Rio to the Andes

Brazil & Argentina

CULTURE14 days

City life and wild nature, from Rio to the Argentine north

Dosage

14 days

Indication

Nature, culture, food & city

Contra-indication

Winter season

Side effects

Wanting to see more

Rio to the Andes why go

A trip that combines city life and nature. These fourteen days are for travellers who want to see famous Rio and take their first proper look at Argentina — where the northern landscapes surprise you, and bustling Buenos Aires reminds you of Barcelona.

✦ Walked in person. Every stop below is from our own notebook — including the wrong turns.

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The itinerary what to do, where

6 places

Rio de Janeiro

Base yourself in Leblon and let Rio unfold at walking pace — botanical calm in the morning, Ipanema sand in the afternoon, and the city's best picanha at night.

Stay: Airbnb in Leblon, or Ipanema on the Leblon border

Getting there: international flight to Rio (GIG) · Getting around: Uber

What to do

01Botanical Garden & Escadaria Selarón
02Copacabana and Ipanema beach
03Christ the Redeemer, then coffee at Rio Coffee House next door
04Leblon shopping centre

EatGiuseppe Grill (order the Picanha Supra Sumo), Rubaiyat Rio, Oggi Pizza Napoletana

TipLeblon and Ipanema are the calmest bases — walkable to the beach and quieter after dark.

Iguazú Falls

The falls straddle two countries. Skip the Brazilian side — the Argentinian park gives you more room, fewer crowds, and lockers at the entrance so you can head straight to the airport afterwards.

Stay: Viale Tower Hotel (the Brazilian side has better facilities)

Getting there: fly Rio (GIG) → Foz do Iguaçu (IGU), then cross to Argentina by taxi — drivers know the border · Getting around: Uber or taxi to the parks; the village is walkable

What to do

01Puerto Iguazú falls, the Argentinian side

EatThe Coffee · Bona – Gastronomia Italiana

TipSkip the Brazilian side. The Argentinian park is roomier and less crowded, and the entrance lockers let you go straight to your flight.

Buenos Aires

The city that reminds you of Barcelona. Palermo for coffee and steak, San Telmo for Sundays, and a bookshop built inside a former opera house.

Stay: Airbnb in Palermo Nuevo or Palermo Soho

Getting there: direct flight Puerto Iguazú (IGR) → Buenos Aires (AEP) · Getting around: safe on foot; Ubers available

What to do

01El Ateneo Grand Splendid library
02Mate & yerba tasting — guided tour in Palermo Soho
03Plaza de Mayo · San Telmo market (Sundays)
04Empanada and wine tasting workshop · a tango show

EatLa Cabrera (early dinner = 50% off), Don Julio (book far ahead), Blanca for coffee & breakfast

TipBook Don Julio well ahead, and arrive early at La Cabrera for the 50% early-dinner discount.

Jujuy Region

North to the painted desert. Purmamarca's Seven Colour Hill, the white glare of Salinas Grandes, and — once you've acclimatised — the fourteen colours of Hornocal.

Stay: Hotel El Candil, Tilcara (its restaurant included)

Getting there: fly Buenos Aires (AEP) → Salta (SLA), then drive north · Getting around: rent a car at Salta airport; hire a 4x4 guide for Hornocal

What to do

01Purmamarca: the Seven Colour Hill, village viewpoint, small market
02Salinas Grandes: enter with your own vehicle and a local guide (book at the tourist centre)
03Serranía de Hornocal, the 14 Colour Mountain: local guide + 4x4 from Humahuaca — don't self-drive

TipSave the 14 Colour Mountain for the second day to acclimatise slowly to the altitude. Combine Purmamarca on the way to or from Salinas Grandes.

Salta & Cafayate

The scenic road south. Break the drive in Salta, then follow Ruta 68 past red-rock canyons to the vineyards of Cafayate.

Stay: Salta — Hotel Almería · Cafayate — Bodega El Esteco (a must; add a night if you can)

Getting there: drive south from Jujuy through Salta to Cafayate via Ruta 68 · Getting around: rental car; Salta is walkable

What to do

01Salta: local churches and shops; specialty coffee at Kokoro Café; alfajores from Puerta del Sol
02Photo stops on Ruta 68: Garganta del Diablo, El Anfiteatro, Los Castillos
03Cafayate: a horseback ride or a campfire wine tasting under the stars (book ahead)

TipYou have to pass through Salta to reach Jujuy — one night there breaks up the long drive in both directions.

Departure

Fly home from Salta via Buenos Aires — or steal one more night in the capital to break up the journey.

What to do

01Fly Salta (SLA) → Buenos Aires → home
02Optional: add 1–2 nights in Buenos Aires before the international flight
03Currency: carry cash — small towns often take nothing else, especially for tips
04Language: Google Translate helps; little English in Rio, mostly Spanish in the northern villages