Self-Launched Chile, Argentina & Brazil: Santiago to Rio
17 days · Chile, Argentina & Brazil
G Adventures charges £4,400
No-markup version: ~£1,490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 17-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Discover Brazil, Argentina & Chile" (trip code SCANG). You'll do the same spine — Santiago wine country, the Chilean Lake District, the Cruce de los Lagos ferry crossing into Bariloche, Buenos Aires tango, both sides of Iguazú Falls, São Paulo's food scene, the Afro-Brazilian community of Paraty and finishing in Rio — but booking it yourself with hostels and guesthouses, GetYourGuide day tours and local buses, ferries and low-cost domestic flights instead of a private van and a tour leader. Wild scenery, big cities and a lot of steak and malbec for a fraction of the guided price. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Land at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) and take the Turbus/Centropuerto airport bus to the city centre (~£3, 40 mins) or an official taxi (~£22, use the authorised counters inside arrivals). Check into a hostel in Bellavista or Barrio Lastarria. Spend the afternoon easing into the city: walk the Lastarria streets, ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal (~£2) for sunset views, and eat a completo or a plate of pastel de choclo for dinner. Buy a Bip! transport card at any metro station for cheap metro rides.
🚌Airport bus (~£3) or taxi (~£22)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Bellavista / Lastarria (~£14-20/night)
- →Cerro San Cristóbal funicular
- →Bellavista & Lastarria orientation walk
- →Bip! card for metro
Chilean wine country — Maipo or Casablanca Valley
Santiago, Chile
Book a small-group winery day trip via GetYourGuide or Viator (~£45-65 pp including tastings), or DIY it: take a public bus to the Casablanca Valley (~£5 each way, 1.5 hrs) and pre-book tastings directly at a winery like Casas del Bosque or Emiliana (~£15-25 per tasting). Either way you'll learn about Carménère and Sauvignon Blanc from a local host and do a vertical tasting. Back in Santiago by evening — grab a cheap menú del día lunch near Mercado Central and walk the Plaza de Armas.
🚌Public bus to wine valley (~£10 return) or included in day tour
🛏Hostel dorm or budget private room, Santiago (~£14-20/night)
- →Winery tour and vertical wine tasting
- →Casablanca Valley vineyard visit
- →Plaza de Armas & Mercado Central
Fly to the Lake District — Puerto Varas & Angelmó
Puerto Varas, Chile
Fly Santiago to Puerto Montt (PMC) on Sky Airline or JetSMART (~£50-80 one way, 1h50, book 4-6 weeks ahead). From Puerto Montt airport take a local bus or shared taxi to Puerto Varas (~£3-5, 30 mins). Spend the afternoon wandering the German-influenced town on Lago Llanquihue, then take a local bus to Puerto Montt's Angelmó fish market (~£2) for curanto or a seafood empanada. Cook a Chilean dinner in the hostel kitchen — pebre salsa, fresh bread and a bottle of local wine is a £8 feast.
🚌Domestic flight (~£50-80) + local bus/shared taxi (~£5)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Puerto Varas (~£16-22/night)
- →Puerto Varas lakefront walk
- →Angelmó fish market, Puerto Montt
- →Chilean cooking evening
Free day — Chiloé Island or Osorno Volcano
Puerto Varas, Chile
A flexible day. Option A: day trip to Chiloé Island — local bus to Ancud or Castro (~£6 each way, 2 hrs via Pargua ferry), see the UNESCO palafitos stilt houses and the colourful church of Castro, and eat curanto al hoyo. Option B: hike on Volcán Osorno with a GetYourGuide tour (~£60-90) or reach the ski centre base by shared transport and walk the lower slopes. Option C: rent a bike in Puerto Varas and ride the lakeside to Frutillar (~£10/day, 30km round trip).
🚌Local bus to Chiloé (~£12 return) or shared transport to Osorno
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Puerto Varas (~£16-22/night)
- →Chiloé Island day trip (Castro, palafitos)
- →Volcán Osorno hike
- →Frutillar bike ride
Cruce de los Lagos — ferry crossing into Argentina
Puerto Varas → Bariloche, Argentina
The scenic route, self-booked. Take a morning bus from Puerto Varas to Petrohué (~£4, 1 hr) and walk the Petrohué Falls boardwalk (~£3). Then follow the classic Cruce de los Lagos: bus to Peulla, boat across Lago Todos los Santos to Puerto Frías, then bus over the Andes to Bariloche. You can book the full Cruce de los Lagos package through a local operator in Puerto Varas (~£55-75) or piece it together yourself with bus + ferry tickets (~£35-45). Either way, budget a full day and carry cash and snacks. Arrive Bariloche late afternoon — check into a hostel near Centro Cívico and find a parrilla for dinner.
🚌Bus + ferry lake crossing (~£35-75)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Bariloche (~£14-20/night)
- →Petrohué Falls boardwalk
- →Cruce de los Lagos ferry over Lago Todos los Santos
- →Andes border crossing to Bariloche
Bariloche — lake district free day
San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Free day in Argentine Patagonia's playground. Cheap options: local bus No. 20 to Cerro Catedral for day hikes, or the Circuito Chico by public bus (~£3) with stops at Llao Llao and Villa Tacul viewpoints. Book independently: kayaking or rafting on the Río Manso (~£40-60 via local operators), mountain biking (~£25 half-day rental + route map), or a chocolate-shop crawl along Mitre. Dinner: bife de chorizo and a bottle of Patagonian malbec for ~£15.
🚌Local bus (Circuito Chico ~£3)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Bariloche (~£14-20/night)
- →Circuito Chico & Llao Llao viewpoints
- →Cerro Catedral hiking
- →Mitre chocolate shops
- →Optional rafting or kayaking
Fly to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fly Bariloche to Buenos Aires on Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART or Flybondi (~£45-80 one way, 2 hrs — note Aerolíneas' 15kg baggage limit). Take the airport bus (Tienda León, ~£7) or an official taxi/Ezeiza transfer (~£25) into Palermo or San Telmo. Afternoon free: wander Palermo Soho's boutiques and street art, or settle into a café with a cortado. Book your tango class tonight for tomorrow via GetYourGuide or directly with a milonga school.
🚌Domestic flight (~£45-80) + airport bus (~£7)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Palermo or San Telmo (~£15-22/night)
- →Palermo Soho orientation walk
- →Book tango lesson and milonga
Buenos Aires city tour + tango lesson
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Join a free walking tour of the city centre in the morning (tip-based, ~£5-8 in tips) covering Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada and Eva Perón's balcony. Then take a local bus to La Boca for the Caminito colours and Recoleta Cemetery (free entry to the neighbourhood, ~£3 for the cemetery). In the evening book a beginner tango lesson with a local dance school (~£12-18) in San Telmo or Abasto, then stay for the milonga — most schools let you watch or dance for a small entry fee. Dinner at a neighbourhood café beforehand, ~£10.
🚌Local bus/SUBE card (~£2)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Buenos Aires (~£15-22/night)
- →Free walking tour (Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada)
- →La Boca & Caminito
- →Recoleta Cemetery
- →Tango lesson + milonga
Buenos Aires free day
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sunday? Head to the San Telmo antiques market and street fair. Any day: rent a city bike (~£5/day) and cycle the Ecological Reserve, or take a public ferry/colectivo to Tigre for the delta boat tour (~£12 via Tren de la Costa + local lancha). Museum-lovers should hit MALBA (~£3) or do the Teatro Colón guided tour (~£20 booked direct). Optional evening: a football match at La Bombonera — buy tickets through a trusted reseller or the club, ~£30-50.
🚌Public transport / bike rental (~£5)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Buenos Aires (~£15-22/night)
- →San Telmo market
- →Tigre Delta day trip
- →MALBA or Teatro Colón tour
- →Optional football match
Fly to Iguazú — Brazilian side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Fly Buenos Aires to Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) on Flybondi or JetSMART (~£60-95 one way, 2 hrs). Check in, then take the local bus 120 from the terminal to the Brazilian side of Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (~£2 return). The Brazilian side gives the big panoramic view of the falls — entry ~£15. Walk the Trilha das Cataratas to the Devil's Throat catwalk and take the free park bus back. Evening: a local guide-led nature walk or just a beer by the river in Foz.
🚌Domestic flight (~£60-95) + park bus (~£2)
🛏Hostel or budget pousada, Foz do Iguaçu (~£14-20/night)
- →Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls
- →Trilha das Cataratas
- →Devil's Throat viewpoint
Argentine side of Iguazú + optional boat
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Cross to the Argentine side: local bus from Foz to Puerto Iguazú (~£2) then park shuttle (~£3). Argentine park entry ~£18. Do the Upper and Lower Circuits and the free train to Garganta del Diablo — allow 5-6 hours. Add the Gran Aventura boat trip under the falls (~£35-45, book at the park or via GetYourGuide) if you want the soaking of a lifetime. Return to Foz for the night. Optionally, a short helicopter flight over the falls (~£90-110) can be booked at the heliport on the Argentine side.
🚌Border bus + park shuttle (~£5)
🛏Hostel or budget pousada, Foz do Iguaçu (~£14-20/night)
- →Argentine side circuits & Garganta del Diablo
- →Gran Aventura boat ride (optional)
Fly to São Paulo — food and architecture
São Paulo, Brazil
Fly Foz do Iguaçu to São Paulo (GRU/CGH) (~£45-75, 2 hrs). Take the airport bus or metro into Vila Madalena or Pinheiros. Join a GetYourGuide food and architecture walking tour (~£35-50) hitting the Mercado Municipal, a pão de queijo and café stop and the Centro's landmark buildings — or DIY the same route for ~£15 in food. Finish with a pastel de bacalhau at the Mercado and a caipirinha in Vila Madalena's street-art lanes.
🚌Domestic flight (~£45-75) + metro/airport bus (~£5)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Vila Madalena / Pinheiros (~£15-22/night)
- →Mercado Municipal tasting
- →Centro architecture walk
- →Vila Madalena street art
Bus to Paraty via Afro-Brazilian community
Paraty, Brazil
Take a bus from São Paulo (Tietê) to Paraty (~£18-25, 6-7 hrs, Flixbus/Útil). En route or on arrival, book a community visit to a quilombo (Afro-Brazilian settlement founded by escaped slaves) through a local guide or the Paraty tourism office (~£15-25 including lunch) — you'll learn the history, meet residents and eat a home-cooked moqueca. Arrive Paraty in the evening, check into a pousada in the cobblestoned centro histórico and swim at the town beach.
🚌Long-distance bus (~£18-25)
🛏Pousada or hostel, Paraty historic centre (~£15-22/night)
- →Quilombo community visit & lunch
- →Paraty historic centre evening walk
Paraty — schooner, beaches and cachaça
Paraty, Brazil
Book a schooner (escuna) day trip to the bay's islands and beaches (~£18-25, includes stops for snorkelling and lunch at a beach restaurant) — book at the pier or via GetYourGuide. Alternative: a guided walking tour of the colonial centre plus cachaça tasting (~£15) or kayaking through the mangroves (~£20). Evening: eat at a local restaurant and try a caipirinha made with Paraty cachaça.
🚌Walking / local boat
🛏Pousada or hostel, Paraty (~£15-22/night)
- →Schooner island-hopping tour
- →Cachaça tasting
- →Historic centre walking tour
Bus to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bus Paraty to Rio (Novo Rio terminal) (~£12-18, 4-5 hrs). Check into a hostel in Botafogo, Santa Teresa or Ipanema. Afternoon: walk Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, sunset at Arpoador rock. Buy a RioCard or use contactless metro. Evening: cheap and cheerful boteco dinner in Botafogo (~£8) or Lapa for live samba.
🚌Long-distance bus (~£12-18) + metro (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Botafogo / Santa Teresa (~£15-25/night)
- →Ipanema & Copacabana
- →Arpoador sunset
- →Lapa samba night
Rio — Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and a favela visit
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Get up early for Corcovado: pre-book the Trem do Corcovado train or van ticket online (~£25-30) to beat the queues. Then take the cable car up Sugarloaf (~£20) for the classic panorama. In the afternoon, join a community-run favela tour (e.g. in Vidigal or Santa Marta, ~£20-30 booked direct or via GetYourGuide) that supports residents rather than exploiting them. Or just relax on Praia Vermelha. Final-night dinner: a churrascaria rodízio (~£18) or a beach kiosk.
🚌Metro + van (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget room, Rio (~£15-25/night)
- →Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado train)
- →Sugarloaf cable car
- →Community-led favela tour
Depart Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Final morning: a last swim at Copacabana, a browse of the Feira de Ipanema handicraft market (Sundays) or a coffee and pão de queijo. Take the metro + BRT or an app taxi to Galeão (GIG) airport (~£5-15) for your onward flight. If you have time, add a day trip to Petrópolis or a hike up Pedra Bonita for one last view.
🚌Metro + BRT or taxi to airport (~£5-15)
🛏—
- →Ipanema craft market
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,490 | £4,400 |
| Duration | 17 days | 17 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,910 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,490
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 Chile, Argentina & Brazil: Santiago to Rio cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,490 per person for 17 days in Chile, Argentina & 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £4,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,490 — a saving of roughly £2,910 (66%) per person.
How long is the Chile, Argentina & Brazil trip?+
This itinerary runs 17 days, covering 17 day-by-day stops through Chile, Argentina & 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, foodie trip through Chile, Argentina & 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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