Self-Launched Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio: The DIY Version of Intrepid's "Best of Argentina & Brazil"
7 days · Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro)
Intrepid Travel charges £2,440
No-markup version: ~£574 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 7-day self-launched version of Intrepid's 7-day "Best of Argentina & Brazil" group tour — same three headline stops (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, and Rio de Janeiro), but assembled independently at a fraction of the price. You'll swap the group leader and private coaches for local city buses, the overnight/evening low-cost flight from Buenos Aires to Foz do Iguaçu, cheap local buses to the falls entrances, and self-bookable guided options via GetYourGuide/Klook where a guide genuinely adds value (the Buenos Aires free walking tour, the falls boat ride). Highlights: La Boca and Recoleta Cemetery in BA, a day on each side of Iguazu, a Guarani community visit arranged locally, Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf at sunset in Rio. Costs are realistic backpacker/mid-hostel estimates in GBP, per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Land in Buenos Aires — San Telmo orientation and tango
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly into Ezecheiza or Aeroparque (AEP is far more convenient and close to the city). Take a shared/remis taxi or the ArBus/Tienda León airport shuttle into the centre (AEP: ~£8–12 by remis, less by bus from Ezeiza ~£5). Check into a hostel in San Telmo or Montserrat — Hostel Suites Palermo, Milhouse (party vibe, Centro), or any San Telmo guesthouse at £12–20 a dorm bed. Late afternoon, walk Plaza de Mayo and the Casa Rosada, then get lost in San Telmo's cobbled streets. Book a tango class or milonga for the evening (intro classes from ~£10–15; a La Catedral or Salón Canning milonga entry ~£6–10) — a cheaper, more authentic version of the tour's optional (USD120) tango show. Dinner: a milanesa or parrilla plate for ~£10–14. Note: bring UK card + cash in both pesos and USD/GBP to change on the blue/parallel market (never use airport exchange); Argentina is currently card-friendly for tourists.
🚌Airport remis/shuttle ~£8–12; metro SUBE card ~£1 per ride
🛏Hostel dorm or private in San Telmo/Montserrat (~£15)
- →Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada walk
- →San Telmo evening wander
- →Tango class or milonga entry (~£10–15)
Buenos Aires city day — La Boca, Recoleta Cemetery, Retiro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Do the equivalent of Intrepid's guided half-day as a self-launched loop. Start with the free (tip-based) Buenos Aires Free Walks city tour in the morning (~£5–8 tip) covering Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo and Retiro — same content the group tour covers. Then take the 29 or 64 bus or a short remis (~£4) to La Boca to see the Caminito street's painted houses (go in daylight, don't wander far from Caminito). Afternoon: metro/bus to Recoleta Cemetery (entry is free; a self-guided audio tour app or a ~£10 local guide at the gate covers the Evita mausoleum and the architecture). Optional: the open-top bus loop (~£10–12) if you want orientation. Book tonight's cheap Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART low-cost flight to Puerto Iguazú for tomorrow morning or evening (fares ~£60–110 one-way if booked ahead; evening flights from ~£50 are common). Dinner in Palermo Soho (a choripán and a beer ~£10).
🚌City buses/metro ~£3; remis to La Boca ~£4; SUBE reload
🛏Hostel dorm or private in San Telmo/Montserrat (~£15)
- →Buenos Aires Free Walks tip-based city tour
- →Caminito, La Boca
- →Recoleta Cemetery (Evita's grave)
- →Retiro neighbourhood
- →Book low-cost flight to Puerto Iguazú (if not already)
Fly to Iguazú — Brazilian side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil / Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Fly AEP → Puerto Iguazú (IGR) or Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) — if your flight lands on the Argentine side, take the local bus (Rio Uruguay line 120 or the 'El Practico' service, ~£3) or a shared taxi (~£8–10 per person) across the border to Foz do Iguaçu; Argentina→Brazil border formalities at Tancredo Neves bridge are straightforward. Base yourself in Foz do Iguaçu (hostels ~£12–18; e.g. Iguassu Eco Hostel or a Brazilian guesthouse) or Puerto Iguazú (similar prices). Today tackle the Brazilian side: local bus 120 from Foz town centre to Iguaçu National Park (~£1) and park entry BRL ~£15–17 (~£18–20). The Brazilian side's Panoramic Trail gives the big wide-angle view — no guide needed; a GetYourGuide transfer-only or half-day tour (~£25–35) if you'd rather not fuss with buses. Late afternoon back in Foz: bird park is optional (BRL~80, ~£9). Evening: cheap Brazilian per-kilo buffet dinner ~£6–8.
🚌Morning flight to Iguazú ~£60–110; bus 120 to park ~£1; optional shared taxi
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Foz do Iguaçu / Puerto Iguazú (~£15)
- →Brazilian side Iguaçu National Park (Panoramic Trail)
- →Optional Bird Park (~£9)
- →Optional helicopter flight over the falls — book on-site, ~£95 (BRL630) cash
Argentine side of Iguazu — boat ride and Guarani community visit
Puerto Iguazú / Foz do Iguaçu
Cross to the Argentine side (Parque Nacional Iguazú) — bus from Puerto Iguazú (~£1.50) or take the border crossing bus from Foz. Entry is ARS ~£22–25 (~£22–28) for foreigners. Walk the Upper Circuit, Lower Circuit and the Devils Throat (Garganta del Diablo) train + catwalk — all self-guided with clear signage, so no guide required. Book the self-guided version of the tour's zodiac ride: the Gran Aventura boat/safari out to the base of the falls, bookable direct at the park or via GetYourGuide (~£45–55; Intrepid's version was USD90). Alternatively the cheaper Nautical Adventure is ~£20–25. Also fit in the Mbyá-Guaraní community visit — reachable by arrangement through the park or a local operator / hostel (donation-based, ~£5–10); ask your hostel to book the small community tour. Dinner in Puerto Iguazú or Foz. Optional: arrange your Rio flight for tomorrow morning (~£70–120 one-way).
🚌Bus to Argentine park ~£1.50; border crossing bus if based in Foz ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Foz do Iguaçu / Puerto Iguazú (~£15)
- →Argentine side Iguazú: Upper & Lower Circuits + Garganta del Diablo
- →Gran Aventura boat to base of falls (~£48)
- →Mbyá-Guaraní community visit (~£8 donation)
Fly to Rio — Copacabana, Ipanema, Lapa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Morning or midday low-cost flight IGU → Rio Galeão (GIG) (~£70–130; book ahead on GOL, LATAM or Azul). From GIG, take the premium Rio Airport Bus (SEOP, ~£3) or the metro via BRT (~£2.50) to Copacabana/Ipanema — Uber is ~£8–10. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Botafogo, Copacabana or Santa Teresa (dorms ~£14–20; private budget double ~£30–45). Afternoon do the tour's optional beach loop at your own pace: metro 1 to Ipanema, walk Arpoador rock for sunset, then Copacabana. Evening: Lapa steps area for caipirinhas and live samba (cover/entry ~£3–7); Carnival rehearsals in the spring cost BRL120 (June to Carnival season) — check the samba schools' calendars and book direct. Optional football: tickets for a Flamengo or Fluminense match from BRL400 (~£45) direct on the clubs' sites or a hostel-arranged tour (~£35–50).
🚌Flight IGU → GIG ~£70–130; airport bus ~£3; metro ~£1.20/ride
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private in Botafogo/Copacabana/Santa Teresa (~£18)
- →Ipanema & Arpoador sunset walk
- →Copacabana Beach
- →Lapa samba night (~£5)
- →Optional football match (~£45)
- →Optional carnival rehearsal (~£14, seasonal)
Rio city day — Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa, Selaron, Sugarloaf sunset
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Buy the Corcovado/Christ the Redeemer ticket online in advance (Parque Nacional da Tijuca official or GetYourGuide, ~£20–28 including the van up; the cheaper option is the Trem do Corcovado train ~£20 + park entry). Go early (first slot) to beat clouds and crowds. Then take the metro plus a short walk/Uber to Santa Teresa (~£3) and walk down through the Selaron Steps to Lapa. Afternoon: Sugarloaf Mountain via the cable car (Pão de Açúcar, ~£22–25 return; buy online or at the booth) timed for sunset. This replaces the tour's guided city excursion and farewell dinner — book instead a self-launched dinner at a churrascaria or seafood spot in Botafogo/Lapa (~£15–22 with a drink) as your own farewell meal. A GetYourGuide guided Rio city tour with Corcovado/Sugarloaf entry and hotel pickup, if you'd prefer a guide, runs ~£45–60.
🚌Metro/van/Uber ~£8 total
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private in Botafogo/Copacabana/Santa Teresa (~£18)
- →Christ the Redeemer & Corcovado (~£22)
- →Santa Teresa neighbourhood walk
- →Selaron Steps
- →Sugarloaf Mountain cable car at sunset (~£23)
- →Self-launched farewell dinner (~£18)
Last morning in Rio — Ipanema swim, fly out
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Final brew and breakfast at a boteco (~£4–6), a last swim at Ipanema or a wander in the Botanical Garden or Lage Park. Travel to Galeão by airport bus (~£3) or Uber (~£8–10) for your departure flight. If you're extending, book extra hostel nights — add £18–30/night.
🚌Airport bus ~£3 or Uber ~£9
🛏Checkout / extra nights optional (~£18 if adding)
- →Ipanema morning swim
- →Optional Botanical Garden (~£6)
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£574 | £2,440 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,866 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£574
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 Self-Launched Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio: The DIY Version of Intrepid's "Best of Argentina & Brazil" cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £574 per person for 7 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £2,440 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £574 — a saving of roughly £1,866 (76%) per person.
How long is the Argentina & Brazil (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, backpacker 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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