango lesson at a San Telmo studio runs ~£12-18, or take an empanada/steak cooking class (~£30). Ambitious option: the fast Buquebus ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (~£35-45 return, 1hr) for the UNESCO old town and lighthouse — it's a long day but doable. Finish with a farewell dinner — maybe a second asado or a wine bar in Palermo.
🚌Subte/walking ~£4 (or ferry to Uruguay ~£40)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Buenos Aires (~£24)
- →Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (free)
- →Optional tango lesson (~£15)
- →Optional cooking class (~£30)
- →Optional day trip to Colonia del Sacramento (~£40 ferry)
- →Farewell dinner in Palermo
Depart Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Last café con leche and medialunas at a corner café, then take the Tienda León shuttle to Ezeiza (~£10, allow 90 mins in traffic) or grab a cheap flight onwards — many travellers continue to Salta, Patagonia or Montevideo. If your flight is late, squeeze in the Feria de San Telmo market (Sundays) or a final wander along Puerto Madero.
🚌Airport shuttle ~£10
🛏None (departure day)
- →Café breakfast in Palermo
- →Optional San Telmo Sunday market
Self-launched vs. Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,385 | £2,040 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £655 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,385
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Brazil, Iguazu & Argentina Delights — Self-Launched Rio to Buenos Aires cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,385 per person for 13 days in Brazil & Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore?+
Yes — Travel Chasers formerly Expat Explore charges around £2,040 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,385 — a saving of roughly £655 (32%) per person.
How long is the Brazil & Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Brazil & Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, backpacker trip through Brazil & Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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