Compare Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls & Buenos Aires by Great Value Vacations vs Argentina & Brazil Exploration Tour by Say Hueque

Day 1: Welcome to Rio de Janeiro!

Say "ola" to Rio! Arrive at Galeao International Airport then enjoy a transfer to your accommodation. Ease your way into this sprawling city with a stroll through the historic center filled with architectural gems. The Theatro Municipal, built in 1909, was modeled after the Opera Garnier in Paris!

Transfer to Rio de Janeiro hotel

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro

Today you will embark on a full-day tour of Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountains! Both of these imposing mountains make up the iconic skyline of Rio, and you will enjoy unparalleled views from the summits. On this tour, you will also visit downtown Rio's architectural gems.

Tour to Corcovado & Sugarloaf Mountain (full-day)

Tour the famous Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountains! Arrive at Cosme Velho Station and board a cog-train for the ride through Tijuca Forest and up to the 2,329 ft high Corcovado Mountain. The train ride is a wonderful opportunity to have a closer look at the forest’s lush tropical vegetation and enjoy scenic landscapes of the city and beaches. Disembarking at the top of Corcovado, proceed up the steps that lead to the peak´s lookout, where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands. After appreciating the breathtaking view unfolding below, you will descend by train.

The tour continues through Rio’s world-famous beaches to board a cable car for a two-staged ascent up Sugarloaf Mountain. After admiring the views, descend the mountain and proceed along Guanabara Bay and Flamengo Park. Visit downtown Rio, passing by the financial and business center and other attractions like Candelaria Church, Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Lapa Arches, Municipal Theater, National Library, Fine Arts Museum and the Sambodrome - site of Rio’s famous Carnival parade.

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro

Rio is perhaps most famous for its beach life, and two beaches in particular: Copacabana and Ipanema. Rio residents (known as cariocas) can be seen playing soccer, sunbathing, and swimming all along the 2.5-mile stretch of Copacabana Beach. Among its trademarks is the Atlântica Avenue boardwalk, with mosaic waves of stones designed by landscape architect Burle Marx.

More upscale than Copacabana, the area around Ipanema Beach is considered the “little Paris” of Rio for its avant-garde galleries, bookstores and movie theaters.

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Foz do Iguassu

Say goodbye to Rio as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguassu Falls. Located close to the point where the Iguassu River empties its waters into the Parana River, Iguassu Falls is the world’s widest waterfall and a natural wonder.

On the border of Brazil and Argentina, the city of Foz do Iguassu is a busy town thanks to the many visitors that come to see the falls and Brazilian shoppers who come to purchase imported goods in Ciudad Del Este, the Paraguayan tax-free city right across the border.

Fly to Foz do Iguassu!

Iguassu Falls Tour (Brazilian Side)

Cross Iguassu National Park to the Brazilian side of these extraordinary Falls, then walk along cascading paths and make your way to the bottom of Devil's Throat. Enjoy breathtaking views of this spectacular natural wonder! At the end of the tour, hop in an elevator and ride up to road-level.

Please note it is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate visa for entry into Brazil.

Day 5: Foz do Iguassu

Today, enjoy a tour of Iguassu Falls on the Argentinian side. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, Iguassu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and rivaled only by Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls.

Argentinian Falls Tour (6 hours)

Cross the Tancredo Neves bridge over the Iguaçu River, which forms the border between Argentina and Brazil. Once in Argentina, the tour takes a scenic highway up the Argentinian Iguazu National Park. You will have ample time to visit the Argentinian falls as you stop at the Visitors Center and proceed to the Superior Circuit (up-river cascades), to the Inferior Circuit (down-river falls). Then take the Ecological Jungle Train to the most impressive observation point of the falls - The Devil´s Throat!

Day 6: Foz do Iguassu - Buenos Aires

Say goodbye to Brazil as you transfer to your next and last destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina!

The capital is the center of the political, economic, and intellectual life in Argentina. Buenos Aires has a strong European influence which is reflected by its refined taste in cooking, its luxury boutiques and in the elegance of its inhabitants. Despite modern developments, Buenos Aires has managed to preserve old traditions and charming neighborhoods.

Check into your hotel and get settled, then celebrate your first night in Argentina with steak and wine at a parrilla, a traditional steakhouse.

Transfer to Foz do Iguassu airport (IGR)

Fly to Buenos Aires!

Transfer to Buenos Aires hotel

Day 7: Buenos Aires

Wake up to bustling Buenos Aires and enjoy a 3.5-hour tour of the city's most famous landmarks and neighborhoods: Avendia de Mayo, San Temlo, Palermo, Recoleta, and Recoleta cemetery.

Your day ends with dinner and a tango show. Added to UNESCO’s list of the world’s intangible cultural treasures, tango is a fiery, passion-fueled dance that seduces even the most casual viewers!

Buenos Aires City Tour

Your city tour of Buenos Aires starts at the famous 9 de Julio Avenue, known as the widest avenue in the world! Pass by the beautiful Colon Theater, the cultural pride of Buenos Aires, and arrive at the main square Plaza de Mayo, which is surrounded by Casa Rosada (Government House), Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (first City Hall). Visit the inside of the Metropolitan Cathedral, which holds the remains of General José de San Martín (Argentina's national hero).

Continue to San Telmo, the oldest district in Buenos Aires with many antique shops. (On Sundays, the neighborhood holds a famous antique market). Your next stop is La Boca, a colorful neighborhood of painted houses with the famous "Caminito" street.

The tour ends in the city's northern districts. Drive to the green neighborhood of Palermo with its parks and artificial lakes. Then, visit Recoleta with its elegant boutiques and restaurants. At the famous Recoleta cemetery, you will find the grave of Eva Duarte, known as Eva Perón (Evita). The mausoleums and pantheons reflect the architectural diversity from Argentina's different cultures.

Dinner & Tango Show at El Aljibe, including hotel transfer (2 hours)

Enjoy dinner and a show, Argentina style! Located in the same complex as La Ventana Tango House, one of the most traditional tango houses in Buenos Aires, Albije Tango is a new tango option offering guests an authentic experience. Savor a delicious three-course dinner including wine before the tango show begins.

Once dinner is over, watch musicians, dancers, and singers perform a tango and Folklore show that will undoubtedly be unforgettable. The show lasts for one hour and also includes a show of boleadoras.

Day 8: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires could rival Paris in terms of its art scene. The National Museum of Fine Arts, Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (MALBA) and Tigre Art Museum are the most renowned museums to peruse some of Latin America’s finest art.

If art isn't your preferred choice, head to Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens, one of the largest Japanese gardens outside Japan. This green oasis is the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires.

In the evening, head for a stroll along Puente de la Mujer (Woman's Bridge) in the Puerto Madero neighborhood. Then head out for a night of dining and tango!

Day 9: Depart Argentina

Your Brazil-Argentina adventure comes to an end today. At the appropriate time, you'll be transferred to Buenos Aires airport for your flight home.

Transfer to Buenos Aires airport (EZE)

Fly home!

Day 1: Welcome to Your Argentina and Brazil Tour - Buenos Aires

Transfer from the airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, we will drive you to the city and you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy Buenos Aires at your own pace. Buenos Aires is a marvelous, energetic, cosmopolitan city, full of color and different styles of architecture.

The capital of Argentina, and described as the Paris of South America, Buenos Aires proudly embraces its title, and also shows off plenty of its own culture! Argentinians are usually eager to host visitors; if you walk the streets with a map, someone will surely stop and ask if you need directions…that’s just our spirit!

Day 2:  City Tour & Tango Show - Buenos Aires

Half-day city tour through Buenos Aires

In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel to enjoy our 5-hour Buenos Aires city tour—you will be swept away by the highlights of our beloved Buenos Aires! Over the course of a half-day you will have the chance to visit the historical and political center of the city; Plaza de Mayo and the Pink House (the presidential house).

Next, we’ll move on to San Telmo, with its cobblestone streets and the oldest residential neighborhood, and then to La Boca where Buenos Aires turns colorful and tango is ever-present. Come walk Caminito street and dance with the locals. The next stop is the chic and aristocratic Recoleta, where the big palaces remind us why Buenos Aires is called the “Paris of the South”.

Dinner and tango show

In the evening we’ll pick you up from your hotel to take you to a mystical place where you’ll discover one of our most ancient traditions. Tango is more than our national dance… tango is our immigrant origins, the talent of our local artists, the sensuality of Argentine women and our way to deal with a broken heart; dancing our way through tragic, and yet eternal, love stories.

Tonight you will enjoy a 3-hour professional display of tango and music with a group of local artists onstage immersed in an elegant and alluring place. The manners, ambience, clothes and dance steps which tango-lovers used to practice 100 years ago will come to life again and you will travel back in time for a night.

This spectacular tango show in Buenos Aires will be accompanied by delicious Argentine and international cuisine. Dinner is all-inclusive, beverages included so you can lose yourself in the ethereal taste of Malbec wine. At the end of the evening, around midnight, you will be driven back to your hotel, fully in love with the bohemian spirit of our incredible city.

Day 3: Start Your Trip to Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil - Iguazu Falls

Transfer from your hotel to the airport

This is the end of your Buenos Aires trip, but the beginning of your tour to the Argentina and Brazil sides of Iguazu Falls! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport to take your flight.

Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Puerto Iguazu – Day at leisure

Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Puerto Iguazu. The small border town of Puerto Iguazu is the gateway to visit the impressive Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a must-see destination for any traveler visiting Argentina.

Day 4:  Argentinian Side - Iguazú Falls

Wander Iguazú Falls National Park and meet The Devil’s Throat

Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the National Park, on the Argentinian side. Enjoy a 7-hour tour wandering through the rainforest!

The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many different animals and birds. Our guide will help you spot some of them: antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, coatis, just to name a few of the most common birds. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around falls permitting up close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature.

The Argentinian side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths and walkways and stairways which allow you to have an experience from many different perspectives. You will have the chance to meet “The Devil’s throat”: the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to the “Devil’s throat” you take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks. After walking and taking pictures of animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. At the end of the experience, we will drive you back to your hotel.

Day 5:  Brazilian Side - Iguazú Falls

Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a 4-hour excursion to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. While Argentina has 80% of the falls on its side, Brazil has the best panoramic view. On the Argentine side you will have the sensation of being right inside the falls, but only by visiting the Brazilian side will you fully appreciate the immensity of Iguazú Falls.

Take your time to stroll the different walkways and feel the spray of water in your face. Take the boardwalk over the Salto Santa María; it feels like walking on the water. Get closer to the “Devil’s Throat” and experience the power of the falls! Although you’ll be looking into Argentina, your feet will be on the ground in Brazil! Where does Argentina start and Brazil ends? Well, it’s time to walk the line.

Back from the footbridge, you’ll have some free time to use the restrooms, visit the gift shop and take a special elevator to an especially high viewpoint. At the end of the tour, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 6:  Travel From Iguazú Falls to Rio de Janeiro

Transfer from your hotel to Foz de Iguaçu airport (Brazil)

Time to leave the jungle and fly to one of the most exotic destinations in South America. At the set time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Foz de Iguaçu airport to take your flight to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Transfer from Rio de Janeiro airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon arrival at Rio’s airport, we’ll be waiting to drive you to your hotel. Enjoy your leisure time today exploring this vibrant city — you have just arrived in one of the powerhouses of South America!

Many people think of Brazil as merely an amazing paradise beach… and they are not entirely wrong. But, this mysterious and passionate corner of the globe is much more than just a pristine sandy utopia…

Rio de Janeiro (‘River of January’ in Portuguese), which was classified as a Cultural Landscape by UNESCO, is a metropolitan gem tucked between the mountains and the sea. Rio is best known for its Bossanova (sultry Brazilian music genre), mouth-watering feijoada (a traditional bean and pork stew), refreshing caipirinhas (classic Brazilian cocktail), and the beaming smiles of its people.

Day 7:  Corcovado & Tijuca Forest by Jeep - Rio de Janeiro

Discover Corcovado, Tijuca Forest and Santa Teresa

Today you will travel to the spellbinding Corcovado Hill, home to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, which has achieved celebrity status around the world through each postcard sent by visitors from Rio!

After breakfast, we’ll pick you up at your hotel in a jeep and take you on a 4-hour tour of Corcovado Hill, the rocky, 2329-foot guardian of Guanabara Bay. We’ll pass by Cosme Velho neighborhood, one of the most elegant places in Rio, and take the red cog train up to Corcovado Hill, crossing the dense vegetation of Tijuca forest.

From here you’ll start having your first taste of incredible views of the bay and the city! At the end of the rail track, the granitic giant awaits. Christ the Redeemer stands on the top of Corcovado Hill with arms wide open, praying for the wellbeing of Rio de Janeiro.

From this privileged spot, you will also see Sugarloaf mountain (another classic destination for travelers), the beautiful Southern beaches, and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, whose waters support a gigantic floating Christmas tree during the holiday season.

At the end of this day trip, you’ll return in the cog train through the forest and back down the mountain. On our way back to your hotel, we’ll stop to discover the traditional Santa Teresa district, with its artisanal galleries and historic bondinho (an old-school trolley car).

Day 8:  Visit Sugar Loaf - Rio de Janeiro

Half-day Sugar Loaf tour – Discovering the other side of Rio
Today you will discover the other side of Rio de Janeiro, nicknamed Cidade Maravilhosa or “Marvelous City”. We’ll pick you up from your hotel to start a 4-hour city tour through downtown Rio, passing by cultural icons such as the Sambadrome and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Get to know the traditional Cinelândia Square with its historical buildings, the Municipal Theater, the National Library and the National Museum of Fine Arts. After traveling through the verdant Flamengo Park (Aterro do Flamengo), we’ll take you to the neighborhood of Urca, which is home to Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar). The only way to the top is by taking a cable car!

The first cable car transports passengers up Urca Hill, which is more than 700 feet high and overlooks Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói bridge and Corcovado Hill. From this point, you’ll take a second cable car to the very top, reaching a height of approximately 1,300 feet above sea level. At the end of the tour, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 9:  The End of Your Argentina and Brazil Tour

Transfer from your hotel to Rio de Janeiro airport

Time to say obrigado (thanks) for all these precious travel memories! Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport, where you’ll take your flight to your next destination. Read more about our South American tour packages and keep on traveling.