About this trip
This is an overland bus route stretching from Rio de Janeiro on Brazil's Atlantic coast to Santiago on Chile's Pacific side, taking in three countries and five destinations along the way.
You travel independently by bus between stops, calling at the Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and Mendoza before crossing into Chile. It's a mix of vibrant cities, big landscapes and long-distance travel, covering around 4300km over 17 days.
Accommodation, bus travel, some transfers and a handful of highlight excursions are included, with the rest left for you to explore at your own pace.
What you'll do
- Start out in Rio de Janeiro
- See the Iguazu Falls
- Spend time in Buenos Aires
- Visit Mendoza in Argentina's wine country
- Cross the Andes toward Chile
- Finish on the Pacific coast in Santiago
- Self-guided format — you travel by bus between destinations with accommodation and some transfers arranged, but no guide leading you throughout
- Covers a lot of ground, around 4300km overland across three countries in 17 days
- Timed around Christmas and New Year for those travelling over that period
Cheapest live departure per day, in £, recorded by our tracker since 16 Jul. Never a brochure “was” price.
Worth it if you're flexible about long bus journeys and want a semi-independent trip with excellent support. Think twice if you need Spanish or prefer fully guided groups.
- Staff incredibly responsive on WhatsApp; Cristian and team tailor itineraries and arrange flights to replace long buses.
- Rio to Iguazu bus is 28-31 hours; many reviewers note this is gruelling despite being 'part of the experience'.
- Most day tours conducted in Spanish; cash-only taxis and hard-to-find ATMs in Argentina and Chile create friction.
- Doing both Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguazu Falls wastes time; Brazilian side alone sufficient, says reviewer.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Rio de Janeiro · 21 Jul – 22 Jul
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