Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro - 11 Days
Buenos Aires | Tango Experience | Iguazu Falls | Rio de Janeiro | Corcovado & Sugarloaf Mountains
An itinerary of 11 days taking in 3 major destinations is definitely not for the faint hearted. This Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro itinerary will have you visit two of the most passionate and beautiful cities in South America along with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Iguazú National Park. Feel the rush of the spray hitting your face and let the natural energy of the area recharge your batteries with their positive effects. Experience the passion of the Tango in Buenos Aires and spend time getting to know the city. Afterward, leisurely visit the Iguazu Falls on both sides before finishing off your trip in the home of beach and beauty, Rio de Janeiro. Gaze over the city from the heights of the Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain and explore the city below with local insight. On this itinerary you will have huge highlights with time to take it all in.
In Brief
Day 1: Arrival in Buenos Aires – Transfer to Your Hotel
Day 2: Full Day Buenos Aires Tour with Local Insights and Knowledge – Visit a Milonga (Traditional Tango Hall)
Day 3: Free Time in Buenos Aires – Dinner and Tango Show
Day 4: Flight to Puerto Iguazu
Day 5: Explore the Iguazu Falls, Argentina Side
Day 6: Free Time to Rest and Explore at your Own Pace
Day 7: Visit the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls – Visit the Bird Park – Flight to Rio de Janeiro
Day 8: Full Day Iconic Corcovado and Sugarloaf Tour
Day 9: Explore Rio de Janeiro with Local Insights and Knowledge
Day 10: Free Time in Rio de Janeiro
Day 11: Transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport – Departure
- 11 Days / 10 Nights
- Group size: Customised Itinerary for You
- Accommodation: Hand-Picked Hotels
- Start: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Finish: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Included
- 10 Nights Accommodation
- Breakfast Daily
- 2 Lunches
- 1 Tango Show and Dinner
- Domestic Flights as Mentioned
- English, Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Guides
- Private & Shared Tours
- Private Transfers
- All Entrance Fees to Attractions and Sites Visited in the Itinerary
- Visit a Milonga (Tango Hall)
- Visit The Bird Park
- In Country English, Spanish or Portuguese Speaking 24 Hour Assistance
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance (Mandatory)
- Meals Not Mentioned
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
- Additional Entrances Not Specified in the Itinerary
- Visas
Itinerary Details
Day 1 - Arrival in Buenos Aires and Transfer to Your Hotel
Welcome to Argentina and Buenos Aires!
After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, make your way out of the airport building where your driver guide will be waiting for you. You will make the trip to your hotel together. Afterwards, settle into your hotel and relax after your long trip.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Day 2 - Explore Buenos Aires with Local Insight Whilst Seeing the Most Iconic Ones. Visit a Milonga, a Traditional Tango Hall
Today you will meet your guide, who is a local of Buenos Aires. They will take you through their favourite parts of this immense city, they may not be the most visited locations by tourists, however they are the ones that make up the heart and soul of this stunning city. You will visit markets and see how locals live, along with perhaps spotting some of the most famous workers in the city, the dog walkers. As there are highlights of the city that shouldn’t be missed, you will also visit Recoleta Cemetery and Plaza de Mayo, should you wish you could also see the Obelisco, Theatro Colon and the Congress building. If your tour is on a market weekend we recommend spending some time walking through San Telmo, it is very busy at this time with artisan products, antiques and Tango in the streets. The time and tour is up to you and your local guide. During your day your guide will take you to a local restaurant or cafe where you can sample the delights of a local eatery, this experience will be very different to the BBQ restaurants which line the tourist streets.
Later, in the evening, your guide will accompany you on a gorgeously authentic experience, a visit to a Milonga hall. This is where the locals of Buenos Aires come to dance their passionate Tango. Your time at the Milonga hall can be taken in watching couples wind their way around the floor, and each other, or you could participate. Some locals are happy to help you learn a few steps so you can experience the Tango fully.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3 - Free Time in Buenos Aires - Dinner and a Well Known Tango Show
A lazy day is planned for today, after a delightful night of strutting your stuff on the dance floor. Today is a free day for you at leisure. Should you wish to further explore the city, your guide will be available to assist you and take you out.
In the evening you will experience a Tango show. After arrival at the location you will enjoy a 3 course meal, if you would like, it is a great opportunity to sample one of Argentina’s famous steaks. Accompany your meal with a glass or two of red wine and then sit back and watch the spectacular show unfold before your eyes. These professional dancers will twist and bend and move as one to the most famous Tango music and have you reminiscing of your own prowess of the night before!
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Included meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 - Fly to Puerto Iguazú - Transfer to Your Hotel
In time for your flight, you will be transferred by private car to the airport in Buenos Aires for your flight to Puerto Iguazú.
Flight: Buenos Aires -> Puerto Iguazú
On arrival in Puerto Iguazú you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure to take some time getting used to the humidity of the Iguazú Falls area.
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Explore the Argentine Side of Iguazú Falls
This morning your guide will meet you for a full day walking the numerous scenic walkways of the Argentine side of the Iguazú Falls. You will take the Rainforest Ecological Train to look over the drop of the Devil’s Throat and see wildlife and birds in the greenery along the pathways. Walk over the top of the falls and turn corners to see yet another cascade tumbling down.
If you have chosen the recommended hotel within the National Park you can return to your hotel at any time to rest or charge cameras etc. If you are staying at a hotel in Puerto Iguazu town you will have time to stop along the way to rest and have something to eat.
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Free Time in Puerto Iguazú
Staying inside the Iguazú National Park means today you can revisit any of the falls from the day before, or see some of the falls you didn’t get to today. Take your time and stroll at your leisure to fully enjoy this time in the park.
Staying in the town of Puerto Iguazú offers you the opportunity to use this day exploring this small town. Full of tourist shops and restaurants you can easily walk anywhere you’d like to visit. The town is pretty and green. Between the town and your hotel you will have a nice time relaxing and exploring.
Overnight in Puerto Iguazú
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Explore the Brazilian Side of Iguaçu Falls - Visit The Bird Park - Fly to Rio de Janeiro
Leaving Argentina behind you will need to ensure you have your passports ready as you cross from Argentina into Brazil. After the formalities of the border crossing, which your guide will help you with, you will continue on to visit the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls. The walkways on this side are not as extensive as the Argentine side, however you will get closer to the falls and feel the spray as you discover how close you are willing to walk out to the edge of the falls. Depending on the time of the year there could be a lot of water and spray around so be prepared to get wet!
Following your visit to the Brazilian side of the falls you will make your way to Parque das Aves, the Bird Park. The Bird Park is approximately 16.5 hectares in area and is home to more than 500 birds. The walking is easy, though the heat can make it feel more difficult, depending on the time of year. The pathways take you through huge cages areas where birds that have been rescued or are being rehabilitated, roam Stop along the way for a refreshing beverage if needed, and try the local treats/drinks of Açaí or limeade to cool off.
Once you have spent time at the Bird Park and in time for your flight, you will be transferred to the airport in Foz do Iguacu for your flight to Rio de Janeiro.
Flight: Foz do Iguacu -> Rio de Janeiro
On arrival in Rio de Janeiro you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Visit the Corcovado with the Statue of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain
After a delicious breakfast you will meet your driver guide who will be taking you on a private guided tour to the most emblematic postcards of Rio! We will embark on a 30 minute tram ride uphill to the top of Corcovado Mountain. The summit offers the best views of the entire city and features the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, with its wide open arms.
Everything begins on board a centenarian eco-friendly electric tram. It travels uphill through a well-preserved stretch of the Atlantic Forest, part of Tijuca’s National Park, ending at the most iconic attraction of Rio de Janeiro: the Christ the Redeemer statue. At the feet of one of the Seven New Wonders of the Modern World, you will be amazed by some of the most stunning views of the city.
After a stop for lunch (not included), we will head to the famous Sugarloaf Mountain. From its base, on Praia Vermelha beach, we will take a 40 minute trail which winds up the hill through lush forest. We will make a stop at a lookout point that offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio’s surrounding mountains. With a bit of luck we will come across some of the area’s monkeys and birds. The hike ends on top of Morro da Urca (220m), an excellent spot to take pictures. From there we take the cable-car lift to the Sugarloaf hill summit (396m), where we enjoy unparalleled 360 degree views of the surrounding areas and a unique sunset.
The ride on the Sugarloaf hill cable car reveals 360º scenery of breathtaking views that include the Leme, Copacabana, and Flamengo beaches, the Pedra da Gávea, Maciço da Tijuca and Corcovado mountains, the Guanabara Bay, the downtown area, the Rio-Niterói bridge, and the Serra do Mar mountain range backdrop, with the famous Dedo de Deus (‘God’s Finger’) peak.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Explore Rio de Janeiro with Local Insight
Today, your local guide will take you through some of their highlights of Rio de Janeiro. This may be their favourite lunch or coffee spot, an area they love to visit, or their usual beach spot to kick a ball. Chat to your guide and together decide what you would like to get out of the day, if there is somewhere you have heard about that you’d like to visit or if you have a passion for art, food or architecture. All of these are found in abundance in Rio de Janeiro, and your guide can help you discover them.
A trip to Rio de Janeiro wouldn’t be complete without trying some of the local treats and snacks of Brazil so ensure you include these into your day.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 10 - Free Time in Rio de Janeiro
Today has been left free to enjoy your day at leisure. Your guide will be on hand to assist you if you wish, or you can explore or relax on your own. The choice is yours.
Overnight in Rio de Janeiro
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Departure from Rio de Janeiro
Enjoy your last morning waking up in Rio de Janeiro. In time for your flight, you will be transferred by private car to the airport in Rio de Janeiro for your onward flight.
Included meals: Breakfast
Sadly your arrangements with Real Local Experiences, and your time in Argentina and Brazil has come to an end.
You will take home with you memories of a lifetime, many photos and perhaps a few great souvenirs!
