Active Chile & Argentina: Self-Launched Santiago to Buenos Aires Adventure
11 days · Chile & Argentina
G Adventures charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£850 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Active Chile & Argentina trip — hike the Andes above Santiago, cycle between Mendoza's wineries, trek the Yungas forests near Tucumán, soak up Salta's culture, and finish with tango in Buenos Aires. You arrange the same transport, hikes, and winery tours yourself via public buses, low-cost flights, and direct bookings, cutting the price to a fraction of the guided tour cost.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Land in Santiago and settle into a hostel in the Bellavista or Lastarria neighbourhood — both walkable, lively, and close to metro lines. Spend the afternoon acclimatising with a wander through Cerro Santa Lucía for city views, then hit Mercado Central for a cheap seafood lunch. Grab a BIP metro card (about £3) for the week. Stock up on snacks and water for tomorrow's hike.
🚌Metro from airport to centre (~£1.50) or shared transfer (~£8)
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria (~£14/night dorm, private ~£32)
- →Explore Bellavista & Cerro Santa Lucía
- →Dinner in Barrio Lastarria
Full-Day Hike in Aguas de Ramón
Santiago, Chile
Do your own version of the included guided hike by heading to Aguas de Ramón Natural Park in the Andean foothills. Take the metro to Escuela Militar then a local bus or shared taxi to the trailhead (~£2). The main trail climbs to the San Ramón waterfall with sweeping views back over Santiago and the Andes — allow 5-6 hours return. Entry is roughly £3. Alternatively, book a guided small-group hike on GetYourGuide if you prefer a leader.
🚌Metro + local bus to trailhead (~£2 each way)
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria (~£14/night dorm)
- →Self-guided trek to Salto de San Ramón
- →Andes viewpoints over Santiago
Cross the Andes to Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Take the spectacular trans-Andean bus crossing via the Los Andes/Uspallata route, with views of Aconcagua. Book a daytime Andesmar or Cata Internacional bus (~£22-30, 7-8 hours) — buy online or at the Santiago bus terminal a day or two ahead. Have your border paperwork ready for the Argentina crossing at Los Horcones. Arrive in Mendoza and check into a hostel near Plaza Independencia or the tree-lined Avenida San Martín.
🚌Andesmar/Cata International bus Santiago→Mendoza (~£25, 7-8 hrs)
🛏Hostel in Mendoza centre (~£13/night dorm)
- →Scenic Andes bus crossing
- →Evening stroll on Plaza Independencia
Winery Bike Tour, Luján de Cuyo
Mendoza, Argentina
Recreate the included bike-and-winery day by booking an independent winery bike rental in Maipú or Luján de Cuyo (~£20-30 including bike hire and several tastings). Buses from Mendoza centre reach the wine area cheaply (~£1). Pedal between bodegas, sample Malbec, and stop for an Argentine asado lunch (included on the original tour; budget ~£10-15 here). Many rental outfits throw in a tasting or two.
🚌Local bus to Maipú/Luján de Cuyo (~£1 each way) + bike hire
🛏Hostel in Mendoza centre (~£13/night dorm)
- →Bicycle tour between Luján de Cuyo wineries
- →Wine tastings & Malbec sampling
- →Argentine asado lunch
Mendoza at Leisure
Mendoza, Argentina
Free day to enjoy Mendoza on your own terms. Options include a self-guided walk of Parque General San Martín, the Cerro de la Gloria viewpoint, a craft-beer or wine-bar crawl, or (seasonally) white-water rafting on the Mendoza River or horseback riding near Potrerillos — book direct or via GetYourGuide. If you want more wine, day-trip to the Uco Valley by public bus and join a smaller budget tasting.
🚌Walking / local buses (~£2)
🛏Hostel in Mendoza centre (~£13/night dorm)
- →Parque San Martín & Cerro de la Gloria
- →Optional rafting or horseback riding
- →Optional Uco Valley wine day-trip
Overnight Bus to San Miguel de Tucumán
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Spend the day exploring Mendoza before boarding the overnight bus to Tucumán (~£35-45, 12-14 hours). Book a cama/semi-cama seat with a company like Flecha Bus or Vía Tac for more comfort. This is a long haul, so pack snacks, water, and a neck pillow. You'll arrive in Tucumán in the morning, having saved a night's accommodation cost.
🚌Flecha Bus/Vía Tac Mendoza→Tucumán overnight (~£40)
🛏Overnight bus (seat recliner)
- →Free day in Mendoza
- →Board overnight long-distance bus
Trek the Yungas from Tucumán
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Arrive and check into a hostel near Plaza Independencia. Then recreate the included guided trek with a self-arranged hike into the Yungas cloud forests and mountains around Tucumán — options include the trails near San Javier or Raco, reachable by local bus (~£1.50). If you'd prefer a guide, small-group day hikes can be booked locally or via GetYourGuide. Enjoy the subtropical forest views before returning to the city.
🚌Local bus to trailhead (~£1.50 each way)
🛏Hostel in Tucumán centre (~£11/night dorm)
- →Self-arranged Yungas forest trek
- →Optional local guided hike
- →Explore Tucumán's historic centre
Bus to Salta
Salta, Argentina
Travel to Salta by public bus (~£12-15, 4-5 hours) — a comfortable, scenic ride. Arrive and check into a hostel near the main plaza. Spend the afternoon exploring Salta's colonial centre, the striking Iglesia San Francisco, and the MAAM archaeology museum (entry ~£2). Try empanadas salteñas and a glass of Torrontés wine for dinner.
🚌Public bus Tucumán→Salta (~£13, 4-5 hrs)
🛏Hostel in Salta centre (~£12/night dorm)
- →Public bus Tucumán→Salta
- →Explore Salta's colonial centre & MAAM museum
- →Try empanadas salteñas
Salta at Leisure
Salta, Argentina
Free day in and around Salta. Take the cable car up Cerro San Bernardo for city views (~£2), or day-trip to the dramatic Quebrada de Humahuaca style scenery or the Salinas Grandes salt flats if you have time (long day trips bookable via GetYourGuide, ~£35-45). Cheaper options include hiking local trails or sampling the city's food scene — locro, humita, and regional wines.
🚌Walking / local buses (~£2)
🛏Hostel in Salta centre (~£12/night dorm)
- →Cerro San Bernardo cable car
- →Optional Salinas Grandes or Quebrada day-trip
- →Salta food & wine exploration
Fly to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly from Salta to Buenos Aires (the original tour includes this internal flight; book yourself on Aerolíneas Argentinas or JetSMART, ~£70-100 if booked ahead). Check into a hostel in Palermo or San Telmo, then spend the evening exploring. To mirror the optional tango-and-dinner experience, catch a budget milonga or a tango show in San Telmo — many venues offer cheap entry or free beginner classes.
🚌Internal flight Salta→Buenos Aires (~£85)
🛏Hostel in Palermo/San Telmo (~£16/night dorm)
- →Fly Salta→Buenos Aires
- →Evening in Palermo or San Telmo
- →Optional tango show or milonga
Depart Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Depart at any time, or extend your stay to properly explore the capital. Highlights worth adding on your own: Recoleta Cemetery, the colourful Caminito in La Boca, Plaza de Mayo, and the Sunday San Telmo antiques market. If you have extra days, consider pre- or post-accommodation here — G Adventures recommends it, and so do we.
🚌Taxi/shuttle to Ezeiza airport (~£12)
🛏Optional extra hostel nights (~£16/night)
- →Optional Recoleta Cemetery & La Boca
- →Optional San Telmo market
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£850 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,550 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£850
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 Active Chile & Argentina: Self-Launched Santiago to Buenos Aires Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £850 per person for 11 days in Chile & Argentina. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £850 — a saving of roughly £1,550 (65%) per person.
How long is the Chile & Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Chile & Argentina.
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, hiking, culture trip through Chile & Argentina, 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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