Uruguay, Pantanal & the Falls
Buenos Aires - Rio de Janeiro
23 days through Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
FROM: $1835 USD + 1,000 USD
Kitty
Transport:
Overland Expedition Vehicle, Ferry
Crew:
Two Dragoman Crew Members, Local Guides where necessary
Accom:
Comfortable Hotel 7 nights
Camping 8 nights
Multishare Hostel 6 nights
Basic Hotel 1 night
Meals:
Breakfasts x 17, Lunches x 10, Dinners x 10
There are two main features on this trip: the astounding Iguazú
Falls on the Argentine-Brazilian border, with its chain of 275 waterfalls
nearly 3km long and up to 82m high, and at which Eleanor Roosevelt is reported
to have said "Poor Niagara!" when she visited; and Brazil's Southern Pantanal,
which harbours the highest concentration of wildlife in South America. Here you
can see giant river otters, jaguars, caiman, parrots, toucans, howler monkeys,
and plenty more.
Throw in a 2-night stay in a traditional Uruguayan estancia where
we'll learn about the gaucho way of living, learning how to prepare typical local
food, and you have the makings of a great outdoors adventure.
Then we have two of South America's most iconic cities in
Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, as well as the Uruguayan capital Montevideo
and Brazil's eco-tourism and adventure capital Bonito.
Discover South America's most vibrant cities of Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro
Soak up the sun on the emerald coast at Paraty
Get away from it all on the island hideaway of Ilha Grande
Stay on a real Uruguayan estancia, learn to ride and hang out with the Gauchos!
Catch a boat across the Rio de la Plata to explore Uruguay's colonial cities of Montevideo and Colonia
Go search for jaguar in the southern Pantanal
Snorkel the crystal clear waters of the Rio Prata at Brazil's eco-tourism capital, Bonito!
An excellent journey through some of the natural hotspots of Uruguay and southern Brazil. Although you'll be camping some of the time, this is a fairly easy trip that isn't physically challenging unless you choose to take part in the various optional activities available. A few long drive days of 7+ hours.
Enjoy a 2-night stay at a traditional Uruguayan farm to gain a fascinating insight into the lives of gauchos
Discover the unbelievable Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side
Spend the day exploring the amazing Iguazu Falls from the Argentinian side
Spend 2 nights in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area, exploring the flora and fauna with local guides
Border information: if you are joining in Buenos Aires, you will most likely enter Argentina at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport, also known as Ezeiza Airport (IATA code: BUE/EZE).
Welcome to Buenos Aires, the wonderful capital of Argentina! There will be an important group meeting at 6:00pm at the joining hotel - please look out at the hotel reception for a note from your leader with more details about this important meeting.
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Today will be a free day to explore the incredible city of Buenos Aires, soak up the atmosphere of its streets, and discover its amazing culture, art, and music.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Optional Activities
Learn all about the cuisine of Argentina on a food tour of Buenos Aires visiting several incredible local top-class eateries that you won't find in the guidebooks!
Tour: 85 USD
Enjoy a free city tour of Buenos Aires
Tour: Free
Visit the strangely beautiful cemetery of Recoleta the final resting place of many ex-presidents and Argentine icons most famously including the tomb of Eva Peron
Entrance: Free
See a different side to Buenos Aires on a tour of its incredible street art with some of the local artists
Tour: 20 USD
Try your hand at the art of tango dancing with a private lesson in Buenos Aires
Lesson: 25 USD
Head out to a tango show in Buenos Aires' oldest cafe the Gran Cafe Tortoni - seeing a slice of iconic Argentine culture in an ideal and intimate setting
Show: 650 ARS
This morning we will hop on a ferry to Uruguay and head to Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest and most picturesque towns in Uruguay and a Unesco World Heritage site. The afternoon is free to explore the charming narrow cobbled streets of the Barrio Histórico and the pretty riverfront.
Our truck will relocate by road and catch us up in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3
Today we will head north to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo. We will have the afternoon to explore Montevideo. The city has a mix of historical buildings and modern architecture and a main feature of the city is the Rambla (waterfront promenade) where locals frequently go for a stroll to drink their mate. Mate is the traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink sipped through a straw, particularly popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5
Optional Activities
Learn all about Uruguayan history and culture at some of Montevideo's many museums such as the National Historical Museum the Gaucho Museum and the Museum of the Andes
Entrances: Free
Get a deeper understanding of Montevideo on a free walking tour of the city from an enthusiastic local guide
Tips only: Free
Today we will head to the Tacuarembó area - the traditional gaucho land of Uruguay. We will spend 2 nights in an authentic estancia to learn about the gaucho way of living. We will have a chance to learn how to prepare typical food from the area (and of course taste it!) and also enjoy some traditional music.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 9
Included Activities
Enjoy a 2-night stay at a traditional Uruguayan farm to gain a fascinating insight into the lives of gauchos
Included
Full day at the estancia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Today we have a half day drive north though the provinces of Entre Rios and Corrientes, aiming to reach Yapeyú on the banks of the River Uruguay. Yapeyú is very famous amongst Argentines for being the birthplace of their national hero General Jose de San Martin, one of the liberators of South America from Spanish colonial rule.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 7
Border information: Exit Argentina at Tancredo Neves, enter Brazil at Tancredo Neves.
Today we cross the border into Brazil and drive to the city of Foz do Iguacu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 8
Today we will visit the Brazilian side of the phenomenal Iguazu Falls, to get some incredible panoramic vistas of the mighty waterfalls. There is also plenty of time to visit the bird park, take a helicopter ride over the falls, see the incredible Itaipu Dam, or quickly stop into Paraguay to pick up some bargains in the nearcy Ciudad del Este.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Included Activities
Discover the unbelievable Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side
Included
Optional Activities
Visit the Parque das Aves bird park near Foz do Iguaçu a wonderful conservation project which provides an excellent home to over 1000 iconic birds from the region such as toucans macaws and eagles
Entrance: 36 BRL
Take an unforgettable 10-minute helicopter flight over the Iguazu Falls enjoying a bird's eye view of one of the world's most incredible set of waterfalls
Price: 430 BRL
Visit the colossal Itaipu Dam the second largest hydroelectric dam in the world
Special Tour: 68 BRL
Today we will take a day trip back into Argentina to see the incredible Iguazu Falls from the other side. This is well worth doing as the views are even more spectacular, and you'll be able to look right down into the mighty Garganta del Diablo (the largest waterfall here) from a gantry walkway viewing point). We will have a full day at the Argentine side of the falls, allowing us lots of time to freely explore the site, hike some nature trails, or perhaps take an exhilarating (and very wet) boat ride!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Included Activities
Spend the day exploring the amazing Iguazu Falls from the Argentinian side
Included
Optional Activities
Get a soaking on a boat trip to the Falls
Boat: 1,500 ARS
Today we have a full drive day north to the Brazilian eco-tourism capital of Bonito.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 12
We have a full day in Bonito to take part in some of the incredible optional activities here. You could go out on a world-class snorkelling trip, explore the nearby caves, or go abseiling down some of the largest waterfalls in the area, amongst many other possibilities!
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
Optional Activities
Head on an unforgettable trip to Abismo Anhumas an incredible day out where you abseil through a fissure into a collosal underground cavern and snorkel in the lake at the bottom
Abeiling and snorkelling (incl transport): 800 BRL
Abseiling and Scuba Diving (incl transport): 1,089 BRL
Hire a mountain bike in Bonito to freely explore the incredible countryside of Mato Grosso do Sul
Bike hire: 20 USD
Lobo Guara guided bike trip (half day): 98 USD
Visit the ethereal and other-worldly Blue Lake Cave near Bonito an underground lake with an incredibly vivid shade of blue
Guided visit (incl transport): 105 BRL
Take an incredible snorkelling trip through the crystal clear waters of the Rio da Prata getting a phenomenal view of the fish and aquatic plants underwater
Snorkelling trip and transport: 290 BRL
Go rafting or tubing in the beautiful waters near Bonito
Tour incl transport: 150 BRL
Today we have a short drive to Brazil's amazing Southern Pantanal region, where we have a visit a local eco-tourism ranch (or 'fazenda').
We will spend 2 nights here and have a comprehensive package of included activities such as exploring the beautiful surrounding countryside on horseback, trips down the wildlife-abundant rivers in boats and canoes, and safaris on the ranch's trucks and on foot where we hope to spot capybaras, caimans, and (if we are very lucky) jaguars and ocelots. Our stay here is an incredible highlight!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4
Included Activities
Spend 2 nights in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area, exploring the flora and fauna with local guides
Included
Full day in the Pantanal.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
After our morning activities and one final lunch in our beautiful ranch, it is time to leave the Pantanal. We will start driving east towards Sao Paulo state, and wild camp towards the end of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Basic Hotel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 7
Today we will drive to the remote town of Brotas in southeastern Brazil.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 10
Today is free to take part in optional adventure activities such as white water rafting or canyoning, or to simply relax by the pool!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Optional Activities
Head out white-water rafting on the fast moving waters of the Jacare River (approxmiately Grade 3-4)
Activity: 150 BRL
Go on a half-day canyoning trip through the gorges of the Jacare River near Brotas
Activity: 270 BRL
Today we have a full day drive to the colonial town of Paraty on the Emerald Coast of the Atlantic!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 10
Today we will have free time to explore the town, take a historical tour, walk along the stunning scenery of the coastline, head out snorkelling or diving, or simply relax on the idyllic beaches.
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
Optional Activities
Learn all about the fascinating history of Brazil and the Gold Trail on an excellent walking tour of the old colonial town of Paraty
Walking Tour: 35 USD
Go for a scuba diving trip in the incredible oceans around Paraty
Diving trip: 250 BRL
Explore the ocean islands beaches and mangroves of Atlantic coast in a more serene and tranquil fashion on a sea kayaking expedition around the bay of Paraty
Kayaking: 80 BRL
Try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding by hiring a board from one of the many vendors at the Jabaquara beach in Paraty
Hire: 35 BRL
Today we will travel a little further up the coast to the stunning island retreat of Ilha Grande. We will leave our truck behind for a couple of days and take a ferry, so you may wish to pack a small overnight bag. There are no private cars or banks on the island, so you will need to bring cash along with you and be prepared for a short walk with your bags to the hostel.
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 2
Free day to enjoy the island.
Accommodation: Multishare Hostel
This morning we will drive to the incredible Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world and home to the most famous Carnival celebrations in Latin America!
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5
Border information: if you are leaving in Rio de Janeiro, you will most likely exit Brazil at Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (IATA code: RIO/GIG).
Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Rio de Janeiro. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight, unless you are staying on for our Rio Carnival package! Please note that due to Carnival we will be unable to book ordinary post-tour accomodation on this date.
Meals: Breakfast
21 Jan 21
Buenos Aires
12 Feb 21
Rio de Janeiro
$1,835 USD + 1,000 USD Kitty
Status: Open
17 Feb 21
Rio de Janeiro
11 Mar 21
Buenos Aires
$1,835 USD + 990 USD Kitty
Status: Open
03 Feb 22
Buenos Aires
25 Feb 22
Rio de Janeiro
$1,905 USD + 1,000 USD Kitty
Status: Open
02 Mar 22
Rio de Janeiro
24 Mar 22
Buenos Aires
$1,905 USD + 990 USD Kitty
Status: Open
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