Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio: Self-Launched 10-Day South America Route
10 days · Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro)
Wonderful Holidays UK charges £2,407
No-markup version: ~£1,216 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Wonderful Holidays UK's 10-day Buenos Aires–Iguazu–Rio itinerary, doing the same three stops independently with budget guesthouses and hostels instead of 4-star hotels, local buses and budget domestic flights instead of private transfers, and self-booked walking tours and park tickets instead of guided group excursions. You still see Puerto Madero and San Telmo, both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguazu Falls, Christ the Redeemer, Tijuca Forest and Copacabana — but you keep roughly two-thirds of your money. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights to/from South America.
Day-by-day
Land in Buenos Aires, settle into San Telmo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly into Ezeiza (EZE). Skip the private transfer and take the Tienda León shuttle bus to the city centre (about ARS 15,000 / £9-11) or, if you're confident, the public bus 8 — the shuttle is far simpler with a backpack. Check into a San Telmo or Monserrat guesthouse. Spend the afternoon walking Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada and the Sunday-market streets of San Telmo, then eat a cheap choripán and empanadas dinner. Get a SUBE card at a kiosco for the metro and buses (top it up with ~£8).
🚌Tienda León shuttle from EZE to central BA, ~£10
🛏San Telmo or Monserrat guesthouse/hostel dorm, ~£15-20/night
- →Airport shuttle to city centre
- →Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada walk
- →San Telmo orientation wander
- →Buy SUBE transit card
Free walking tour: Puerto Madero, San Telmo and Recoleta
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Replace the operator's guided city tour with Buenos Aires' excellent free walking tours (run by BA Free Tour and Strawberry Tours; book online via GetYourGuide or direct). Pick the north/centre route for Puerto Madero, Plaza de Mayo and Recoleta Cemetery, or the south route for San Telmo and La Boca. Tours run 2.5-3 hours and work on tips (~£8-10 is fair). Afternoon: pay the small entry to Recoleta Cemetery yourself (~£3) and coffee in Palermo Soho. Evening: cheap parrilla or choripán in San Telmo.
🚌Subte/bus with SUBE card, ~£2
🛏San Telmo or Monserrat guesthouse/hostel dorm, ~£15-20/night
- →Free walking tour (tips-based)
- →Recoleta Cemetery self-visit
- →Palermo Soho wander
Free day: La Boca, Tigre or a self-booked tango night
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The operator leaves this as a free day with an optional tango dinner show. Do the same but cheaper: bargain tango shows at La CatedralClub or Salón Canning's milongas cost £8-15 entry at most. Daytime options: colourful Caminito in La Boca (go in daylight, stick to the main streets), the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano (MALBA, ~£4), or a half-day train trip to Tigre on the Mitre line (~£2 return) for the delta boat and riverside market. Buy tango or Tigre tickets via GetYourGuide or direct at the venue.
🚌Train, bus and Subte, ~£5
🛏San Telmo or Monserrat guesthouse/hostel dorm, ~£15-20/night
- →La Boca and Caminito
- →MALBA museum (optional)
- →Tigre delta day trip by train (optional)
- →Milonga/tango night at a local venue
Fly to Puerto Iguazú; afternoon on the Argentine side
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Book a low-cost domestic flight yourself on Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART from AEP Buenos Aires to IGR Puerto Iguazú (book 6-8 weeks ahead for ~£70-110 one way; the operator bundles this into its price). Take the local bus from the airport into Puerto Iguazú town (~£2). Afternoon: enter Parque Nacional Iguazú on the Argentine side (entry ~£25 for foreigners, buy online in advance), walk the Upper Circuit and, if time allows, the train to Garganta del Diablo. Doing an afternoon here lets you see both sides of the falls without the group's scheduled day-5-only timetable.
🚌Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART AEP→IGR, ~£90; airport bus ~£2
🛏Puerto Iguazú hostel/guesthouse, ~£15-18/night
- →Domestic flight to Puerto Iguazú
- →Argentine side of Iguazú Falls — Upper Circuit
- →Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) trail
Brazilian side of the falls; cross to Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Walk the Argentine-Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu border crossing by local bus (the 'International Bus' from the terminal, ~£3-4, passport stamped en route) and check into a hostel in Foz. Then take the 120 bus to Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Iguaçu National Park) on the Brazilian side — entry ~£22 for foreigners, buy online at cataratas.com.br. The Brazilian walkway gives the classic panoramic falls view; it's a short 1.5-2 hour route. You've now done both sides like the operator's itinerary, just self-organised. Note: UK passport holders need to check current Brazil entry rules before booking.
🚌International bus to Foz ~£4; local bus 120 to park ~£2
🛏Foz do Iguaçu hostel, ~£14-18/night
- →Argentina→Brazil border crossing by local bus
- →Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls walkway
- →Visitor centre and panoramic viewpoints
Fly Foz do Iguaçu to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Book a cheap domestic flight from Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) to Rio Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU) on GOL, LATAM or Azul — roughly £60-100 booked ahead. On landing, take the Premium Onibus 2018 or 2145 airport bus to Copacabana/Botafogo (~£5) instead of a private transfer. Check into a Copacabana, Botafogo or Lapa hostel. Evening: cheap comida por quilo dinner and a walk along Copacabana beach at sunset. Buy a Rio Card or just use contactless/Single Rio on the metro.
🚌GOL/LATAM/Azul IGU→GIG/SDU, ~£80; airport bus ~£5
🛏Copacabana/Botafogo/Lapa hostel dorm, ~£18-22/night
- →Domestic flight IGU→Rio
- →Airport bus to the city
- →Copacabana sunset walk
Rio highlights: Christ the Redeemer, Tijuca Forest and Sambadrome
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Recreate the operator's guided Rio city tour on a self-booked GetYourGuide day tour (roughly £45-65 including Corcovado entry and Tijuca Forest stops) or DIY it: buy a Corcovado ticket with van from Cosme Velho (~£20-25 including entry, book online), take the metro to Largo do Machado, then bus 583 or a taxi to the Sambadrome. Tijuca Forest is best reached by a shared jeep tour (~£25) — this is where joining a small day tour genuinely saves money over a private driver. Lunch at a kilo buffet (~£6-8). If you want to skip Corcovado's crowds, Sugarloaf cable car is ~£20.
🚌Metro, bus and shared van, ~£8
🛏Copacabana/Botafogo/Lapa hostel dorm, ~£18-22/night
- →Christ the Redeemer / Corcovado (self-booked)
- →Tijuca National Forest tour or shared jeep
- →Sambadrome stop
- →Kilo buffet lunch
Beaches and Botanical Gardens at your own pace
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The operator leaves this as a free day with optional beach and garden visits — do exactly that without paying for add-ons. Morning: copa at Copacabana or Ipanema (rent a chair and umbrella for ~£4, or just use your towel). Afternoon: Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico) entry ~£5 and a walk around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Use the metro (Linha 1) and buses; sunset at Arpoador rock is free and one of Rio's best. Cheap açaí and a boteco dinner.
🚌Metro and buses, ~£4
🛏Copacabana/Botafogo/Lapa hostel dorm, ~£18-22/night
- →Copacabana and Ipanema beaches
- →Botanical Garden self-visit
- →Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas walk
- →Arpoador sunset
Santa Teresa, Lapa or a self-booked samba/tropical show
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Last full day. Ride the bondinho tram to Santa Teresa (~£4 return) and walk to Lapa's Escadaria Selarón and the arches. If you want the dinner-and-show experience the operator offers optionally, book Ginga Tropical or a Plataforma samba show direct or via GetYourGuide for ~£35-50 (vs. the operator's optional add-on with private hotel transport). Alternatively, a night out in Lapa's street samba bars costs £10-15 in drinks and entry. Pack and prep for the airport tomorrow.
🚌Tram, metro and bus, ~£5
🛏Copacabana/Botafogo/Lapa hostel dorm, ~£18-22/night
- →Santa Teresa tram and neighbourhood
- →Selarón Steps and Lapa Arches
- →Optional samba show (self-booked)
- →Lapa street samba bars
Depart Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Take the Premium Onibus airport bus back to Galeão (GIG), ~£5, or a shared transfer if you have an early flight. If your flight leaves late, leave your bag at the hostel and take one last walk along the beach or grab breakfast at a padaria. No private transfer needed — the airport bus is frequent, safe and cheap.
🚌Airport bus to GIG, ~£5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Airport bus to GIG
- →Optional beach walk before departure
Self-launched vs. Wonderful Holidays UK
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wonderful Holidays UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,216 | £2,407 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,191 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wonderful Holidays UK-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,216
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 Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio: Self-Launched 10-Day South America Route cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,216 per person for 10 days in Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro). 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 Wonderful Holidays UK?+
Yes — Wonderful Holidays UK charges around £2,407 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,216 — a saving of roughly £1,191 (49%) per person.
How long is the Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro).
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 adventure, culture, city-breaks trip through Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro), 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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