Rio, Iguazu Falls & Salvador: Self-Launched 9-Day Brazil Route
9 days · Brazil
ETours Brazil DMC charges £1,460
No-markup version: ~£1,365 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A backpacker-friendly, self-launched version of the classic Rio–Iguazu–Salvador circuit: Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, a community-led favela walk in Rocinha, both sides of Iguazu Falls (Brazilian and Argentine), then Bahia's Pelourinho and a schooner day around the Baía de Todos os Santos. You book the same sights, tours and domestic flights yourself — using city buses, the metro, and short-haul flights instead of private transfers, and hostels/guesthouses instead of 3-star hotels. Expect to spend roughly £1,300–£1,500 all-in versus the operator's ~£1,460 (US$1,848) headline price, while keeping total flexibility and often better scenery-per-pound on the ground. All costs are approximate (2026 rates) and exclude international flights, travel insurance and alcohol.
Day-by-day
Arrive Rio de Janeiro — settle into Copacabana/Botafogo
Rio de Janeiro
Land at Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU). Skip the private transfer: take the BRT TransCarioca + metro, or a 99/Uber (roughly £8–12 to the Zona Sul). Check into a hostel private room or guesthouse in Copacabana, Botafogo or Santa Teresa. Spend the afternoon easing in: walk the Copacabana promenade at sunset, grab an açaí or a cheap prato do dia (rice, beans, grilled chicken, ~£5) at a boteco, and buy a RioCard (transport card) for the metro and buses. Sort your GetYourGuide/Viator bookings for the next two days tonight.
🚌BRT + metro or rideshare from GIG (~£8–12)
🛏Hostel private room or guesthouse, Copacabana/Botafogo/Santa Teresa (~£20–30/night)
- →Copacabana beachfront walk
- →Buy RioCard transport card
- →Sunset at Arpoador (optional)
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf & central Rio highlights
Rio de Janeiro
Book a half-day Corcovado + city tour on GetYourGuide (roughly £45–60 including van transfer, tickets and guide) — this covers Christ the Redeemer, Maracanã exterior, Sambódromo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Selarón Stairs and the Lapa Arches. In the afternoon, take the cable car up Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar) independently via the metro to Botafogo + local bus 513, or add it to a combo ticket (~£18–22). Buffet lunch (por quilo) in Lapa or Cinelândia: ~£6–8. Evening free in Lapa — live samba in the bars along Rua do Riachuelo if you're up for it.
🚌Metro + local buses + GetYourGuide van; Sugarloaf cable car ~£20
🛏Hostel private room or guesthouse, Rio (~£20–30/night)
- →Corcovado & Christ the Redeemer (GetYourGuide half-day tour, ~£50)
- →Sugarloaf cable car (~£20)
- →Selarón Stairs & Lapa Arches
- →Metropolitan Cathedral & Sambódromo exterior
Rocinha favela walk & Gávea viewpoints
Rio de Janeiro
Join a community-run walking tour of Rocinha (book direct with a local guide co-op or via GetYourGuide, ~£20–25) — the ethical operators reinvest in the neighbourhood and often include the social/education projects the group tour covers. Afterwards take a local bus to Gávea and walk the Circuito do Gávea trail to the Pedra da Gávea-adjacent viewpoints (Vidigal/“Devil's Trampoline” area) — free and one of Rio's best walks. Late afternoon: metro to Ipanema for the beach and Arpoador sunset. Pack tonight for an early flight tomorrow.
🚌Local buses + metro (~£4–6)
🛏Hostel private room or guesthouse, Rio (~£20–30/night)
- →Rocinha community walking tour (~£22)
- →Gávea trail viewpoints
- →Ipanema & Arpoador sunset
Fly Rio → Foz do Iguaçu; Brazilian side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu
Book a morning GIG/SDU–Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) flight yourself on GOL, LATAM or Azul — low-cost fares typically run £70–110 one-way if booked 4–8 weeks ahead. From IGU airport, bus 120 or a rideshare drops you at your hostel near the park entrance or in the town centre. Drop bags, then take the Parque Nacional bus (line 120) to the Brazilian side visitor centre. One-kilometre walkway to the falls, the Devil's Throat catwalk, panoramic elevator, and the Porto Canoas boardwalk — entry ~£12–14. Finish with the Parque das Aves bird park next door (~£12).
🚌Domestic flight ~£70–110 one-way; bus 120 to park ~£1
🛏Hostel private room or pousada, Foz do Iguaçu (~£15–22/night)
- →Iguazu Falls — Brazilian side (park entry ~£13)
- →Parque das Aves bird park (~£12)
- →Porto Canoas boardwalk & panoramic elevator
Argentine side of Iguazu Falls (full day)
Foz do Iguaçu
Cross the border independently: public bus from Foz town to Puerto Iguazú (~£2–3), get your passport stamped, then take the local bus or a shared taxi to the Argentine park entrance. Pay the Argentine entry (~£22) and ride the Ecológico Tren to the Garganta del Diablo walkway — the most dramatic view of the Devil's Throat. Spend the day on the upper and lower circuits; bring a packed lunch (park food is pricey). Return the same way by late afternoon; do the border crossing earlier rather than later, and avoid the Brazilian national holiday crowds if you can plan around them. Optional upgrade: Macuco Safari boat ride (~£25–30, book on-site).
🚌Public bus to Puerto Iguazú + park shuttle (~£6 total)
🛏Hostel private room or pousada, Foz do Iguaçu (~£15–22/night)
- →Iguazu Falls — Argentine side (entry ~£22)
- →Ecológico Tren to Garganta del Diablo
- →Upper & Lower Circuits
- →Optional Macuco Safari boat (~£28)
Fly Foz do Iguaçu → Salvador; evening in Bahia
Salvador
Short-hop flight IGU–Salvador (SSA) — usually one connection via São Paulo, Brasília or Rio, roughly £120–180 one-way if booked ahead; compare on Skyscanner for Azul/LATAM/GOL combos. From SSA airport, take the airport bus or a 99/Uber (~£6–10) to a hostel in Pelourinho or Barra. Spend the late afternoon acclimatising: walk the historic centre, taste acarajé from a Baiana street stall (~£3), and catch sunset at Farol da Barra. Tomorrow and the day after are the Salvador highlights.
🚌Domestic flight ~£120–180 (one connection); bus/Uber from airport ~£8
🛏Hostel private room or pousada, Pelourinho/Barra (~£18–25/night)
- →Pelourinho orientation walk
- →Sunset at Farol da Barra
- →Acarajé street food
Pelourinho & historic Salvador walking day
Salvador
Do a self-guided loop of the Cidade Alta: Terreiro de Jesus, the gold-leafed São Francisco Church (~£5 entry), the Cathedral Basilica, Museu da Misericórdia, Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos, and the Casa do Olodum (or catch an Olodum drum rehearsal if one's on). Join a locals-led walking tour on GetYourGuide if you'd rather have context (~£15–20). Afternoon free: visit the Mercado Modelo, ride the Lacerda Elevator to the Cidade Baixa, or take a short boat to Itaparica if you want a preview of tomorrow. Moqueca for dinner ~£8–10.
🚌Walking + local buses (~£3)
🛏Hostel private room or pousada, Salvador (~£18–25/night)
- →Terreiro de Jesus & Pelourinho walking loop
- →São Francisco Church interior (~£5)
- →Cathedral, Rosário dos Pretos, Casa do Olodum
- →Optional guided walk (~£18)
- →Mercado Modelo & Lacerda Elevator
Schooner tour around Baía de Todos os Santos
Salvador
Book a shared escuna (schooner) day trip from the Terminal Marítimo off Rua da Bélgica in the Cidade Baixa — you'll pay roughly £22–30 per person on the day, or pre-book via GetYourGuide/Klook for ~£35. The classic route stops at Ilha dos Frades (Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe beach) and Itaparica (Ponta de Areia), with time to swim from the beach. Lunch of moqueca or peixe grelhado on the boat or at a beach kiosk (~£8–10). Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water and cash for landing fees. If you get seasick, swap for a car-based day at Praia do Forte instead (~£25 by shared van).
🚌Shared schooner + boot transfer (~£25)
🛏Hostel private room or pousada, Salvador (~£18–25/night)
- →Baía de Todos os Santos schooner day (~£25)
- →Ilha dos Frades — Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe beach
- →Itaparica — Ponta de Areia beach
- →Bahian lunch (~£9)
Salvador — last morning and departure
Salvador
Final breakfast, a last wander through Pelourinho's colonial streets or a coffee at a café in Santo Antônio, then check out. Take the airport bus or a rideshare to Salvador International (SSA) for your flight home — remember the operator's own note: this route gives you an open-jaw itinerary, landing in Rio (GIG/SDU) and flying out of Salvador (SSA). If you have a late flight, drop bags at the hostel and catch the sunset at Porto da Barra before heading out.
🚌Airport bus or rideshare to SSA (~£6–10)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Pelourinho morning stroll
- →Souvenir shopping at Mercado Modelo
- →Departure transfer to Salvador airport
Self-launched vs. ETours Brazil DMC
| This itinerary (self-launched) | ETours Brazil DMC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,365 | £1,460 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £95 per person (7%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more ETours Brazil DMC-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,365
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, Iguazu Falls & Salvador: Self-Launched 9-Day Brazil Route cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,365 per person for 9 days in 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 ETours Brazil DMC?+
Yes — ETours Brazil DMC charges around £1,460 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,365 — a saving of roughly £95 (7%) per person.
How long is the Brazil trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through 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 culture, budget, backpacker trip through 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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