Buenos Aires, Iguazú & Rio in 12 Days

Experience 12 days of South America, traveling between vibrant cities and natural wonders. In Buenos Aires, feel the soul of the city as we stroll through historic neighborhoods like San Telmo and Puerto Madero, navigate the Delta of Tigre, and immerse ourselves in gaucho traditions at a rural estancia, culminating in an exhilarating tango show. In Iguazú, the mighty waterfalls captivate us with their power and beauty from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. Finally, we arrive in Rio de Janeiro, with the Sugarloaf Mountain, the pristine beaches of Búzios or Angra dos Reis, and the incomparable energy of the Marvelous City. A journey that combines history, nature, and emotions, inviting us to feel and live every moment.

From Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro:
Between Waterfalls, Beaches, and Enchanting Cities

For 12 days, we explored some of the most iconic destinations in South America, combining history, nature, culture, and unforgettable experiences. We began in Buenos Aires, a city of contrasts and passion, touring its historic neighborhoods like San Telmo, with its cobbled streets and antique fair, and Puerto Madero, modern and elegant by the river. We sailed through the Tigre Delta, a maze of rivers and islands that invites tranquility, and spent a day in a countryside estancia in the province of Buenos Aires, immersing ourselves in the gaucho tradition through horseback riding, rural activities, and typical Argentine cuisine. The day concluded with a tango show, feeling the soul of Buenos Aires through music and dance.

We then traveled to Iguazú, where the Iguazú Falls surprised us with their majesty: on the Argentine side, we walked along walkways that brought us close to the roar of the waterfalls, while on the Brazilian side, we enjoyed panoramic views that reveal the full scale of this UNESCO World Heritage natural wonder. Our journey continued in Rio de Janeiro, the marvelous city, where we admired the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain and explored its most famous neighborhoods. We also had the option to relax on the beaches of Búzios or Angra dos Reis, enjoying the sun, the sea, and the dreamlike landscapes that characterize Brazil's coast. This trip combines urban walks, natural wonders, history, culture, and leisure moments, offering the opportunity to experience each city and landscape with all our senses, creating unforgettable memories of Argentina and Brazil.

Buenos Aires, Iguazú & Rio in 12 Days
DAYS
12 Days - 11 Nights
DESTINATIONS
Buenos Aires, Iguazú & Río de Janeiro
INCLUDED TOURS
  1. Exploring Buenos Aires
  2. Navigation through the Tigre Delta
  3. Country Day at an Estancia in Buenos Aires Province
  4. Walking Tour of La Recoleta Neighborhood
  5. Tango Dinner Show in Buenos Aires
  6. Iguazú Falls – Argentine Side
  7. Iguazú Falls – Brazilian Side
  8. Beach Day & Sugarloaf Mountain
  9. Beach Day & Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado)
  10. Beach Day
OPTIONAL TOURS
Buzios, Angra Dos Reis, Arraial do Cabo
HOTELS
DESTINATIONS STANDARD INTERMEDIATE SUPERIOR
BUENOS AIRES Oxigeno BA HR Luxor Loi Suites Recoleta
IGUAZU Kelta Amerian Portal IGR Loi Suites Iguazú
RIO DE JANEIRO Merit Montevideo Esplendor Mvd Sofitel Mvd
SERVICES INCLUDED
  • Accommodation with breakfast according to the selected hotel category
  • Transfers detailed in the itinerary
  • Regular excursions detailed in the itinerary (except optional tours)
  • Bilingual Guide Spanish-English
  • Coordination throughout the trip
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED
  • International airfare
  • Domestic flights
  • National park entrance fees
  • Optional excursions detailed in the itinerary

12 days - 11 nights

Day 1 - Arrival in Buenos Aires

Reception at Ministro Pistarini International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 - Classic City Tour of Buenos Aires & Navigation on the Tigre Delta

Traveling along the main avenues of Buenos Aires, we will embark on a journey through the city’s most iconic neighborhoods: Recoleta, Retiro, San Nicolás, Montserrat, San Telmo, and La Boca. Each neighborhood offers a unique experience and a window into the rich history and culture of Buenos Aires. In Recoleta, we’ll admire luxurious palaces and the elegance of Avenida Alvear, while Retiro and San Nicolás showcase some of the city's most recognizable landmarks, such as the majestic Teatro Colón and the imposing Obelisco, symbols of local identity. San Telmo will take us along its narrow, cobbled streets filled with history, antiques, and the bohemian essence of the city. Montserrat and historic Plaza de Mayo immerse us in the political and cultural heart of Buenos Aires, with emblematic buildings and a fascinating past. Finally, in La Boca we’ll discover the famous and colorful Caminito street, full of art, tango, and tradition, and stroll through the modern revitalized area of Puerto Madero, with its contemporary architecture, top-tier restaurants, and waterfront promenade reflecting the city's urban transformation. This tour allows us to appreciate the architectural, cultural, and social diversity of Buenos Aires, blending history, art, tradition, and modernity into an unforgettable experience.

We will take a boat tour through the Paraná River Delta in the Tigre area, navigating its internal channels that form labyrinths. Afterwards, we will explore the northern residential suburbs of the city. To get to Tigre, we will take a bus heading north. Along the way, we will pass parks, Jorge Newbery Airport, and the River Plate stadium. Once in Tigre, we board a boat to begin navigating the Delta, passing islands, islets, rivers, and streams. We will connect with wildlife, observing native flora and fauna in a 16,500 km² area mostly covered by subtropical jungle. The Paraná Delta originates in the province of Entre Ríos and is divided into three main sections: Upper, Middle, and Lower Delta. It empties into the Lower Delta at the Río de la Plata. We will also visit the exclusive neighborhood of San Isidro, including the early 20th-century Gothic Cathedral (optional) and its historic center.

Day 3 - Day at a Countryside Estancia in Buenos Aires Province

This is a very popular excursion. We take a trip to a large country estancia of more than 2,000 acres that is dedicated principally to agriculture but has become an excellent tourist site showing some of the renown Argentinean country culture. We are received in the general store with empanadas and red wine and then can visit the estancia museum and chapel. At lunch we are treated to a country barbecue. We also have the opportunity to see a Tango Show and gaucho folklore and dance. Amongst the other activities offered are rides in horse and carts observing the landscapes, their crops and the unequalled charm of the wild and rustic. We finish the day with a spectacular exhibition of typical gaucho horsemanship with a troop of horses.

Day 4 - Walking through Recoleta - Tango Dinner Show

In this tour, we will immerse ourselves in the elegant and mysterious soul of Recoleta, one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. For two hours, we will walk among aristocratic mansions, architectural gems, and spaces filled with history, art, and secrets to discover. We begin our walk in front of the Church of Our Lady of Carmen, from where we delve into the colonial past and urban evolution of the neighborhood. We cross Rodríguez Peña Square, a green space with history, and continue towards the imposing Pizzurno Palace, home to the Ministry of Education and an example of Buenos Aires architectural eclecticism. Then, we approach the Tango Promenade, where the spirit of the 2x4 comes alive in the heart of Recoleta, and visit the magnificent Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former theater converted into one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. We continue to the monumental Palacio de Aguas Corrientes, a true cathedral of 19th-century engineering, covered in glazed ceramics and full of urban history. Finally, we pass by the buildings of the Faculties of Medicine and Economics, icons of the city’s and country’s educational development. Throughout the walk, we will discover anecdotes, legends, and little-known details that make Recoleta a unique place, where history, culture, and Buenos Aires elegance intertwine in every corner.

In the evening we enjoy a dinner and Tango show at one of the best venues of Buenos Aires ( Homero Manzi / Complejo Tango / Señor Tango / La Esquina de Carlos Gardel / Madero Tango). The Tango has a special charm outside of its origin: From New York to Sydney, people that have never visited Argentina are left seduced by its mystique and sensuality. Others stay captivated by the music. This original tour traces in parallel the history of the city and that of the tango journeying by its different stages of development from its birth in the slums, to its consummation in the Avenida Corrientes and its later internationalization.

Day 5 - From Buenos Aires to Iguazú

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to Jorge Newbery Metropolitan Airport in Buenos Aires for the flight to Iguazú. Reception at Iguazú Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 6 - Iguazú Falls: Argentina

Iguazú Falls: Argentina

We will do one of the most interesting excursions through the hanging bridges, which will lead us to visit the stunning Falls from the Argentine side. Then we will get to the Devil's Gorge and be dazzled by its rough waters, a nature spectacles at a height of 80 meters. In the Lower Area (Circuito Inferior) we will enjoy the rich wildlife around us, as we go down the flight of steps where we can watch the spectacle offered by this water curtain surrounded by thick vegetation. We will pass by Álvar Núñez Fall, from where we will enjoy the first views of the Devil's Gorge. Following the path, we will find San Martín Island and the homonymous Fall. Finally, at the end of trip we will find Bosetti and Dos Hermanas Falls. We can stay and appreciate this spectacle of waters and get refreshed since the steam from the waves breaking on the rocks will spray us completely.

We will continue our trip, this time in the Upper Area (Circuito Superior), where we will go around the same falls but from a different point of view of the Falls and their surroundings. Besides, we will get close to our next destination, the most stunning, which will guide us through the roaring of the water currents. We will get to the Devil's Gorge's station by train, and start our trip around the islands, and thus, have a wider view of this great nature "mistake" in the middle of the forest created, according to a legend, by the angry God of Iguazú River.

Full Moon (optional in Argentine Falls) We will enjoy this unique trip at night with a full moon, which will allow us to appreciate the sounds and secrets of Misiones forest. We will leave on the Ecologic Train and head for Devil's Gorge Station, where we will capture the first sounds of nature, which creates a magic and mysterious environment. The spectacle offered by the Falls, with the rainbow that appears from the waters with the moon reflection, will completely dazzle us. Besides, once within this overwhelming environment, we will get the movements and sounds of the animals that go for their food. After such a magnificent experience, we will return by train to the travelers' center.

Day 7 - Iguazú Falls: Brazil

Iguazú Falls: Brazil

Here we will have a very beautiful trip through the only hanging bridge of 1 km to enjoy the view of Iguazú Falls from the other side, the Brazilian region. During this trip we can also learn more about the fauna and flora, enjoy a unique landscape of the falls since the area is more open regarding falls because most of them are on the Argentine side and form a water curtain of 2.700 meters wide. So from this side we will be dazzled by the beauty of the Devil's Gorge to the full.

Besides, this place is home to rare wildlife species, some of them in danger of extinction such as giant otters, anteaters, jaguars, red deer and yellow alligators. We will also see native flowers such as orchids, bromelias and thousands of butterflies.

Note: We have to bear in mind that this trip is available only 5 days per month during the full moon; two days before, two days after, and during that period. We have also to take into consideration that the capacity for this activity is limited and, of course, it depends on the weather conditions that day. If you want to see other excursion options in Iguazu, click here: Tours in Iguazu.

Day 8 - From Iguazú to Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Foz do Iguaçu Airport (Brazil). Reception and transfer from Rio de Janeiro International Airport to the hotel.

Day 9 - Beach Day & Sugarloaf Mountain

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit Sugarloaf Mountain, and in the afternoon, we will enjoy the beach.

We will depart from the hotel heading to Urca, the place where stands one of the most emblematic symbols of Rio de Janeiro: Sugarloaf Mountain, whose name in Guaraní means “high, pointed, isolated mountain”. It was at the foot of this hill that the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by Estácio de Sá in 1565. The visit to Sugarloaf is done in two stages via the famous cable car suspended by steel cables, known as the “bondinho”. The first stage connects Praia Vermelha with Morro de Urca, at 215 meters high, from where you enjoy panoramic views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, Flamengo Beach, Morro do Corcovado and the bridge that connects Rio with Niterói. From Morro de Urca begins the second stage of the ascent toward the summit of Sugarloaf, at 395 meters above sea level, offering a unique perspective of Copacabana Beach, the Santa Cruz Fortress and some beaches of Niterói. After taking in the stunning lookout points, you descend using the same bondinho and at the foot of the hill your transport will be waiting to take you back to the hotel. This tour offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the most iconic and panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, combining history, nature and architecture in a single route.

Day 10 - Beach Day, Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado) & Rio Center

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado), the center of Rio de Janeiro, and in the afternoon, we will enjoy a second day of beach time.

From any point in the city, visitors can admire the most emblematic postcard of Rio de Janeiro: the Christ the Redeemer statue, located at the top of Corcovado. This imposing statue, situated 710 meters above sea level, was inaugurated in 1931 and since then has become one of the city’s main tourist attractions. The tour begins with hotel pickup of the passenger and heads to Corcovado, which rises covered by the largest urban forest in the world: the Tijuca Forest. This route combines Carioca architecture and urbanism with the lush nature of the place, offering a truly charming experience. From the feet of Christ, visitors will enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of the city, including Guanabara Bay, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Once the visit to Christ is over, the descent of Corcovado is made by train or van to the same embarkation point. The tour continues through downtown Rio de Janeiro, with highlighted stops in front of Maracanã Stadium, the Sambadrome, where samba school parades take place during the famous Carnival, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, with its imposing pyramid shape, 96 meters of internal diameter and 80 meters in height. The route continues through the traditional Cinelândia, where the Municipal Theater, the National Library, and the Assembly building are located, ending at the colorful Selarón Steps, perfect for unforgettable photos. After the tour, guests return to the hotel, closing a unique experience that combines history, culture, architecture, and nature in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

Day 11 - Buzios, Angra Dos Reis or Arraial do Cabo (Optional)

Breakfast at the hotel. You will have a free day to spend on the beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Optional activities are available such as the following tours: Búzios, Angra dos Reis or Arraial do Cabo.

Búzios ‑ Optional

Departure from the hotel heading to the town of Búzios. Upon arrival, we take a short walk to the pier to embark on a boat tour. We enjoy a five‑hour ride around Búzios Bay, with a stop to swim in the sea. Afterward, we have lunch and return to Rio. Búzios is a sophisticated seaside resort with a lively nightlife and cultural scene. With numerous inns, hotels, bars, restaurants and art galleries, the city offers excellent services and infrastructure for our comfort. Its nightlife is eclectic, unique and vibrant. This great Carioca entertainment center draws thousands of tourists each year. The famous “Rua das Pedras” is the busiest meeting point, where people of all ages and nationalities come together to the rhythm of various music. The gastronomic offer is varied and of high quality, from simple and typical local places to very sophisticated spaces. On Alameda Bardot we admire the statue in tribute to actress Brigitte Bardot, who used to vacation here and was a spontaneous promoter of these beaches.

Angra dos Reis ‑ Optional

We begin our journey toward the charming town of Angra dos Reis. Upon arrival, we take a short walk to the pier to embark on a boat tour. We enjoy a five‑hour ride around Angra dos Reis bay, with a stop for a refreshing swim in the sea. Then, we have lunch and return to Rio. The history of Angra dos Reis is full of tales about ships laden with riches, colonial missions and pirate attacks. The region is divided into the districts of Angra, Cunhambebe, Ilha Grande and Mambucaba. Its landscape is unique: waters in shades of blue that blend with the intense green of the Atlantic Forest, creating a truly enchanting setting. It is the ideal destination both for those who enjoy water sports and for those who prefer to rest and contemplate nature. Often, we can see dolphins swimming near the beaches, inviting us to share a swim in the sea. On its islands we find bars, restaurants and shops with local handicrafts waiting for us. A ride in a traditional boat (“saveiro”) around the main islands of the region is an unmissable experience for those who wish to enjoy all the beauty of Angra dos Reis.

Arraial do Cabo ‑ Optional

We begin our journey toward the beautiful town of Arraial do Cabo. Upon arrival, we take a short walk to the pier to embark on a boat tour. We enjoy a five‑hour ride around the most emblematic beaches of Arraial do Cabo, with stops to enjoy a swim in the sea. Then, we have lunch and return to Rio. A small town neighboring Búzios and Cabo Frio, Arraial do Cabo was founded by Amerigo Vespucci and extends over a cape that juts into the sea, creating a scenario of beaches, dunes and lagoons of incomparable beauty. Despite its popularity, the town retains the charm of a fishing village, allowing us to enjoy its beaches in peace, even in high season. Its transparent waters attract tourists from all over the world, especially those who practice snorkeling or diving, or simply wish to relax on a boat ride that goes through the most beautiful landscapes of what is known as the “Brazilian Caribbean.” With more than 35 kilometres of crystal‑clear beaches and abundant marine life, Arraial do Cabo is a true paradise for lovers of the sea and nature. Considered the “Paradise of the Atlantic,” the region gathers some of the most impressive landscapes in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Dunes, beaches, lagoons and a paradisiacal coastline combined with the peaceful atmosphere of a small town make this destination an unmissable visit, especially due to its proximity to Rio. During our excursion, we take a boat trip to the main beaches of Arraial, highlighting Praia do Forno and Praia do Foguete. We end the day with our return to Rio in the afternoon.

Day 12 - Transfer to Rio de Janeiro International Airport

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to Rio de Janeiro International Airport. End of our services.


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