Rio, Iguassu Falls & Buenos Aires 10 days
About This Experience
From sophisticated cities to wet and wild waterfalls, take in all the highlights of Brazil and Argentina. Rio de Janeiro is spicy and seductive, famous for its vivacious music and sun-kissed beaches. Buenos Aires is elegant and refined, unique for its European flair and smooth-as-silk tango. Between these two urban bookends, you’ll experience the ultimate in outdoor adventure, with the chance to admire the formidable Iguassu waterscape from every angle.
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
7 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 3 three-course dinners with beer or wine
Private deluxe motor coach
Multilingual Tour Director
Select entrance fees
Why You'll Love It
Tango!
Surprising, sophisticated Buenos Aires
Lush greenery & spectacular scenery at Iguassu
The endless rush of water at Devil’s Throat
The beach & music scenes in Rio
Argentinian wines & Brazilian barbecue
Overnight Flight1 night
Rio de Janeiro2 nights - hotel info
Day2
Take in the “marvelous” vista from Sugarloaf Mountain
Breakfast (in flight), Dinner
Cable Car, Metropolitan Cathedral
Today, arrive in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world’s most exciting cities and the pulse of Brazil. A Go Ahead representative will greet you and escort you to your hotel. From the sugary beaches and bustling streets to the outstretched arms of the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio is a city that both invigorates and intoxicates. In the afternoon, your local guide will show you the city’s highlights, starting with a cable car ride up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. The views here are among the best in Rio, so you’ll have time to stop and soak in the beauty of the seaside city. Later, explore the colonial buildings and differing architectural styles as you pass by the National Library and enter the Metropolitan Theater. Later, gather with fellow travelers at your welcome dinner.
Day3
Explore Rio high and low, from Corcovado to Copacabana
Breakfast
Cogwheel train
Spend the day exploring the “Magnificent City.” Travel by cogwheel train through the lush foliage of the Tijuca Rain Forest to the peak of Corcovado Mountain, home of one of the world’s most recognizable statues: Christ the Redeemer. Later, pass by the white-sand beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana curling along the deep blue sea. The afternoon is all yours, so bask in the Brazilian sun or enjoy a caipirinha by the sea.
Iguassu Falls2 nights - hotel info
Day4
Experience a meeting of cultures at the three-country border
Breakfast, Dinner
Say goodbye to Rio and board your flight for Iguassu. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. This afternoon is free for you to relax and take in your surroundings. Tonight, immerse yourself in the rhythms of samba, tango and Paraguayan music during an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Day5
Feel the falls rushing down from hundreds of feet and miles around
Breakfast
One of South America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, Iguassu Falls is like no other place in the New World. Here, over 275 cascades rush and churn, spread across just over one mile of land. First, drive through Iguassu National Park, a sub-tropical paradise, to the Brazilian side of the falls. Walk through forested footpaths for panoramic views of the waters. Then, cross Tancredo Neves Bridge into Argentina to take in the largest and most famous section of Iguassu Falls: Devil’s Throat.
Buenos Aires3 nights - hotel info
Day6
Taste the unique European flavor of the Argentine capital
Breakfast, Dinner
Today fly in to Buenos Aires and settle into your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the city known as “the Paris of the South,” renowned for its elegant culture. A city of immigrants, it weaves multitudes of people, cuisines and cultures into a vibrant and modern tapestry. After getting situated, sit back with your group for an included dinner.
Day7
Tour the bodegones, hear the music, dance the tango
Breakfast
Embark on a guided tour of Buenos Aires and get to know the city where the tango was born. Begin at Plaza de Mayo to see the Casa Rosada, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo. Then, continue to the historic neighborhood of San Telmo before exploring the colorful streets of La Boca. Next, drive along 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest street in the world, to Palermo and its beautiful parks. End your tour in aristocratic Recoleta to visit the grave of Eva Perón. Tonight, opt to enjoy our Tango Show & Dinner.
Optional Excursions
Tango Show & Dinner $115* pp
Relax and enjoy the show as accomplished tangueros perform their national dance. Accompanied by live music, the elegant dancers will transport you to a bygone era. You’ll also enjoy a dinner featuring regional specialties and Argentine wine.
Day8
DELVE DEEPER INTO BA OR ENJOY A DAY ON THE TIGRE DELTA
Breakfast
Enjoy a free day to discover Buenos Aires. Alternatively, opt to take a cruise on the Tigre Delta.
Optional Excursions
Tigre Delta & Cruise $85* pp
This morning, travel by bus through the northern coastal neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, including prestigious Olivos, home of the Argentinian presidential palace. Continue through the affluent and architecturally rich districts of San Isidro and San Fernando to Tigre, where you will board a one-hour cruise on the Lujan River, taking in the lush tropical vegetation of the Parana Delta. Explore the vast maze of canals and tributaries dotted with old residences, vacation homes and restaurants before returning to Buenos Aires by bus.
Passport & Visa
In order to enter Brazil and Argentina, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of your return home. A visa is also required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Brazil. You can obtain an individual visa through our recommended provider VisaCentral (www.visacentral.com/goaheadtours). In accordance with Argentine law, a reciprocity fee must be paid prior to your departure. For U.S. citizens the charge is $160 USD per person and for Canadian citizens $75 USD per person. In order to prepay for your reciprocity fee, please visit https://virtual.provinciapagos.com.ar/ArgentineTaxes/ If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Health
Travelers should be aware of high-altitude conditions in Brazil and Argentina. Travelers (especially those with heart or lung conditions) are encouraged to take precautions and consult with their personal health-care providers before undertaking high-altitude travel. The best way to prevent “altitude sickness,” which sometimes results in headaches and nausea, is to make sure that you are well hydrated throughout your stay.
Sightseeing might involve walking on some uneven terrain (see “Walking on Tour”), and travelers should be in reasonable shape. While no vaccinations are required, it’s always advisable to check with your doctor at least eight weeks prior to departure for recommendations.
In order for you to stay healthy throughout your South American tour, we recommend the following:
- Drink bottled water. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing teeth.
- Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
- Bring a small first-aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication and any prescription medications.
Transportation / Walking on tour
Round-trip flights arrive in Rio de Janeiro and depart from Buenos Aires. Flights from Rio to Iguassu Falls and from Iguassu Falls to Buenos Aires are also included in your trip cost. All other transportation is by private motor coach.
Rio de Janeiro is a large, busy city and while walking is possible in most areas, you may want to explore on your own by public transportation. Local buses are the best way to travel around town.
Buenos Aires is a large city set up on a grid, much like New York City. While most of the city is pedestrian-friendly, you can always hop on the metro or on a bus to get around town.
Clothing & Packing Tips
Light, loose-fitting, comfortable clothing is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. Binoculars may be handy for a closer look at wildlife and views from Iguassu Falls. Insect repellent is strongly recommended on excursions to Iguassu Falls and Iguassu National Park. Bring a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear. If you plan to visit an elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, remember to bring something more formal to wear. Also, it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (entrance may be denied on this basis).
Currency
The Brazilian real and the Argentinian peso are the currencies you will be using on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available at your destination, although it is worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. The most efficient and cost effective method is using ATMs, which are widely available in both Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires (mostly on the Visa and Plus international networks). We also recommend that you take credit cards. We suggest informing your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so they don’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
Tipping
At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.
Special Info
Despite having reversed seasons, Brazil and Argentina actually fall on a similar time zone to Eastern Standard Time, except they do not observe daylight-saving time. Therefore, Brazil and Argentina are both one hour ahead of New York from October to April, and are the same time as New York from April to October.
Traveler Tips
When in Rio, you must find and try Brazilian Feijoada, a strong and delicious pork and black bean dish thought to have been introduced to the region by the Africans who were originally imported as slaves. Over the next 400 years, thanks to various improvements, it has become the national dish and can be found in many restaurants on Wednesdays and Saturdays for lunch. Don’t forget to wash it down with a caipirinha!
- Sort By:
- Newest
- Highest Rating
- Lowest Rating
- Photo Reviews
Scary and mismanaged tour
Hotel at Rio De Janeiro was dangerous with no exit from floor 4. I was so scared - even the hotel staff did not know where the steps were. When I told the tour director he was more keen on defending his position rather than doing something about it or even pretending to do something. The guide was more interested in tips and pleasing people than actually telling us about Rio The guide at Iguassu was good but he tried tried to milk us of money for transportation fee and gave us wrong information about the helicopter tour Did nothing for the 3 days in Buenos Aires - we instead should have been given one more day in Rio - there is nothing to see there. Was lured to take a tour of Colonia de Sacremento where the bus was so dirty one could hardly see anything out the windows and the tour guide did not know a word of English. Most people on the tour also said that this was their worst tour. Would never take GoAhead tour again
Rio, Iguazu, Buenos Aires
Rio and Iguazu Falls were more than I expected. The hotel in Rio had the best breakfasts, but also had elevators that either diddn't work properly, or didn't work at all. Some of us got trapped in the basement with no elevators or stairs going anywhere. Biggest dissapointment? Buenos Aires!!! We were rushed, rushed through places that I was most interested to see, just 40 minutes in La Boca were just not enough! Three of our group members were robbed in Buenos Aires, one of them inside the Cathedral!!! We did not have enough choices for extra excursions, the trip to Uruguay was too expensive, and as I heard from people who went, it wasn't worth it. Apparently the local guide spoke only in Spanish during the tour, and our tour guide had to translate in English...a lot was lost in translation. We should've had an option to go to Bariloche, or even Montevideo would've been more interesting. The NH Lancaster hotel in Buenos Aires was in a good location, but there was so much trash around it, even broken glass bottles, it was depressing. The last two days we were left in the hotel with not much to do. I took a cab on Saturday and went to visit El Teatro Colon by myself, after that I did some shopping around Florida street. Next day, Sunday I went to mass at 11;00, after that there was not much I (and five others) could do because the check out was at 5. Those two final days were mostly wasted. To top all that, we were picked up to go to the airport around 6:30, we had checked out at 5, so there was more time wasted. Our flight was supossed to leave at 9;45, but we took off at 12;30!!! At this point all of us just wanted to get in the plane and come back home. The trip was expensive, it looked to me that GAT overbooked trips and they were overlapping, maybe that was the reason why we were sooooooo rushed in Buenos Aires. The tour guides were OK, but they looked exhausted.
Iguassu Falls
The falls vista was a spectacular awe-inspiring site. It is truely one of the 7 natural wonders of the natural world. We had excellent views from boardwalks at the top of the falls from the Argentine side. Being next to devils throat let us be part of the roaring thunder. On the Brazilian side we were below the falls and soaked up all the spray and rainbows. On this side the entire falls could be seen and it is a huge area. Sugar Loaf in Rio which involved a gondola ride gave us beautiful vistas of the city and its beaches. The same could be said of the train ride to Christ of the Andes. Unfortunately, looking closle at the city was not the same. So appreciate Rio from a distance. Buenos Aires did not give us any spectacular views, but was a cleaner city. Not to be missed is the cemetry at Recoleta (a lot of history) and the opera house was a work of art. Getting around in taxies was easily accomplished.
A Great Adventure!
We had a wonderful time on this tour starting with Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach. It was a joy to walk along the legendary beaches that I had heard about all my life. The ride up to Sugarloaf Mtn. and the view from there was fantastic. To be standing under the Christ the Redeemer statue was a very special experience. Then we visited Iguacu Falls. Breathtaking!!! Amazing!!! Spectacular in its beauty!!! From both Brazil and Argentina sides. Buenos Aires was a wonderful city. We enjoyed walking around and shopping and the architecture and sites as seen from our bus tour and explained by our wonderful tour director, Luis, who was fabulous the entire tour. He was funny, entertaining and knowledgeable. He did so much for us. Our only disappointment is that he couldn't join us on our Chile extension . We are glad we went to Santiago and Valparaiso. We enjoyed our visit there very much. Only wish we had another day there. All our local guides were wonderful, Eduardo in Rio, Eder in Iguacu, and Gustavo in Santiago.
Fantastic Trip
This trip was wonderful! There was the right amount of mix between tour time and free time. All the tour guides were great and the accomodations were very nice.
South America, a Travelers Dream
We have traveled with Go Ahead Tours for 17 previous trips and this trip was one of our favorites. Visiting Brazil, Argentina and Chile was a wonderful cultural experience. Staying on Copacabana Beach and walking the beaches looking at Sugar Loaf Mountain was a highlight. We even went to the restaurant where "The girl from Ipanema " was written. Iguassu Falls was breathtaking viewing the falls from the Brazil and Argentina Sides. I have some great videos. Traveling on to Buenes Aires, we actually visited a Gaucho Ranch and went horse back riding. This is such a lovely city with beautiful parks and wonderful restaurants. Ending our trip in Santiago was a lovely experience. We can highly recommend this tour!!!!
very nice
Would have liked an extra day in Rio & Buenos Aires
very good
would have liked a extra day in Rio & Buenos Aires
One of our better trips
Our Tour Manager Luis was excellent leader and very knowledge able on the culture and life in Brazil and Argentina. He was very willing to share his knowledge with us.
Excellent Trip
I enjoyed the trip because we had an excellent tour manager and city guides that were very knowledge able on Brazil and Argentina. They did a great job in communicating this knowledge to us. They were open to any questions we asked and helped us find many souvenirs of the trip to share with friends and family.
