Self-Launched Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza Wine Country
10 days · Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza)
Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£640 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day route covering the original tour's highlights — Buenos Aires city and neighbourhoods, a pampas ranch day in San Antonio de Areco, both sides of Iguazu Falls, and Mendoza's Maipú wine valleys — using hostels and guesthouses, domestic flights and long-distance buses, and self-bookable activities instead of private guides. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Buenos Aires — San Telmo orientation
Buenos Aires
Land at Ezeiza (EZE) and take the Tienda León or Manuel Tienda León-style airport bus or shared shuttle to the city centre (~£10-14) rather than a private transfer. Check into a San Telmo or Palermo hostel private room. Spend the late afternoon on a free self-led walk: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, and the cobbled streets of San Telmo. Treat yourself to a dulce de leche ice cream at a heladería.
🚌Airport bus or shared shuttle from Ezeiza to city centre (~£10-14)
🛏Hostel private room / budget guesthouse, San Telmo or Palermo
- →Self-led walking orientation of San Telmo and Plaza de Mayo
- →Dulce de leche ice cream tasting
- →Casa Rosada and cathedral visit
Buenos Aires city tour, La Boca and Recoleta
Buenos Aires
Use the Subte (metro, ~£0.40/ride) and local buses to cover the classic city circuit. Start with La Boca and the colourful Caminito street, then Recoleta Cemetery (entrance ~£8) and the Recoleta cultural district. Book a small-group or pay-what-you-wish walking tour via GetYourGuide or the local free-tour operators for context. Lunch at a local parrilla or market stall.
🚌Subte metro and local buses (~£3-5 for the day)
🛏Hostel private room / budget guesthouse, San Telmo or Palermo
- →La Boca and Caminito street walk
- →Recoleta Cemetery entrance and visit
- →Optional GetYourGuide small-group city walking tour
San Antonio de Areco pampas day
San Antonio de Areco
Take a public bus (Chevallier or similar) from Retiro to San Antonio de Areco (~£5-7, ~2 hrs). Explore the historic town, museums and traditional pulperías on foot. Book a day pass or asado lunch directly at an estancia such as El Ombú de Areco or a comparable ranch — many include horseback riding, bikes and pool access in summer (~£40-55 including lunch). Return to Buenos Aires by evening bus.
🚌Public bus Retiro to San Antonio de Areco return (~£10-14)
🛏Hostel private room / budget guesthouse, Buenos Aires
- →Walking tour of San Antonio de Areco
- →Estancia day visit with traditional asado lunch
- →Horseback riding or bike ride
- →Self-guided town museums and pulperías
Fly Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu
Fly from Aeroparque (AEP) to Puerto Iguazu (IGR) with Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi or JetSMART — book early for fares around £50-90 one way. From the airport take the local bus or a shared taxi to your guesthouse in Puerto Iguazu town (~£2-4). Spend the afternoon visiting the Hito Tres Fronteras viewpoint where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet.
🚌Domestic flight AEP-IGR (~£50-90) plus local bus to town
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room, Puerto Iguazu
- →Hito Tres Fronteras viewpoint
- →Town orientation walk
Iguazu Falls — Argentine side
Iguazu National Park (Argentina)
Take the public bus (Rio Uruguay, ~£2 return) to Iguazu National Park. Pay the Argentine park entrance (~£25) and self-navigate the Lower and Upper Circuits, then ride the ecological train to the Devil's Throat boardwalk. This is entirely doable without a guide — signage is excellent. Bring a packed lunch or eat at park facilities.
🚌Public bus to and from Iguazu National Park (~£2)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room, Puerto Iguazu
- →Lower and Upper Circuit walkways
- →Ecological train to Devil's Throat
- →Devil's Throat boardwalk
- →Wildlife spotting (coatis, toucans, butterflies)
Iguazu Falls — Brazilian side
Foz do Iguacu (Brazil)
Cross into Brazil by local bus or shared taxi (~£3-5 each way, bring your passport for the border). Enter Foz do Iguacu National Park (~£20) and walk the panoramic trails to the Devil's Throat viewpoint, including the Salto Santa María boardwalk and panoramic elevator. The Brazilian side gives the wide-angle views. Return to Puerto Iguazu by late afternoon.
🚌Local bus or shared taxi across the border (~£8-10 return)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room, Puerto Iguazu
- →Foz do Iguacu National Park walkways
- →Salto Santa María boardwalk
- →Devil's Throat viewpoint
- →Panoramic elevator access
Fly to Mendoza — Maipú wine valley
Mendoza / Maipú
Fly Puerto Iguazu to Mendoza (usually via Buenos Aires, ~£90-140 depending on how early you book). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Mendoza city. In the afternoon, take the local bus or a shared wine-tour shuttle to the Maipú Valley. Visit Bodega Santa Julia / Casa del Visitante (tour and tasting ~£15-20) and enjoy lunch at Pan y Oliva restaurant or a comparable vineyard spot.
🚌Domestic flight IGR-MDZ (~£90-140) plus local bus to Maipú
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Mendoza city
- →Maipú Valley winery visit
- →Santa Julia / Casa del Visitante tour and tasting
- →Vineyard lunch at Pan y Oliva or similar
Mendoza cooking class and winery day
Mendoza
Book a small-group Argentine cooking class in Mendoza via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35-50) — most include empanada making, a winery tour, wine tasting for adults and garden activities. Use a local bus or an inexpensive shared shuttle to get there and back. Evening: stroll Mendoza's tree-lined streets and plazas.
🚌Local bus or shared shuttle (~£3-5)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Mendoza city
- →Family-friendly Argentine cooking class
- →Empanada making
- →Winery facilities tour and wine tasting
- →Organic garden harvest
Mendoza vineyard bike tour
Maipú / Luján de Cuyo
Rent a bike from one of the established Maipú wine-bike providers (Mr Bikes, Baccus, or similar, ~£20-30 including tastings) and peddle between vineyards at your own pace. Sample Chardonnay, Syrah and Malbec along the route with a tasting included at each stop. Many operators throw in a gourmet lunch or you can eat at a vineyard restaurant. Insurance and helmet are standard inclusions.
🚌Local bus to Maipú plus bike rental
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Mendoza city
- →Self-guided vineyard bike tour
- →Wine tastings (Chardonnay, Syrah, Malbec)
- →Gourmet lunch at a vineyard
Depart Mendoza
Mendoza
Take a local bus or shared shuttle to El Plumerillo airport (MDZ) or the long-distance bus terminal (~£2-4) for your onward flight or bus. If you're continuing overland to Santiago, the Cruz del Sur bus over the Andes is a spectacular and inexpensive option (~£25-35).
🚌Local bus or shuttle to MDZ airport / bus terminal (~£2-4)
🛏—
- →Transfer to Mendoza airport or bus station
Self-launched vs. Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£640 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,260 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys-style trips? Check them out here.~£640
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 Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza Wine Country cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £640 per person for 10 days in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza). 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 Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys?+
Yes — Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys charges around £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £640 — a saving of roughly £2,260 (78%) per person.
How long is the Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza).
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, foodie, adventure trip through Argentina (Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Mendoza), 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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