Taste of Chile, Argentina & Uruguay — Self-Launched
11 days · Chile, Argentina & Uruguay
G Adventures charges £3,050
No-markup version: ~£1,560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched wine-and-food crawl through the Southern Cone, following the same route as G Adventures' "Taste of Chile, Argentina & Uruguay" (Santiago → Maipo Valley → Andes crossing → Mendoza → Buenos Aires → Colonia & a Uruguayan estancia → back to Buenos Aires). You'll book your own boutique hostels and budget hotels, join small-group winery tours direct with local operators, cross the Andes by public bus, fly low-cost to Buenos Aires, take the Buquebus ferry to Uruguay and stay two nights at a working estancia. All costs are approximate per-person estimates — expect roughly £1,450–1,600 all-in versus the G Adventures tour price plus its USD375–490 meal budget and optional tips.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santiago — settle into Bellavista
Santiago, Chile
Land at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) and take the Centropto bus or TurBus airport bus into the city (~£3-4, 45-60 min) or a shared transfer for ~£10. Check into a hostel or budget boutique hotel in Bellavista or Lastarria — both walkable, leafy neighbourhoods packed with restaurants and bars. Spend the afternoon easing off jet lag: wander Cerro San Cristóbal's funicular (CLP 3,000) for city views, then graze your way through Mercado Central and Lastarria's food stalls for dinner. Note: some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee on arrival in Chile — check before you fly.
🚌Airport bus ~£3-4 or shared transfer ~£10
🛏Hostel private double or budget boutique hotel, Bellavista (Bellavista Hostel, Hostal de la Barra or similar)
- →Cerro San Cristóbal funicular
- →Mercado Central seafood dinner
- →Lastarria evening wander
Maipo Valley wine tour
Maipo Valley, Chile
Book a small-group full-day Maipo Valley wine tour direct through GetYourGuide, Viator or a Santiago operator (roughly £55-75 including transport, 2-3 wineries with tastings and often a picnic lunch). Classic stops include Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Undurraga or Pérez Cruz. Tours pick up from central Santiago around 8:30-9am and return late afternoon. Back in the city, head to Bellavista for dinner — Patio Bellavista has dozens of options, or splurge on a tasting menu at a Lastarria restaurant.
🚌Included in the day tour pickup
🛏Hostel private double or budget boutique hotel, Bellavista
- →Full-day Maipo Valley winery tour with tastings (book via GetYourGuide)
- →Bellavista dinner and cocktails
Cross the Andes by bus to Mendoza
Santiago → Mendoza, Argentina
The scenic highlight of the trip. Book a direct Andes bus (Turbus, CATA Internacional or Andesmar) from Santiago's Terminal Alameda to Mendoza — around 7-8 hours including a border stop at Los Libertadores, roughly £25-35. Try to sit on the left side for views of Aconcagua. Buses typically depart early morning (7-8am). You'll pass Los Andes and Uspallata before descending into Argentina's wine capital. Arrive Mendoza late afternoon, check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Fifth (Quinta) Section or city centre, and head out for a bife de chorizo and a bottle of Malbec.
🚌Direct Andes bus Santiago–Mendoza ~£30 (7-8 hrs incl. border)
🛏Hostel private double or guesthouse, Mendoza city centre / Quinta Sección
- →Andes crossing via Los Libertadores
- →Mendoza evening food and wine wander
Mendoza wine route: Maipú or Luján de Cuyo
Mendoza, Argentina
Build your own wine day. Cheapest and most fun option: rent a bike in Maipú (~£8-12/day) and cycle between Mr Hugo's and neighbouring bodegas, or take the local #10 bus to Luján de Cuyo and join a small-group tour to three wineries (Catena Zapata, Norton, Achaval-Ferrer and Zuccardi are highlights) — book via GetYourGuide for ~£35-50 including tastings and transport. Many tours include a gourmet asado or multi-course lunch; otherwise book a table at a bodega restaurant. In the evening, sign up for a small-group Argentine cooking class in Mendoza city (~£35-45) to cover the cooking-class element of the original tour.
🚌Local bus ~£1, or tour transport included
🛏Hostel private double or guesthouse, Mendoza
- →Maipú bike-and-wine circuit or Luján de Cuyo small-group winery tour
- →Gourmet bodega lunch
- →Evening Argentine cooking class in Mendoza
Adventure day around Mendoza
Mendoza / Potrerillos, Argentina
Free day — pick your adventure. Whitewater rafting on the Mendoza River near Potrerillos runs ~£35-50 with pickup (best Nov-Mar); horseback riding in the Andean foothills is similar; or hike in Parque General San Martín and the Cerro de la Gloria for free. In winter (Jun-Sep) you can day-trip to Los Penitentes or Las Leñas for skiing. Otherwise slow down: wine bar hop in Chacras de Coria, or take the local bus to Cacheuta hot springs (~£10 entry).
🚌Local bus ~£1-2 or tour pickup
🛏Hostel private double or guesthouse, Mendoza
- →Optional whitewater rafting on the Mendoza River (~£40)
- →Optional horseback riding in the foothills
- →Parque San Martín and Cerro de la Gloria hike
Fly to Buenos Aires — orientation and tango
Mendoza → Buenos Aires, Argentina
Take a morning low-cost flight from Mendoza (MDZ) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART or Flybondi — book 4-8 weeks ahead for ~£50-90 including a 15kg cabin-plus bag. From Aeroparque, a taxi or Uber to Palermo/San Telmo is ~£6-10. Self-guided orientation walk: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, San Telmo's cobbled streets, Recoleta Cemetery (free entry with a small optional donation) and the Palermo Soho boutiques. In the evening, book a tango dinner show in San Telmo or Abasto (~£40-70) or take a beginner tango class in a milonga for ~£12-15.
🚌Flight MDZ–AEP ~£70; airport taxi ~£8
🛏Hostel private double or budget boutique hotel, Palermo or San Telmo
- →Self-guided Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo walk
- →Recoleta Cemetery
- →Optional tango dinner show (~£55) or milonga tango class (~£14)
Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento and on to the estancia
Buenos Aires → Colonia → Mal Abrigo, Uruguay
Take the early Buquebus or Colonia Express fast ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento (~1 hr, book online 2-3 weeks ahead, ~£30-45 one way). Wander Colonia's UNESCO-listed Barrio Histórico — the lighthouse, Calle de los Suspiros and the riverfront — then continue by local bus or pre-arranged estancia transfer (~£8-15) to a rural working estancia near Colonia/San José for two nights. Estancia stays with full board typically run £60-90 per person per night; book direct or via Booking.com.
🚌Buquebus/Colonia Express ferry ~£38; local bus or transfer to estancia ~£12
🛏Rural estancia, two nights full board (e.g. Estancia Don Pedro, La Guardia del Monte or similar near Colonia)
- →Colonia del Sacramento historic quarter
- →Arrival at estancia, evening asado
Gaucho life at the estancia
Mal Abrigo, Uruguay
A full day of rural Uruguay. Morning horseback ride with the gauchos or a guided hike across the fields (£15-25 for a ride, often included in the stay). Help with farm chores, learn about the cattle operation, and eat homemade meals from the garden. Afternoon free for reading in a hammock, birdwatching or a dip in the pool. Dinner is a proper parrilla barbecue with local wine.
🚌On foot / horseback (included in the estancia stay)
🛏Rural estancia, full board
- →Horseback riding with gauchos
- →Estancia farm tour and birdwatching
- →Asado dinner
Return to Buenos Aires
Colonia → Buenos Aires
Easy morning at the estancia, then transfer back to Colonia for the afternoon ferry to Buenos Aires (~£30-45). Check back into your Palermo or San Telmo hostel. Spend the evening exploring: Palermo's craft beer bars, a parrilla dinner in San Telmo, or a free walking tour at sunset if timings work. Consider catching a fútbol match if Boca or River are playing at home (tickets via tourist resellers ~£40-70).
🚌Estancia transfer + ferry ~£50 total
🛏Hostel private double or budget boutique hotel, Palermo or San Telmo
- →Colonia riverfront morning
- →Palermo or San Telmo evening food crawl
Community culinary project and cooking class
Buenos Aires
Swap the original operator's Planeterra-linked youth culinary school for a self-bookable equivalent: the Bonpland or Masticar-linked social gastronomy programmes, or simply book a half-day Argentine cooking class through GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£45-65) covering empanadas, asado and dulce de leche. Alternatively, volunteer or visit a community kitchen in Villa 31 or La Boca through a responsible-tourism operator (ask at your hostel or look up local social gastronomy orgs). Afternoon free for the Recoleta Fine Arts Museum (free) or MALBA (~£5) and last-minute shopping at the San Telmo Sunday market if it's a Sunday.
🚌Public transport/local taxis ~£5
🛏Hostel private double or budget boutique hotel, Palermo or San Telmo
- →Argentine cooking class or community culinary project visit
- →MALBA or Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
- →San Telmo market (Sundays)
Depart Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Breakfast, then head to Ezeiza (EZE) for your international flight — the Manuel Tienda León airport bus is ~£8-10 from the city centre, or a taxi/Uber is ~£20-25 and takes 45-60 min depending on traffic. If you have a late flight, squeeze in one last medialuna and cortado in Palermo.
🚌Airport bus ~£9 or taxi ~£22
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final Palermo café stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,560 | £3,050 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,490 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,560
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Taste of Chile, Argentina & Uruguay — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,560 per person for 11 days in Chile, Argentina & Uruguay. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,560 — a saving of roughly £1,490 (49%) per person.
How long is the Chile, Argentina & Uruguay trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Chile, Argentina & Uruguay.
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 foodie, culture, slow-travel trip through Chile, Argentina & Uruguay, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.