Iguassu & Beyond
9 days, Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro
Itinerary Notes
We recommend bringing USD in cash for the Argentinean portion of this tour as it is easier than using a credit card or withdrawing ARS from an ATM. USD currency is accepted in travel agencies for booking optional activities.
Itinerary
Day 1Buenos Aires
Arrive at any time.
If you arrive early, start exploring! Later, grab a seat and enjoy a drink at one of the city's many sidewalk cafés and restaurants.
Pre nights are recommended to fully enjoy this vibrant city and take part in the optional activities available.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Buenos Aires Guided City Tour
Enjoy a guided tour exploring beautiful, vibrant Buenos Aires. Be introduced to historic sites and districts, including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Peron's famed balcony presides over the square. See La Boca and San Telmo's colourful street life, painted houses, and the famed Recoleta Cemetery.
La Boca and Isla Maciel: One History, Two Shores
Begin the experience in one of Buenos Aires' most iconic neighbourhoods, La Boca. Cross the Riachuelo River for a unique cultural adventure to the resilient community of Isla Maciel. You will be led by expert guides from a local nonprofit organization. As you walk they will share stories of the history, migration, and social transformation of this place. Enjoy a welcome at the Community Museum and discover their impressive open-air art gallery with murals created by local artists. Sit down and share a traditional lunch prepared by the women from the nieghbourhood as part of a G Adventures-supported community initiative. Through art, food, and local stories, this experience to Isla Maciel offers a meaningful perspective on how tourism can become a space for positive change.
Please note, if this activity is set for the first or final day of your itinerary pre and post nights are encouraged.
La Boca Neighbourhood Visit
10USD per personVisit La Boca to soak in the vibrancy of the barrio’s brightly coloured buildings and El Caminito (a cobblestone street lined with artist studios that’s often used as an impromptu setting for tango performances). Or, if lucky, catch a match at fabled La Bombonera, the home stadium of the Boca Juniors’ fútbol club (the crowd's excitement is electric!).
Teatro Colón Tour
25USD per personExplore this stunning opera house on a guided tour and find out why it is voted one of the best acoustic venues in the world.
Buenos Aires Bike Tour
Experience this vibrant city cruising around on a bicycle with a local Argentine. Bike, helmet, knowledgeable tour guide, they've got it all taken care of, just come along for the ride and take in the many historical sights on offer. Discover Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo, colourful Caminito, and the working class neighbourhoods where Tango was born.
Meeting place: Cerrito 1128
Please note the bike tour begins at 10 AM. We advise booking a pre-night in order to arrive on time for this pre-sold optional activity. If you choose to arrive the day of the bike tour, please ensure your flight lands no later than 8 AM to ensure enough time to make it to the arrival point.
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Carsson Hotel (or similar)
Day 2Buenos Aires/Foz do Iguaçu
Fly to Iguassu (Argentinean Side) of the falls and visit the G Adventures-supported Jasy Pora community in the lush Misiones rainforest region. Guided by a local expert, learn more about this Indigenous community and their harmonious relationship to the environment. Afterwards, cross the border into Brazil by private vehicle and witness amazing panoramic views of the falls. Spend the next two full days exploring the area around the falls.
After settling in, opt to partake in one of the adventurous activities offered in the area like, a helicopter ride over the falls or a visit to the nearby bird park.
The luggage restrictions for all Aerolineas Argentinas flights are 15kg for checked baggage and 5kg for carry-ons.
Plane
Head to the airport and fly north to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls. Continue on to the border via private vehicle from there.
Your G for Good Moment: Guaraní Community Experience
Experience a unique visit to the G Adventures-supported Jasy Pora community in the morning. Meaning “Luna Bonita,” this community is located just 20 minutes from the centre of Puerto Iguazú in the area known as Las 600 Hectáreas. The region is home to the native Guaraní communities and Jasy Pora was formed by 20 different families whom are opening their doors to share culture and knowledge with travellers. The aim is to preserve their heritage and create employment opportunities for future generations. Historically nomadic, the Guaraní community of Argentina has adapted to modern challenges while still protecting their ancestral lands. Your visit has a meaningful impact and helps to foster pride and ensure the preservation of their heritage. Guided by a local Guaraní expert, the group will explore the lush Misiones rainforest and experience a deeper connection to nature. Learn more about the traditional uses of flora and fauna, the Indigenous language, and the importance of a harmonious relationship with the environment through sustainable practices.
Border Crossing (Argentina - Brazil)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Private Vehicle
Climb aboard and drive to the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls for a little exploration.
Iguassu Falls (Brazil Side) Guided Tour
Visit the Brazil side of the falls to get a panoramic view of Iguaçu, one of the world's largest and most impressive waterfalls. In total, there are over 275 individual falls spread out over 3km (2 mi). Find the best spot to take jaw-dropping photos of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Iguassu Falls Bird Park Visit
120BRL per personGrab a camera and get up and close and personal with macaws, parrots, parakeets, and 150 other species of birds. Located on the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls, the bird park is on 12 acres of native subtropical forest. Enter a huge aviary to see the birds free from cages and nets. Check out other exhibits to view butterflies, alligators, and snakes (boas and anacondas).
Iguassu Helicopter Ride
130USD per personFly above the roaring cascades of Iguassu falls on a memorable helicopter ride to get a unique view and mind-blowing photo opportunities. Sit back in the comfortable seats, enjoy the ride and let the experienced pilot guide you over the immense falls.
Accommodation
Hotel Del Rey (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Foz do Iguaçu
Return to the Argentine side to explore the trails. Opt for a boat tour to get a close look at the falls. Return to the Brazilian side for one more night in town.
Explore trails that will bring you directly over the falls of the Devil's Throat—the highest and deepest of the falls. Other trails allow access to the stretch of falls across the forest on the Argentine side. Opt to take an inflatable boat to the base of the thundering falls.
Border Crossing (Brazil - Argentina)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Iguassu Falls Visit
Spend the whole day on the Argentine side of Iguassu, exploring the paths over the falls or experience the UNESCO World Heritage site from a boat tour. Tours utilize trails and catwalks adapted to the landscape of the area, and walking is easy for all ages; guided tours of the complex are available several times a day.
Border Crossing (Argentina - Brazil)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Boat Tour of Iguassu Falls
75USD per personExplore the jungle by 4x4 crossing the Yacaratiá path and then hop on a boat to explore the thundering falls from a VERY close view. Take some amazing pictures and then float under the water to have the real Iguassu experience.
Accommodation
Hotel Del Rey (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Foz do Iguaçu/Paraty
Fly to São Paulo and continue by van to Paraty. Wander the cobblestoned streets and shops of this gorgeous coastal town and its historical centre, designated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Plane
An early morning flight gets you Paraty with plenty of time to explore.
Flight time may very if there is not a direct flight available.
Shared Van
Enjoy the drive to São Paulo, stopping for lunch along the way.
Accommodation
Pousada Laguna Blue (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Paraty
Enjoy a free day to explore Paraty. Opt to visit the cachaça distilleries or take a boat into the bay to explore the nearby islands and beaches.
Paraty is a quaint colonial town renowned for its architecture—the pace might be slow but there's a lot to choose from. Considered one of the world's most important examples of Portuguese colonial architecture by UNESCO, the historic centre is a well-preserved national historic monument, and today has been closed to vehicles to preserve its laid-back colonial ambiance. Opt to take a boat trip in the bay, kayak, go horseback riding, or take a jeep tour.
Opt to pre-book the "Paraty Caipirinha Boat Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Paraty, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like going on a boat tour, watching a puppet show, and visiting a cachaça distillery. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
4x4 Tour
150BRL per personHop in the back of a jeep and hang on for this tropical tour. Enter the Serra da Bocaina National Park, visit waterfalls (great for photos and swimming), and step back in time along the Gold Trail road, constructed by African slaves to transport gold mined inland and transported to Paraty port bound for Portugal.
Kayaking
90BRL per personSee Paraty's from a whole other level—sea level! Check out the spectacular views of the old town and the coastal mountain range and explore otherwise inaccessible mangroves.
City tour Paraty + cachaça tasting
160BRL per personTour a cachaça distillery where sugarcane juice is used to create the most popular distilled spirit in Brazil. If it tastes familiar, that's because it's the main ingredient in a Caipirinha, the country’s national cocktail. Often called “Brazilian rum,” cachaça is so popular, it’s produced by 40,000 micro-companies across the country. The blend from Paraty is sweet and salty; taste the sea as you sip this local liquid.
Diving Paraty
Brazil is a diver’s paradise. Its waters include a rich variety of fish, mammals, kelp and coral. Spot brilliantly coloured fish accented against the white sand ocean floor. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, sea turtles and nurse sharks. Paraty boasts at least 10 locations recommended for SCUBA diving. Explore the waters off islands with exotic names – Cocos, Meros, Deserta – and add an unforgettable underwater adventure to your list of most memorable moments.
Horseback Riding Paraty
390BRL per personThrow on some long pants, grab the reins and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the Atlantic Rainforest in the mountains around Paraty. Cross rivers and follow trails lined with tropical trees. Reach a lookout and see the village and the water below. Stop at a waterfall and jump in! Let the rushing water massage your muscles then hop back on the horses and gallop home.
Paraty Boat Tour
150BRL per personHome to hundreds of pristine islands and idyllic white sand beaches it doesn't get much better than the Costa Verde. Cruise up the coast with a caipirinha in one hand and your camera in the other. Stop along the way to swim in the crystal clear waters or to catch a few rays. Snorkeling equipment is provided for those wanting a peek at what is under the water's surface.
Trindade Day Trip
20BRL per personLocated about 25km (15.5 mi) away from the town of Paraty is the small beach town of Trindade, which can be reached by public transport. Walk along the sandy beach, play in the water and opt to go surfing.
Accommodation
Pousada Laguna Blue (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Paraty/Ilha Grande
Continue by van up the coast and take a ferry to Ilha Grande. Opt to hike to remote beaches and enjoy free time to relax and explore the island.
A short, scenic drive along the coast takes us to Angra dos Reis. Board the ferry to Ilha Grande—home to some of Brazil's most beautiful beaches.
Enjoy free time to soak up the sun, snorkel, hike and cruise to various beaches, not to mention feast on fresh seafood and sip caipirinhas in the plaza in the evenings.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Hike to Pico do Papagaio
150BRL per personEnjoy a guided hike from Abraão to Pico do Papagaio, soaking in the scenery along the way. It will take roughly 4 hours to hike up and about 2 hr to hike back down. The 360 degree views from the top are well worth the effort.
Ilha Grande Boat Excursion
130BRL per personFrom the main village of Vila do Abraão, take a boat tour to some of the best beaches around the island. See tropical fish and cool off in the salt spray of the turquoise waters. Stop to swim and snorkel and pinch yourself for being lucky enough to partake in this tropical piece of paradise. Enjoy the scenery while drinking a caipirinha, Brazil's national drink.
Ilha Grande Diving
Explore one of the world’s largest concentrations of underwater shipwrecks, many lost during pirate battles in the 16th-18th centuries in the waters off Ilha Grande. Dive to see the Pinguino cargo ship as well as the remains of a helicopter near Laja do Mataríz. Discover massive underwater caves, swim with schools of tropical fish and admire the colours of corals and reefs, in the warm salt water where visibility varies from 6-20m (20-66 ft).
Lopes Mendes Hike
Grab your bathing suit, slip on your walking shoes and take the hike from Abraão to the beautiful beach of Lopes Mendes. Follow a well-marked trail up and down, through forest and past other beaches. Eat Jack fruit picked along the way. Drink water from a natural spring. Listen to howler monkeys. After 2.5-3 hrs, arrive at the stunning Lopes Mendes beach, where the white powder sand squeaks under foot and the rolling green hills provide a stunning contrast to the turquoise water.
Snorkelling Ilha Grande
Rent a mask and snorkel, pull on some fins and get set to enter the underwater world of colourful tropical fish, shells and all things seaworthy. November through May is Ilha Grande’s best time to snorkel. Hotspots include the Blue Lagoon, Green Lagoon and Abraãzinho Beach. Luxuriate in the warm salt water, look down and, in some cases, see to a depth of 15m (50 ft).
Accommodation
Pousada Mata Nativa (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Ilha Grande
Enjoy a free day in Ilha Grande. Optional activities include hiking Pico Do Papagaio or to Lopes Mendes, snorkelling or relaxing on the beach.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Ilha Grande, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like taking a boat to Lopes Mendes Beach, taking a guided walk to Pico do Papagaio (Parrot's Peak), and snorkelling. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Hike to Pico do Papagaio
150BRL per personEnjoy a guided hike from Abraão to Pico do Papagaio, soaking in the scenery along the way. It will take roughly 4 hours to hike up and about 2 hr to hike back down. The 360 degree views from the top are well worth the effort.
Lopes Mendes Hike
Grab your bathing suit, slip on your walking shoes and take the hike from Abraão to the beautiful beach of Lopes Mendes. Follow a well-marked trail up and down, through forest and past other beaches. Eat Jack fruit picked along the way. Drink water from a natural spring. Listen to howler monkeys. After 2.5-3 hrs, arrive at the stunning Lopes Mendes beach, where the white powder sand squeaks under foot and the rolling green hills provide a stunning contrast to the turquoise water.
Ilha Grande Boat Excursion
130BRL per personFrom the main village of Vila do Abraão, take a boat tour to some of the best beaches around the island. See tropical fish and cool off in the salt spray of the turquoise waters. Stop to swim and snorkel and pinch yourself for being lucky enough to partake in this tropical piece of paradise. Enjoy the scenery while drinking a caipirinha, Brazil's national drink.
Ilha Grande Diving
Explore one of the world’s largest concentrations of underwater shipwrecks, many lost during pirate battles in the 16th-18th centuries in the waters off Ilha Grande. Dive to see the Pinguino cargo ship as well as the remains of a helicopter near Laja do Mataríz. Discover massive underwater caves, swim with schools of tropical fish and admire the colours of corals and reefs, in the warm salt water where visibility varies from 6-20m (20-66 ft).
Snorkelling Ilha Grande
Rent a mask and snorkel, pull on some fins and get set to enter the underwater world of colourful tropical fish, shells and all things seaworthy. November through May is Ilha Grande’s best time to snorkel. Hotspots include the Blue Lagoon, Green Lagoon and Abraãzinho Beach. Luxuriate in the warm salt water, look down and, in some cases, see to a depth of 15m (50 ft).
Accommodation
Pousada Mata Nativa (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Ilha Grande/Rio de Janeiro
Carry on by ferry and van to Rio de Janeiro. With free time, explore the city on an optional city tour.
Travel back to the mainland by ferry before continuing north along the coast. Enjoy the incredible scenery before rounding the cliffs at Vidigal. Get your first look at one of the most memorable cities in the world—Río de Janeiro.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Shared Van
Enjoy the incredible scenery before rounding the cliffs at Vidigal. Get your first look at one of the most memorable cities in the world—Río de Janeiro.
Free Time
Use your free time in Rio to start your exploration of this world-class city.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Rio de Janeiro City Tour
340BRL per personThere’s so much to see and do in this vibrant city pulsing with passion, music and the waves of the sea. Take a city tour and visit some of Rio’s hot spots. Visit the art deco statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, the colourful Lapa Steps and the Rio Cathedral. Ride a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain and marvel at the magnificent views of the bay, city and beaches beyond.
Accommodation
Royalty Rio Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Rio de Janeiro
Depart at any time.
There are no planned activities today so feel free to book onward travel at any time. Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Rio Football Game
500BRL per personIf it's a game day, catch a football match (or some call it soccer). Watch the locals cheer for their team and join in the celebrations.
Please note the pricing for this activity is approximate and could vary slightly on the ground when booked.
Rio Hang Gliding
980BRL per personGlide like a bird on this exhilarating and inspiring air adventure. Get all the guidance you need to go airborne with your instructor, and take to the skies for an unbeatable experience and amazing views of this incredibly picturesque city. Careful – you may become addicted to the freedom of flying!