Buenos aires to Rio de Janeiro

Hi,
I'm visiting Argentina (Buenos Aires) by the end of the year for five weeks, and I would like to know how can I reach Rio in a road-trip-like trip, since I won't have a huge budget to buy flight tickets and I've heard that Brazil (especially Rio) is very expensive. I would love to pass through the Iguazú Falls as well. Has anyone done this kind of trip? How long can it be? Could you guys help me? The other option I have is going south to patagonia and Perito Moreno, but I have always dreamed going to Brazil. What would you recommend...

Thanks!

The falls are definitely worth a visit. the bird park is also fun, as is a ride under the falls.
At some times of year, flights from IGU (Foz do Iguacu Brazilian airport) to Rio (GIG) are about the same as the bus fare (about R$200 for a long boring trip). Check GOL and TAM.
Dorm beds in most Rio hostels run about R$35-40, including breakfast. You can eat cheap on the street, and also use the "por kilo" (by weight) lunch places. Some of the sights are a bit expensive (Corcovado and Sugarloaf, both about R$40 entry) but worth it. The beach is, of course, free, if you don't drink, eat or rent chairs and umbrellas. Cover charge at Lapa live samba clubs (a must) is about R$20 (+ drinks).

Hi! I'm planning the exact same trip by the end of the year, 5 weeks in Argentina! I would like to travel to Rio From Buenos Aires in a road-trip-like trip. Have you made any advances on the subject? Could you share them with me? I just started looking on the internet and found some links, but honestly haven't read them carefully.

If I have any more information I could send it to you. It would be nice if both of us could help each other, in the end we are in the same page!

Best regards from Colombia!

Hi guys! I traveled from BA to Rio about 3 months ago. There is a bus, an international one, that goes direct to Rio. I think it takes about 3 days and it is VERY expensive. As a matter of fact, I ended up flying for two reasons...I have a US passport which means when you apply for your visa to Brazil you need a return flight or bus ticket so flying was the easiest option...but also, flying was the same price! I flew there with Pluna airlines (an Uruguyan airline) for about $300US return. Also, if you travel within Brazil at all, half the time I ended up flying because it was half the price of the bus tickets. Other times, twice as expensive, but ALWAYS look at both first. You can't buy plane tickets online yourself because you need to be a resident but you can go to a travel agent and still they are sometimes cheaper. But from BA to Rio....if you don't take the international bus direct to Rio, the option I looked at but didn't take was to take the ferry over from BA to Colonia, which is supposed to be gorgeous, then the quick bus to Montevideo, and from there a bus to Flioranopolis, visit there and Santa Catalina, then up north along the coast. Don't know the prices exactly but hopefully those options will help you find your perfect way~Erin

As a PS, you are right about Rio. In off season or shoulder season, depending on how you eat (excellent food in Rio) and where you stay (I stayed in Ipanema, the most expensive), you can spend over $100USD a day easily. It CAN be much cheaper if you stay out of that area and cook or eat cheaply, but prepare for it anyway.

I was in Rio last December for a week and had heard about how pricy Brazil was but man...I'd say its more expensive than most US cities now. I was staying with friends so I didn't have to pay for a room and I still spent a good bit of cash.

All that said, Rio is really amazing and definitely worth it.

Hi:

I´m a local from BA and I run a small guest house for foreigners. Many of them have same plan and it deppend of the offfers I can know in every moment I reccomend to fly or to take a bus. Of a mix...

Bus trip form BA to Iguazu falls takes 19 hours, but the buses are very comfortable. They do the trip at nigth, stop to dinner, have seat-bed, bathroom, and in this way you save one night hostel. Price is about 100 u$s.

Then, you can cross to the brasilian national park of the falls (they don´t ask visa till there) and... from there you can take a local flight (cheaper than internatiopnal flight) to Rio.
Well.. also there are other possibilities, i. e. via Uruguay, etc.

If you also are looking for accommodation in BA, a guest house like mine is ideal, because a helpful landlord can help you to plan your trip and of course to know the non-touristic places of this amazing and safe city of 13 million people with all its culture, events, funny places, etc

saludos/ regards

I miss Buenos Aires a lot! it's such a great town!

For visitors I can really recommend the free tours (I did them both):
http://www.bafreetour.com

Great music:
http://labombadetiempo.blogspot.com


And Abuela Goye has the best ice cream:
http://www.abuelagoye.com