Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer — Self-Launched Edition
17 days · Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil
Intrepid Travel charges £2,560
No-markup version: ~£937 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 17-day run from Buenos Aires through Uruguay's colonial Colonia and a working estancia, up to the thundering Iguazu Falls, then down Brazil's Costa Verde to Rio via Paraty and car-free Ilha Grande. You book the same buses, ferries and day tours yourself — Buquebus catamaran across the Rio de la Plata, long-distance semi-cama buses, local waterfall buses — staying in hostels, guesthouses and pousadas instead of Intrepid's group hotels. Costed for a solo backpacker moving on local transport, with GetYourGuide/Klook-style bookable options for the waterfalls and a shared ranch stay. Estimates are approximate and based on 2026 budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Land in Buenos Aires — Microcentro & San Telmo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive, take a local bus or the ArBus/Manuel Tienda León shuttle into the centre (~£7) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel in San Telmo or Microcentro, then walk the historic core: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the Casa Rosada museum, Avenida de Mayo and the Cafe Tortoni facade. Evening: free tango demo in Plaza Dorrego, then a cheap parrilla dinner (bife de chorizo + salad ~£8).
🚌ArBus/local bus from Ezeiza or Aeroparque to centre (~£7)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Telmo/Microcentro (~£12-18)
- →Self-guided Microcentro walk (Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Avenida de Mayo)
- →Plaza Dorrego tango demo (free)
- →Parrilla dinner in San Telmo
Recoleta, Palermo & a real tango show
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Morning at Recoleta Cemetery (free to walk, ~£3 cemetery map) and the flower sculpture; afternoon in Palermo's parks and Bosques de Palermo. Book a proper dinner-and-tango show via GetYourGuide or, cheaper, a milonga entry in San Telmo or Villa Malcolm (~£8-12) with a beginner class. Optional: a bike tour of the south barrios (~£15).
🚌SUBTE metro day card (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Telmo/Microcentro (~£12-18)
- →Recoleta Cemetery
- →Palermo parks and street art
- →Milonga entry with beginner tango class (~£10)
- →Optional guided bike tour (~£15)
Buquebus to Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Take a morning Buquebus or Colonia Express fast ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia (~1h, £40-55 one-way booked direct). Uruguay requires no visa for most nationalities but check yours. Wander the UNESCO Barrio Histórico: Portón de Campo, Calle de los Suspiros, the lighthouse and the old Portuguese walls. Sunset from the riverside. Stay in a Colonia hostel or guesthouse.
🚌Buquebus fast ferry Buenos Aires → Colonia (~£45)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Colonia (~£18-25)
- →Buquebus/Colonia Express ferry crossing
- →Barrio Histórico self-guided walk
- →Lighthouse and Puerta de la Ciudadela
- →Riverside sunset
Estancia stay — Uruguayan ranch life
Estancia near Colonia, Uruguay
Travel to a working estancia in the Colonia/San José countryside (book direct or via Booking/Airbnb Experiences, or shared transfer from Colonia ~£20). Afternoon of horse riding, cattle work, asado and mate with the family. This replaces Intrepid's group estancia with a direct-booked farm stay — many hostels can arrange it.
🚌Shared transfer from Colonia (~£20) or local bus + pickup
🛏Estancia farm stay, shared room (~£30-40 incl. meals)
- →Horse riding on a working estancia
- →Asado and mate with the family
- →Farm animal feeding and countryside walk
Estancia morning & back to Colonia
Estancia / Colonia, Uruguay
Morning ride or farm chores, big breakfast, then return to Colonia. Afternoon free to explore the port market or cycle the Rambla. Prepare for the onward journey — you'll cross back into Argentina and head north by bus.
🚌Shared transfer back to Colonia (~£20)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Colonia (~£18-25)
- →Morning farm activities
- →Colonia Rambla cycle (bike hire ~£5)
- →Port market stroll
Overnight bus Colonia → Puerto Iguazú
Overnight bus to Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Cross back to Buenos Aires (ferry ~£45 or onward coach) then take a long-distance semi-cama/cama coach north to Puerto Iguazú (~17-20h, £55-75). Book on Plataforma10 or Busbud; opt for full cama if you can — the reviews of this route's semi-cama seats are brutal. Sleeper coach overnight.
🚌Plataforma10/Busbud coach to Puerto Iguazú (~£65)
🛏Overnight coach (semi-cama/cama seat)
- →Long-distance coach journey
- →Border/route planning
- →Rest day on the road
Iguazu Falls — Brazilian side
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Arrive Puerto Iguazú, drop bags at a hostel, cross to Brazil (bring passport) and visit the Brazilian side of Iguaçu National Park (entry ~£18, local bus 120 from Foz centre ~£1). Panoramic walkway over the Devil's Throat — the classic photo. Evening back in Argentina or stay Foz side.
🚌Local bus to Argentine border + Brazilian side entry bus (~£5)
🛏Hostel in Puerto Iguazú or Foz do Iguaçu (~£12-18)
- →Iguaçu National Park Brazilian side entry (~£18)
- →Devil's Throat panoramic walkway
- →Local bus 120 to park entrance
Iguazu Falls — Argentinian side (full day)
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Full day on the Argentinian side (entry ~£25), the bigger park with the Upper and Lower Circuits, San Martín Island boat and the Devil's Throat train + catwalk. Book a GetYourGuide day trip or just take the local Rio Uruguay bus from Puerto Iguazú (~£2). Optional: boat under the falls (~£35).
🚌Local bus to park (~£2)
🛏Hostel in Puerto Iguazú (~£12-18)
- →Argentinian Iguazú park entry (~£25)
- →Upper and Lower Circuits
- →Devil's Throat train and catwalk
- →Optional San Martín Island boat
Fly/bus to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Best value: fly Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) to Rio (GIG/SDU) on a low-cost carrier like GOL or Azul (~£60-100 if booked early) — far quicker than the 22h bus. Land, take a local bus/BRT to a hostel in Botafogo, Lapa or Copacabana. Evening stroll along Copacabana or a cheap boteco dinner in Lapa.
🚌Low-cost flight IGU → Rio (~£80) + local bus/BTR (~£2)
🛏Hostel in Botafogo/Lapa/Copacabana (~£15-22)
- →Flight to Rio
- →Copacabana beachfront stroll
- →Lapa boteco dinner and samba bars
Rio highlights: Christ, Sugarloaf & Santa Teresa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Self-launch the big sights: Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado train ~£20) early to beat crowds, then Sugarloaf cable car (~£20) at sunset. Between them, explore Santa Teresa by tram (~£1) and the Escadaria Selarón. Book skip-the-line tickets via GetYourGuide to save time.
🚌Metro + tram day (~£3)
🛏Hostel in Botafogo/Lapa/Copacabana (~£15-22)
- →Corcovado/Christ the Redeemer train (~£20)
- →Sugarloaf cable car (~£20)
- →Santa Teresa tram and Selarón Steps
Rio → Paraty by Costa Verde bus
Paraty, Brazil
Morning bus from Rio's Novo Rio terminal to Paraty (~5h, £15-20, book via Busbud or the Costa Verde/UTIL line). Check into a pousada or hostel in the cobbled colonial centre. Afternoon wander the car-free historic streets, the harbour and the church squares.
🚌Rio → Paraty bus (~£18)
🛏Hostel/pousada in Paraty centro histórico (~£15-22)
- →Costa Verde coastal bus to Paraty
- →Colonial centre self-guided walk
- →Harbour and church squares
Paraty — bay boat trip & cachaça
Paraty, Brazil
Join a shared schooner bay trip (~£20-25, book at the harbour or via GetYourGuide) to beaches and snorkel spots around the bay. Afternoon: a cachaça distillery visit or a waterfall/trilha walk, then dinner on the cobbles with a caipirinha.
🚌Walk + local boat tour
🛏Hostel/pousada in Paraty centro histórico (~£15-22)
- →Shared schooner bay cruise (~£22)
- →Snorkelling stops
- →Cachaça distillery visit
- →Optional waterfall hike
Paraty → Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Bus or shuttle to Conceição de Jacareí/Angra dos Reis (~2h, £8-12), then the shared ferry or flexboat to Vila do Abraão on car-free Ilha Grande (~£5-8). Settle into a pousada or hostel — remember there are no cars on the island, so pack light and walk to your stay.
🚌Bus/shuttle + shared ferry (~£18)
🛏Hostel/pousada in Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande (~£15-25)
- →Transfer to the mainland port
- →Ferry to Vila do Abraão
- →Village beach and sunset
Ilha Grande — Lopes Mendes beach
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Hike or take a shared water taxi to Lopes Mendes, one of Brazil's best beaches (~1.5-2h walk or £8 boat). Swim, surf-hire, and picnic. Return by boat or the jungle trail. Alternatives: Praia do Aventureiro (harder, longer) or a boat-hop island tour.
🚌On foot or shared water taxi
🛏Hostel/pousada in Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande (~£15-25)
- →Lopes Mendes beach hike (~2h trail)
- →Optional shared water taxi (~£8)
- →Swimming and surf-hire
- →Optional island boat-hop tour (~£20)
Ilha Grande — beaches, boat trips & rainforest
Ilha Grande, Brazil
A slower day: pick a boat tour around the island's best coves (Lagoa Azul, Gruta do Acaiá) ~£20, or hike to Feiticeira waterfall and Caxadaço. Snorkel, watch for monkeys and toucans, and don't miss a beachside seafood dinner.
🚌On foot or shared boat
🛏Hostel/pousada in Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande (~£15-25)
- →Shared boat tour (Lagoa Azul, Gruta do Acaiá) (~£20)
- →Feiticeira waterfall hike
- →Snorkelling and wildlife spotting
Ilha Grande → Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Morning ferry back to the mainland (or direct fast boat to Angra), then bus/shuttle to Rio (~3-4h, £18-25). Arrive, check into your Rio hostel. Final evening: sunset at Ipanema's Arpoador rock, then a farewell dinner in Leblon or a Lapa samba night.
🚌Ferry + bus to Rio (~£25)
🛏Hostel in Ipanema/Botafogo/Copacabana (~£15-22)
- →Ferry off the island
- →Bus back to Rio
- →Arpoador sunset
- →Farewell dinner in Ipanema/Leblon
Rio farewell & departure
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Last morning: a final beach walk or the free-ish Parque Lage views below Christ. Then take local transport or a shared shuttle to GIG airport for your flight home (or extend on a bus down the coast). Total self-launched trip winds up here.
🚌Local bus/shuttle to GIG airport (~£8)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Beach walk or Parque Lage
- →Last Brazilian breakfast
- →Transfer to GIG airport
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£937 | £2,560 |
| Duration | 17 days | 17 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,623 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£937
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 Buenos Aires to Rio Explorer — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £937 per person for 17 days in Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil. 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 £2,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £937 — a saving of roughly £1,623 (63%) per person.
How long is the Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil trip?+
This itinerary runs 17 days, covering 17 day-by-day stops through Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil.
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 budget, backpacker, gap-year trip through Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil, 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.