Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay Itinerary Summer 2012-2013
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Nov 29, 2012 5:14 PM Last Post By: Maceroda
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Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay Itinerary Summer 2012-2013
Hi everyone,I've found this forum to be a massive help in sorting out my Patagonia and Mexico itineraries, so I figured I'd try my luck out here again. Essentially I'll be covering much of Patagonia (Argentina/Chile) between late November to mid December, and have around 2-3 months before flying off from Buenos Aires to Mexico City (if interested in checking out my Patagonia and Mexico itineraries see the bottom of this post). I have included here my current plan which should see me jump from Argentina - Brazil - Paraguay - Argentina - Uruguay - and back to Argentina so that I'll be back in Buenos Aires by the 07/03/2012 for my Mexico City flight. Some stuff I have already booked, but I'm still very open to suggestions as I currently have too many internal flights in Brazil (I'm meant to be travelling on a budget!) and my border crossings seem a bit messy.
15/12/2012 - Flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires (4hrs); meet up with friends arriving later that night
15-19/12/2012 – Party in Buenos Aires; possibly stay at Milhouse hostel where friends have booked
19/12/2012 – Overnight bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls (Argentinian side;18hrs Crucero Del Norte good bus company?)
20/12/2012 – Arrive at Iguazu 10-11am. Meet up with friends at 12:10 who are flying from BA. Iguazu Falls in afternoon and staying overnight at Hostel Bambu Mini
21/12/2012 – Border cross via bus from Iguazu (Argentinia side) to Iguassu Falls (Brazilian side). Check out this side of Iguazu Falls and see Itaipu Dam 15min away; overnight at Green House Hostel
22/12/2012 – Fly from Iguassu Falls to Sao Paulo (06:00-07:35; $74); overnight in Sao Paulo at Vila Madalena? (forgot the name) with friends
25/12/2012 – Bus from Sao Paulo to Paraty (approx. 3½hrs; Christmas/friend's 21st birthday)
25-30/12/2012 – Paraty; overnight at Historic Centre Hostel
30/12/2012 – Bus Paraty to Rio de Janeiro (approx. 3½hrs)
30-03/01/2013 – Rio de Janeiro for New Years; stay overnight at Piratas de Ipanema Guesthouse
03/01/2013 – Fly Rio de Janeiro to Manaus ($162; 7hrs); overnight accommodation TBA
04/01/2013 – check out Manaus; stay overnight
05-07/01/2013 – Jungle tour out of Manaus
07/01/2013 - Overnight in Manaus; accommodation TBA
08-09/01/2013 – Boat downriver from Manaus to Santarem (30-36hr; R$115/400 hammock/cabin)
09/01/2012 – Overnight in Santarem; accommodation TBA
10/01/2012 – Deforestation tour out of Santarem (get money out here for Alter do Chao as it has no banks); bus in afternoon to Alter do Chao. Overnight in Alter do Chao with accommodation TBA
11/01/2012 – Alter do chao; accommodation TBA
12-14/01/2012 – Bus back to Santarem and continue downriver to Belem (R$100/250 48hrs)
14-15/01/2012 – Belem; accommodation TBA
16/01/2012 – Fly Belem to Florianopolis (7hrs;$180-200AUD); spend day sightseeing in Florianopolis; overnight at Jiu Jitsu accommodation
18-07/02/2012 – Jiu Jitsu training
07-10/02/2012 – Fly Florianopolis to Salvador (6hrs;$180) and meet up with a friend; Carnival Salvador (Sunday 10th and Monday 11th are apparently the biggest nights so spend one at Salvador and one at Rio); accommodation TBA
11-12/02/2012 – Fly Salvador to Rio (6hrs; $105); Carnival in Rio – need to book ticket for Sambodromo; accommodation TBA
13/02/2012 – Fly Rio to Campo Grande ($109; 4hrs)
13-20/02/2012 – Pantanal (could make shorter to spend a couple of days at the Chaco in Paraguay); accommodation TBA
21/02/2012 – Bus Campo Grande to Ponta Pora (5hrs; $20) and cross border between Ponta Pora (Brazil) and Pedro Juan Caballero (Paraguay); bus from Pedro Juan Caballero to Asuncion (if no time to see any of the Chaco; 6-7½hrs; $16); overnight in Asuncion with accommodation TBA
Fri 22-23/02/2012 – Bus Asuncion to Encarnacion (5½hrs; $10-15); Carnival in Encarnacion (meant to be small but rowdy!)
24/02/2012 – Daytrip to Trinidad; bus/ferry from Encarnacion (Paraguay) across border into Posadas (Argentina; $1) and bus overnight from Posadas to Buenos Aires (13hrs; $30 coche cama delux sleeper bus)
25-04/03/2012 – Ferry from Buenos Aires (Argentina) to either Montevideo or Colonia El Sacramento (Uruguay) and float between these two places and Punta Del Este
05/03/2012 – Ferry from Montevideo/Colonia El Sacramento (Uruguay) to Buenos Aires (Argentina)
05-06/03/2012 – Spend more time around Buenos Aires; check out La Plata/Pinamar/Villa Gesell/Mar del Plata/Bahia Blanca/Viedma depending on time
07/03/2012 – Fly Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Mexico City (Mexico)
I know, I've crammed a lot in here. Please let me know what you think :)
Cheers,
Matt
Patagonia Itinerary:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2247115&messageID=20268762#20268762
Mexico Itinerary:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2239033&messageID=20199309#20199309
1
The Brazil itinerary is a bit hodge podge. Its all over the shop. And I think you know that. Try to follow a more linear or logical route. E.g Up the coast, and then Amazon and down to the Pantanal, or reverse. It will save on flights like Belem to Floripa. I remember you saying you liked party and nightlife (go to Buzios north of Rio - the nightlife here will suit you).Secondly, the other problem is that of Carnival. Unfortunately, a lot of hostels require 7 night bookings over these days. From weds to weds of Carnival week. People have done both, but I would suggest staying in one.
Also I might see you at Reveillon in Rio. Somewhere amongst the throng of 2,000,000 people.
I shall have a better look after work today.
3
Just to add, an afternoon at the Argentine side of the falls. This won't do it justice, its huge. And requires a FULL DAY.Might I suggest, stay in Puerto Iguazu (far nicer than foz), and go to the Brazilian side for an afternoon, then spend the day at the Argentine side.
Take a taxi to the airport (it won't cost much between a few of you).
You just need a little more order to your itinerary. What do you expect to see in the Amazon? And the Pantanal? It needs a better flow, jumping here and there isn't good (and flights - expecially long distance ones like Belem to Floripa aren't cheap).
Also Djalma, the OP's dates for Reveillon are 30th through to the 3rd Jan.
