Self-Launched Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil
10 days · Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil
Intrepid Travel charges £2,730
No-markup version: ~£644 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day independent route from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro covering the same highlights as the Intrepid small-group tour: Buenos Aires neighbourhoods, a ferry to colonial Colonia del Sacramento, a working estancia stay in Tacuarembó (Uruguayan cattle country), an overnight bus to Puerto Iguazú, both sides of Iguazú Falls, and a flight to Rio. Everything is bookable yourself — sube card and public transport in Buenos Aires, Buquebus/Colonia Express ferries, a rural estancia bookable direct, long-distance buses, and GetYourGuide/Klook entries for the falls. Costs are realistic backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights into Buenos Aires and out of Rio.
Day-by-day
Arrive Buenos Aires — settle into San Telmo or Palermo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Land at Ezeiza (EZE) and take the Tienda León shuttle (~£10) or the cheaper Manuel Tienda León/8A bus combo into town; an Uber into San Telmo or Palermo costs roughly £11-14. Check into a hostel dorm or a small guesthouse. Spend the evening orienting yourself: pick up a SUBE card at a kiosk (top up ~£2-4) for buses and the Subte, grab empanadas and a beer, and join a free evening walking tour or simply wander Plaza Dorado in San Telmo. Optional: book a polo day or tango show in advance for a later date — neither is needed today.
🚌Tienda León shuttle from EZE ~£10, or Uber ~£12-14
🛏Hostel dorm in San Telmo/Palermo (~£12-16/night) or budget guesthouse double (~£30-40)
- →Airport transfer to city
- →Pick up SUBE transport card
- →Evening wander in San Telmo
- →Optional: free city walking tour
Buenos Aires — Microcentro, La Boca, Recoleta & San Telmo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Self-guided day on foot and by Subte. Start with the Microcentro: Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada from outside (free), then the ornate Café Tortoni for coffee and medialunas (~£4). Walk south through San Telmo to browse the antiques market (Sunday is biggest) and street tango. Take bus 29 or a taxi to Caminito in La Boca for the painted houses — go in daylight and stay on the main streets. Finish in Recoleta: the cemetery entry is free, and Recoleta/Retiro make an easy evening stroll. Book a tango show direct (e.g. La Ventana, Café de los Angelitos) if you want one — £35-55 including dinner.
🚌Subte/bus with SUBE ~£1-2 total; taxi to La Boca ~£3-4
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse in Buenos Aires
- →Plaza de Mayo & Casa Rosada (exterior, free)
- →Café Tortoni coffee stop
- →San Telmo antiques market
- →Caminito, La Boca
- →Recoleta Cemetery (free entry)
- →Optional tango show £35-55
Ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Walk to the Buquebus or Colonia Express terminal (Dársena Norte) and take a fast ferry across the Río de la Plata — book online a few days ahead, one-way from ~£25-40 depending on operator and time. Colonia is compact and fully walkable: Barrio Histórico UNESCO streets, Plaza Mayor, the lighthouse (UYU 35, ~£1), the old city walls and the Calle de los Suspiros. Have lunch on a plaza and stay overnight so you get the evening and morning without day-trippers. Buses to Montevideo leave from the nearby terminal if you want to extend.
🚌Buquebus/Colonia Express fast ferry ~£25-40 one-way
🛏Hostel dorm in Colonia (~£13-18) or small posada double (~£32-45)
- →Fast ferry Buenos Aires–Colonia del Sacramento
- →Barrio Histórico & Plaza Mayor
- →Climb the Colonia lighthouse
- →Museums (Portuguese/Municipal, ~£1-2 each)
Colonia → Tacuarembó estancia
Tacuarembó, Uruguay
Take an early bus from Colonia to Montevideo (2.5 hrs, ~£8) and then a COT/ Agencia Central or Turil bus north to Tacuarembó (about 4.5 hrs, ~£15-20), or route via Mercedes for a shorter transfer. Arrange with your estancia for a pickup from Tacuarembó town (usually free or a small fee, and often needs booking 1-2 weeks ahead). Estancias near Tacuarembó like Estancia Los Cerros or the working farms around Valle Edén take individual travellers — book direct by email/WhatsApp, roughly £45-70 per night full board. Arrive for a home-cooked dinner and settle in.
🚌Colonia–Montevideo bus ~£8, Montevideo–Tacuarembó bus ~£15-20, estancia pickup
🛏Working estancia, shared room, full board (~£50-65/night)
- →Long-distance buses across Uruguay
- →Estancia arrival & farm orientation
- →Home-cooked dinner
Full day of estancia life — riding, cattle and asado
Tacuarembó, Uruguay
The heart of the trip. Morning horse riding across the campos (usually included or ~£10-15), help with moving cattle or sheep if the day's work allows, and learn yerba mate etiquette with the gauchos. Lunch is home-cooked, the afternoon is slow — hammocks, birds, and the silence of the pampa. In the evening there's a traditional asado barbecue cooked over wood and often guitar and campfire music with the family. Bring cash in pesos: most estancias don't take cards and there's no ATM nearby.
🚌None — on the estancia
🛏Same estancia, shared room, full board
- →Horse riding on the estancia
- →Cattle/sheep roundup (if offered)
- →Traditional asado barbecue
- →Campfire music with the family
Estancia → overnight bus to Puerto Iguazú
Tacuarembó / en route to Puerto Iguazú
Breakfast at the farm, then a transfer back to Tacuarembó and buses to Salto or Concordia to cross into Argentina, connecting onward by overnight long-distance bus (e.g. Crucero del Norte, Vía Bariloche, Flecha Bus) toward Puerto Iguazú — total travel time 16-20 hrs, so plan a full day. Buy bus tickets online or at the terminal (Argentine long-distance buses need passport/ID at booking). Roughly £45-65 for the long leg. Pack snacks, water and a warm layer — Argentine night buses crank the air-con.
🚌Estancia transfer + Uruguay/Argentina buses + overnight bus ~£60-75 total
🛏Overnight bus (reclining seat)
- →Bus connections via Salto/Concordia border
- →Overnight cama/semi-cama bus
Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls
Puerto Iguazú / Foz do Iguaçu
Arrive early morning, check in and rest briefly. Take the local bus (Río Uruguay/urban line, ~£1-2) across the border to Foz do Iguaçu and enter Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (entry BRL ~100, ~£14); the panoramic trail along the canyon rim and the walkway out over the Devil's Throat is arguably the best single view of the falls. Optional add-ons: Parque das Aves bird park (BRL 80, ~£11) and a helicopter flight (BRL 610, ~£85) — book the helicopter on the spot. Back in Puerto Iguazú for dinner; the Güira Oga wildlife refuge is a good low-cost alternative if you skip the bird park.
🚌Local bus to the Brazilian park ~£1-2 each way
🛏Hostel dorm in Puerto Iguazú (~£10-14) or budget double (~£25-35)
- →Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls (park entry ~£14)
- →Optional Parque das Aves ~£11
- →Optional helicopter flight ~£85
- →Optional Güira Oga wildlife refuge
Argentinian side of Iguazú Falls
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
The Argentine park is bigger and better for walking: entry ARS ~45,000 (~£30, check current rate). Take the local bus (~£2) to the visitors' centre early to beat the heat and crowds. Walk the Upper and Lower Circuits, ride the free ecological train to Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) walkway, and consider the Gran Aventura zodiac boat to the base of the falls (USD 90, ~£70) — book at the park entrance or via GetYourGuide. Bring lunch and lots of water; the park is cash-friendly but card now works at most kiosks.
🚌Local bus to Argentine park ~£2 each way
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Iguazú
- →Argentinian side of Iguazú Falls (entry ~£30)
- →Upper & Lower Circuits
- →Ecological train to Garganta del Diablo
- →Optional Gran Aventura zodiac boat ~£70
Fly Foz do Iguaçu → Rio de Janeiro — beaches & Santa Teresa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fly from Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) to Rio (GIG/SDU) — book ahead on Gol/Azul/Latam, budget £60-110 one-way depending on season and bags, and book early for the cheapest fares. Take the BRT or a bus from the airport to Botafogo/Glória (~£1-2) or an app taxi (~£6-10). Spend the afternoon on Copacabana or Ipanema, then ride the Santa Teresa tram (BRL 20, ~£3) up to Largo dos Guimarães for sunset drinks. Book Corcovado and Sugarloaf online in advance (BRL 82 and BRL 160, ~£11 and ~£22) — timed tickets sell out. Evening: boteco dinner in Botafogo.
🚌One-way flight IGU–Rio ~£60-110; airport bus/BT ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm in Botafogo/Lapa (~£14-20) or budget hotel double (~£35-50)
- →Flight to Rio de Janeiro
- →Copacabana & Ipanema beaches
- →Santa Teresa tram (~£3)
- →Botafogo boteco dinner
Rio — Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf & farewell
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Beat the clouds: take the earliest train up Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer (book on Trem do Corcovado or GetYourGuide, ~£11 plus ~£5 transport up), then the cable car up Sugarloaf (~£22) for the classic view back over the bay. If time allows, add the Botanical Gardens (BRL 67, ~£9) or a beach afternoon. Optional football at Maracanã depends on fixture dates — check the CBF schedule and expect BRL 400 (~£55) for a decent seat. Use the metro with a RioCard or contactless to get around cheaply. Buy the airport bus or metro ticket (~£2) for your onward flight.
🚌Metro/Bus with RioCard ~£3-4; airport transfer ~£2-8
🛏Same hostel/hotel in Rio (or onward flight home)
- →Christ the Redeemer via Corcovado train (~£11)
- →Sugarloaf Mountain cable car (~£22)
- →Optional Botanical Gardens ~£9
- →Optional Maracanã football match ~£55
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£644 | £2,730 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,086 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.~£644
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 Best of Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £644 per person for 10 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 £2,730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £644 — a saving of roughly £2,086 (76%) per person.
How long is the Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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 adventure, culture, backpacker 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?
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