South America - Rio or Buenos Aires?

So i am planning a romantic, and fun! 10-12 day trip on about Dec 28 - Jan 8.

30 years of age traveling with significant other, and want a fun place, good people watching, plenty of sights to see, a fun city to walk around, good food, not too expensive, nice bar/restaurant scene, not much into discos/nightclubs anymore, would be great if the town had some nice side trips too to nearby towns (preferably one with a beach, but it is not a deal killer).

Which would you recommend for such an occasion, Rio or BA? We can't decide!


--Hah! i should have known this exact title would have already been posted, with a little searching

Buenos Aires,
or if you really want Brazil, Florianopolis, not Rio.

Buenos Aires,
or if you really want Brazil, Florianopolis, not Rio.

Why, not Rio? I have little doubt i will love the beach scene in Rio, but is that all that Rio is really about? Does the city kind of suck as a sightseeing city, once you leave the beach?

Why, not Rio? I have little doubt i will love the beach scene in Rio, but is that all that Rio is really about? Does the city kind of suck as a sightseeing city, once you leave the beach?

No, not at all - in fact I think there's more to see in Rio than in BA. Rio is more spectacular, BA more European.

In 10-12 days, you could of course do both: GIG/EZE flights are not that expensive. Actually, I think that's exactly what I'd do in your position because you would get two great but very different experiences.

No, not at all - in fact I think there's more to see in Rio than in BA. Rio is more spectacular, BA more European.

In 10-12 days, you could of course do both: GIG/EZE flights are not that expensive. Actually, I think that's exactly what I'd do in your position because you would get two great but very different experiences.

About the cheapest i'm finding is $278 one way, and once i factor in the reciprocity fee in EZE and the visa cost in Brazil, it gets a little pricey for two people.

If i'm going to spend the extra cash, i might as well try to hit up Iguazu too (if i could squeeze it in using overnight travel)

I'm also debating flying into GIG, going overland to Iguazu, and then overland to Buenos Aires (in overnight buses), and flying out of EZE back to DFW to at least avoid the reciprocity fees in EZE, and i get to see both Rio and BA, with Iguazu as a kicker.

Would that be to much to fit into a 10-12 day trip, given all the overland travel. I hear that overland executive buses in the area are actually nice and nearly lie flat for overnight travel. I don't know if all that bus journey will kill the fun though.

Be aware that Rio/Iguazu by bus is approx 22 hours and Iguazu/BA 17 hours :eek:.

Be aware that Rio/Iguazu by bus is approx 22 hours and Iguazu/BA 17 hours :eek:.

Yikes. I don't know how romantic that would be!

If you want to avoid the reciprocity fee, fly GIG-IGU (brasilian side airport - GOL does this I believe) see the Brasil side of the falls, cross the land border, see the Argentine side of the falls, then fly IGR-AEP (argentine side airport). Not sure it'll be worth the hassle

You'll get more for your $ in BA than Rio.

You'll get more for your $ in BA than Rio.

Yes. This was a big deciding factor, and have decided to nix Brazil, as much as it hurt to do so. Hotels were so much cheaper in BA and going out to nice restaurants would be much more affordable, and Brazil has a hefty visa fee.

I think we have decided to fly into B.A (pay the reciprocity fee.) Then do about 5 or 6 nights in in Buenos Aires.

Do maybe 2 or 3 nights of side trips to either of Punta del Este, Tigre Delta, Colonia, Mar Del Plata, Montevideo, play gaucho for a day somewhere just outside BA.... Still researching side trips options. Recommendations would be great!

Then book an Aerolineas r/t flight from B.A. to Iguazu and back to B.A. --if i can get the Argentinean discount.;)
--I've read on another thread that you can book through the local Argentinian Aerolineas website for a much cheaper r/t flight rate to iguazu from B.A, than the US version of the website. Indeed it was about half the cost!

I'm not sure if i would need to get to Argentina first to make the phone call (to the Argentinian number) and pay though, after one makes a reservation on the Argentina Internet version of the site. I've read you can't pay through the website, only make the reservation, then a phone call is needed. I've heard this is easily doable, but some people say you have to wait till you arrive in Argentina to actually make the phone call to pay for the ticket (and a US credit card worked fine). Of course the thread i was reading was several years old. Any body have any recent experiences with this?

Do maybe 2 or 3 nights of side trips to either of Punta del Este, Tigre Delta, Colonia, Mar Del Plata, Montevideo, play gaucho for a day somewhere just outside BA.... Still researching side trips options. Recommendations would be great!

I'd suggest Patagonia over the above. Especially over Mar Del Plata and Punta del Este. Not much to reccomend about either. The vast region known as Patagonia, whether the Lake District or further south is much more unique. The 2 mentioned are crappy beach towns, Montevideo a nice, if sleepy capital which is ime quite similar to Buenos Aires. Colonia and the Tigre are different, but I'd still edge towards Patagonia

I'd suggest Patagonia over the above. Especially over Mar Del Plata and Punta del Este.

Yes I would avoid both of the beach resorts even more so at that time of year when they will be packed with holidaymakers. You are arriving at the peak holiday time for Argentina's inhabitants.

Yes I would avoid both of the beach resorts even more so at that time of year when they will be packed with holidaymakers. You are arriving at the peak holiday time for Argentina's inhabitants.

Excellent advice !!! ^