Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires via Iguazu – Self-Launched Travel Pass
12 days · Brazil & Argentina (Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Paraty, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires)
Bamba Travel charges £1,100
No-markup version: ~£663 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Bamba Travel's 12-day Rio→Buenos Aires travel pass: the same route — Rio's beaches and rainforest, car-free Ilha Grande, colonial Paraty, big-city São Paulo, and Iguazu Falls from both sides — before finishing with tango and malbec in Buenos Aires. Where the operator bundles transport and selected excursions (but not accommodation), you'll book everything yourself: long-distance buses and flights, local boat trips, and GetYourGuide/direct-booked day tours. Budget guesthouses and hostels replace the tour's chosen hotels, and you keep full flexibility on dates. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Rio de Janeiro – beaches, rainforest and Santa Teresa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Arrive and settle into a hostel in Botafogo or Copacabana (better value than Ipanema). Do the classic Rio city day independently: take the metro + Corcovado train or van up to Christ the Redeemer early (book a timed ticket online ~£22), then explore Tijuca National Park's rainforest and waterfall trails with a shared day tour or a local guide booked via GetYourGuide (~£30). In the afternoon wander the cobbled streets of Santa Teresa by tram, walk down to the Selarón Steps in Lapa, and finish at São Conrado beach to watch the hang gliders land at sunset.
🚌Metro and local buses around the city; Uber is cheap and safe for evenings (~£3-6 per ride).
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Botafogo/Copacabana (~£14-20/night)
- →Christ the Redeemer via Corcovado train
- →Tijuca National Park rainforest & waterfall walk
- →Santa Teresa & Selarón Steps wander
- →São Conrado hang-glider landing beach at sunset
- →Optional: Sugarloaf Mountain cable car at sunset (~£18)
Rio to Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Travel to the Costa Verde. Take a bus or shared transfer from Rio to Conceição de Jacareí or Angra dos Reis (~2.5-3 hrs), then the public ferry or a shared fast boat across to Abraão village on car-free Ilha Grande (~£6-10). Afternoon free to swim at Abraão beach, hike 20 minutes to Lopes Mendes viewpoint alternative or just relax. Book your boat trip for tomorrow at the pier.
🚌Bus Rio→Conceição de Jacareí ~£8-12; ferry to Abraão ~£6-10.
🛏Pousada or hostel in Abraão village (~£16-22/night)
- →Scenic coastal bus/transfer to the coast
- →Ferry to Ilha Grande's Abraão village
- →Afternoon beach time
Ilha Grande – Lopes Mendes beach day
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Take a shared schooner or taxi boat from Abraão to Pouso beach, then walk the 40-minute trail over to Lopes Mendes — regularly voted one of Brazil's best beaches. Alternatively, hike the full trail from Abraão (~2.5 hrs each way, free). Snorkel, swim and sunbathe, then boat or walk back in the late afternoon. Buy supplies in the village the night before — food on the beach is limited and pricey.
🚌Shared taxi boat from Abraão pier (~£10 round trip); everything on foot otherwise.
🛏Pousada or hostel in Abraão village (~£16-22/night)
- →Shared boat to Pouso beach (~£10 return)
- →Trek Pouso→Lopes Mendes
- →Snorkelling and swimming at Lopes Mendes
Ilha Grande to Paraty
Paraty, Brazil
Morning ferry back to the mainland, then bus or shared transfer along the coast to Paraty (~2 hrs via Angra or a direct shuttle). Check into a guesthouse in the colonial centre — Paraty's cobbled, car-free historic core is a UNESCO-listed gem. Evening stroll along the harbour and a caipirinha at a riverside bar.
🚌Ferry to mainland ~£6; shared shuttle/bus to Paraty ~£8-12.
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Paraty historic centre (~£16-24/night)
- →Coastal transfer to Paraty
- →Evening walk through Paraty's colonial centre
Paraty – schooner boat trip in the bay
Paraty, Brazil
Join a shared schooner day trip around Paraty Bay (~£18-25, book at any agency in town or via GetYourGuide). Stop at beaches and islands for swimming and snorkelling, with lunch often included or available on board. Back by late afternoon — spend the evening exploring the colonial streets and local restaurants.
🚌Walk to the pier; boat trip included in activity cost.
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Paraty historic centre (~£16-24/night)
- →Shared schooner boat trip in Paraty Bay
- →Swimming and snorkelling stops
- →Optional: cachaça distillery visit or kayak rental
Paraty to São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
Travel day inland to Brazil's biggest city. Bus from Paraty to São Paulo takes about 5-6 hours (often via Resende or with a change); book with 1001 or a similar operator (~£15-20). Or take a shared transfer to São Paulo's bus station. Settle into a hostel in Vila Madalena or Pinheiros — great food and nightlife within walking distance.
🚌Bus Paraty→São Paulo ~£15-20, ~5-6 hrs.
🛏Hostel in Vila Madalena or Pinheiros (~£12-18/night)
- →Bus journey along the Costa Verde and into São Paulo state
- →Evening wander in Vila Madalena
São Paulo – city orientation
São Paulo, Brazil
Explore São Paulo with a free or low-cost walking tour (many run on tips) or a GetYourGuide city orientation (~£15-20). Hit the classic stops: the Mercado Municipal for pastel and mortadella sandwiches, the historic centre and Praça da Sé, Batman's Alley street art, and the Ibirapuera Park. Finish with dinner in the Japanese neighbourhood of Liberdade, home to the world's largest Japanese diaspora community.
🚌Metro day pass (~£1.50-2); city is huge so factor a couple of Ubers.
🛏Hostel in Vila Madalena or Pinheiros (~£12-18/night)
- →Guided or tip-based city walking tour
- →Mercado Municipal food stop
- →Batman's Alley street art
- →Liberdade Japanese neighbourhood evening
São Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Fly (cheapest and fastest — LATAM/Gol/Azul one-ways often £45-75 if booked ahead, ~1h45) or take a long-haul overnight bus (~15 hrs, ~£35-45) from São Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu. Settle in and rest; you can walk to the Brazilian side of the falls tomorrow morning if you have energy, or spend the evening at the Marco das Três Fronteiras viewpoint.
🚌Flight São Paulo→Foz do Iguaçu ~£45-75; or bus ~£35-45.
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Foz do Iguaçu (~£12-18/night)
- →Flight or overnight bus to Foz do Iguaçu
- →Optional evening at the Three Frontiers landmark
Iguazu Falls – Argentine side
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Cross into Argentina in the morning (public bus from Foz do Iguaçu terminal ~£2-3, plus border formalities). Spend the day in Iguazu National Park on the Argentine side (~£28 entry): walk the Circuito Inferior and Circuito Superior catwalks, take the little train to the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) walkway, and stop at the Three Frontiers overlook if time allows. Book entry online in advance; an optional boat trip to the falls base runs ~£28-35. Overnight in Puerto Iguazú.
🚌Public bus Foz→Puerto Iguazú ~£2-3; park shuttle bus to falls trailheads ~£2.
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Puerto Iguazú (~£12-18/night)
- →Full day at Argentine Iguazu Falls (self-guided circuits)
- →Train to Garganta del Diablo
- →Optional boat trip into the falls
- →Optional: Brazilian side visit instead/additionally (~£15 entry)
Puerto Iguazú to Buenos Aires (overnight bus)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Free morning in Puerto Iguazú — visit the Güira Oga wildlife rescue centre or relax by the river. In the late afternoon board a comfortable overnight cama bus to Buenos Aires (~17-18 hrs, ~£35-45 from Crucero del Norte, Flechabus or similar). Bus cama seats recline almost flat and include meals — a much cheaper option than flying (~£70-100).
🚌Overnight cama bus Puerto Iguazú→Buenos Aires ~£35-45.
🛏Overnight on the bus (reclining cama seat)
- →Morning at Güira Oga or riverside
- →Overnight long-distance bus to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires – tango in Abasto
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into a hostel in San Telmo or Palermo. In the afternoon, head to the Abasto neighbourhood — the tango heartland tied to Carlos Gardel — to learn the basics in a group tango class (~£12-20, bookable on GetYourGuide or directly). Evening wine tasting with empanadas at a local bodega (~£20-25), or book a pay-what-you-want La Boca/San Telmo walk.
🚌Subte (metro) and walking; taxis cheap at night.
🛏Hostel in San Telmo or Palermo (~£14-20/night)
- →Abasto neighbourhood tango history walk
- →One-hour group tango class
- →Wine tasting with empanadas
Buenos Aires – Recoleta, Palermo and farewell
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Final day: wander Recoleta Cemetery (free, Eva Perón's tomb) and the Sunday San Telmo market if your dates line up, lunch on asado in Palermo Soho, and stop by the colourful Caminito in La Boca. Catch an evening milonga if you're hooked on tango. Depart or extend from here.
🚌Subte/bus around the city (~£2-3/day).
🛏Hostel in San Telmo or Palermo (~£14-20/night)
- →Recoleta Cemetery
- →Palermo Soho food and shopping
- →La Boca's Caminito
- →Optional milonga evening
Self-launched vs. Bamba Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bamba Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£663 | £1,100 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £437 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bamba Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£663
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 Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires via Iguazu – Self-Launched Travel Pass cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £663 per person for 12 days in Brazil & Argentina (Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Paraty, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires). 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 Bamba Travel?+
Yes — Bamba Travel charges around £1,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £663 — a saving of roughly £437 (40%) per person.
How long is the Brazil & Argentina (Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Paraty, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires) trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Brazil & Argentina (Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Paraty, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires).
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, beaches trip through Brazil & Argentina (Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande, Paraty, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
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