Coming from Buenos Aires (after the visit of Tigre), the direct bus was full so we had to take a bus from Retiro to Posadas (8500RS per person – 14h in a night bus) and an other to Puerto Iguazu (100ARS – 6h). You also have the WAY BETTER OPTION: take a national flight (only 2h with Jet Smart or Aerolineas Argentina).

We visited the waterfall park in one day: by bus it’s only 30min (17ARS one way)and the entrance costs 5500 or 4675 ARS if you pay online.

It took 4 hours to cross the border by ourselves:

• 11h40: We take a bus from Puerto Iguazu bus station.
• 11h55: It stopped first for the people who were only crossing for one day (in that case they check your vaccines and give you a simple paper).
• 12h15: We crossed the argentinian custom to get our exit stamp (here they usually ask for the “declaracion jurada”, the same to get into the country).
• 12h30: Our bus left us at the Brazilian border (telling us we’ll need to get the next one). Here you only need to fill in a simple information form to have your entry stamp (no vaccine neither PCR documentation has been asked).
• 15h: The next bus finally arrived! It was supposed to be every hour but not this day apparently…
• 15h30: We arrived in the Rodovaria (bus station).

Price: 500 ARS with Rio Uruguay (you can also take a cab which will charge you 7500 ARS with return for one day, or R$ 150 from the border to the center)

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To sleep: Pousada El Shaddai R$ 140 private triple room.
To go to the parcs: Bus number 120 from all over the city center, every 20min, R$ 10 with return (around 1h trip)

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To book your tickets:
> Parque das Aves (R$ 102)
> Iguazu falls (R$ 68)

First day: Joaquina dunes and beach

We walked around 1h30 (with a nice stop at Marquês da Lagoa, a bar I totally recommend with live music) and found a path to the dunes: Trilha Dunas da Joaquina. We had lunch on the beach full of bars and music. We went back by bus (only R$ 9).

Second day: Barra da Lagoa

We took a bus at the Rodovaria for R$ 9 to go to this nice beach and walked into the hill where you have smaller beaches (follow Trilha das Piscinas) but also a beautiful view from the Farol da Barra (lighthouse). The path is kind of wild: very good experience!

Paraty

After a night bus to São Paulo and a second 5h bus (see the details) we finally arrived in Paraty and found the first hostel available. We discovered a little paradise here: small colonial streets, no car, and a lot of tours you can book for the day to discover the islands around. As we had booked our plane to go back to Argentina we only had one night there, but it definitely worth more time!

To sleep: Janlu Hostel, R$ 120 double room

Ilha Grande

We took a public transport from the bus station for only R$ 17 (no need to book in advance, you pay directly to the driver and it’s almost every hour). After 2h we arrived in Angra dos Reis and waited for the ferry (see the details). We booked 2 beds at Ocean View hostel for R$ 72 per bed).

1st day:

Playa Lopes Mendes walking through the jungle for almost 3h. We went back by taxi boat (R$ 40 you can take on Pouso beach every hour).

2 day:

Meia Volta (half tour of the island by boat) R$ 120 from 10 to 4.30pm to do snorkeling in Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, have a lunch break and enjoy Praia Amor and Praia Feiticeira.

Rio de Janeiro

We took the ferry back at 10am and the bus at 12.30. We arrived in a luxuary house in Santa Teresa: At Marcelo and Maria Isabel.

> Check what to do in Rio

To sleep: You can contact Marcelo directly on WhatsApp as they have plenty of options: +55 21 98461-1339

After 4 nights there we went back to Argentina by plane (with Flybondi to Buenos Aires and Aerolineas Argentina to Salta)… TO BE CONTINUED