Yehoshua's Buenos Aires, Iguazú/Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro TR

[Galitzyaner]

4. The only benefit on non-stop rain: some dude built this on the beach!

COOL!

[Yehoshua]

IIRC there's public transportation, PCMIIW.

There could be public transportation, but getting in late + rain = just pay for cab.  IIRC from my research, you need to take a shuttle to the metro, which only takes you to Copacabana. Then you'd need to take a cab from there. Not worth the hassle at 9:00pm.

Sorry to hear about the rain in Rio, it really depends on the season I guess; sometimes it rarely rains.

I know. Those were the only days it rained for about 1 week in either direction. I guess well have to use our visas and go back.

[Galitzyaner]

There could be public transportation, but getting in late + rain = just pay for cab.  IIRC from my research, you need to take a shuttle to the metro, which only takes you to Copacabana. Then you'd need to take a cab from there. Not worth the hassle at 9:00pm.I know. Those were the only days it rained for about 1 week in either direction. I guess well have to use our visas and go back.

I wasn't talking about Rio (though a taxi in Rio was one of the most I spent on in sudamerica, relatively expensive).  I was referring to the following

The last day we were there we wanted to see the Brazilian side of the falls before flying out from there to Rio.  We called Nancy to take us to Brazil.  She took us for ARS$250; the Sheraton wanted ARS$800 for the same trip.  She gave us customs forms to fill out before we got to Brazil customs.  The whole process of clearing customs in Brazil was weird.  We cleared Argentine exit customs, drove to Brazil, and just parked in a lot near the customs building.  Nancy took our passports in to get processed while we waited in the car.  We noticed there were lots of cars just like us with people waiting for their drivers to come back.  We did have visas, but we never saw a single Brazilian customs officer.  She then drove us to the Brazilian park entrance with a quick stop at a currency exchange so I could change some USD to Reais. I still have her business card, and I'd recommend calling her for cross-boarder rides, especially if you use her from the airport to the Sheraton as well.

We got a cab from the park to the airport for R$20.  It seemed like a rip-off, but it’s the standard rate apparently. 

[Yehoshua]

I wasn't talking about Rio (though a taxi in Rio was one of the most I spent on in sudamerica, relatively expensive).  I was referring to the following

Oh, yes, there is public transportation from park to park, but it involves a few local busses and lots of waiting. It took us 40 minutes door to door, including stopping to get a tax refund at the border. Well worth the $25.

There's also a bus from the Brazilian park to IGU, but it wasn't there and at that point we didn't have time to wait.

[Galitzyaner]

Oh, yes, there is public transportation from park to park, but it involves a few local busses and lots of waiting. It took us 40 minutes door to door, including stopping to get a tax refund at the border. Well worth the $25.

There's also a bus from the Brazilian park to IGU, but it wasn't there and at that point we didn't have time to wait.

Fair enough.

[chochom]

how did you find out these minute detail of leaving the luggage in the park and going from there to the airport? in the brazilian side, how far is the hotel from the park? sorry it rained in rio but what was your plan (how many days and where did you plan to go)? there is a beautiful fairly unknown park, garota do ipanema. obrigado

[txtmax4]

Nice report!
Nice gazillionBM!

[Ergel]

Great report. Those pics are amazing. I need to get to iguzu

[Tzfas]

Wow thanks great trip report.

[Yehoshua]

how did you find out these minute detail of leaving the luggage in the park and going from there to the airport?

I emailed the hotel and they told me.

in the brazilian side, how far is the hotel from the park?

The Hotel das Cataratas in located in the park.  The Sheraton in Argentina is about 40 minutes away from the Brazilian park.

sorry it rained in rio but what was your plan (how many days and where did you plan to go)? there is a beautiful fairly unknown park, garota do ipanema. obrigado

We were there for 2 full days.  We planned to go to Corcovado and Pão de Açucar one day and visit the beaches and maybe go hang gliding the second day.

You spent time in RJ? How do you know about that park?

[Yehoshua]

Wow thanks great trip report.

Thanks!

Great report. Those pics are amazing. I need to get to iguzu

Thanks! It's one of the nicest places I've been to.

Nice report!

Thanks!

Nice gazillionBM!

What?

[Yaalili]

Great report, have a trip there soon iyh, and this will help alot.

[Yehoshua]

Great report, have a trip there soon iyh, and this will help alot.

Enjoy! I'm glad this TR could be some help.

[txtmax4]

What?

Let's see if someone else can figure out what I was talking about

[chochom]

i have been in rio .... but has been a while. did you visit the park? ipanema is much nicer then copacabana. never been in iguacu and would like to go. but, i cant get anything going with TAM with miles from united.com . i tried segments but doesnt work.
question: can i book with 60,000 miles from united the following (that is, from the miles standpoint) the following:
EWR-RIO (stopover) - SAO-IGU (destination) - EWR and rio-sao will be 'on me'? tks

[Yehoshua]

i have been in rio .... but has been a while. did you visit the park? ipanema is much nicer then copacabana. never been in iguacu and would like to go. but, i cant get anything going with TAM with miles from united.com . i tried segments but doesnt work.
question: can i book with 60,000 miles from united the following (that is, from the miles standpoint) the following:
EWR-RIO (stopover) - SAO-IGU (destination) - EWR and rio-sao will be 'on me'? tks

We didn't get a chance to go to that park.

Why not do EWR-GIG, then GRU-EWR with a stop in IGU?

[chochom]

Why not do EWR-GIG, then GRU-EWR with a stop in IGU?
[/quote]

Great idea! gig as destination then open jaw sao-ewr with stopover in igu. there is very little availability to igu. ironically, sao-ewr with stopover in igu ends up being sao-igu-sao-ewr tks

[Dan]

Finally got around to reading this, great TR.
Really brings back memories.  Can't wait until my kids are older and we can replicate a trip like this.

Would prob add a shabbos in SP, maybe sneak in Machu Picchu.

Gosh I love traveling.

[Yehoshua]

Finally got around to reading this, great TR.
Really brings back memories.  Can't wait until my kids are older and we can replicate a trip like this.

Would prob add a shabbos in SP, maybe sneak in Machu Picchu.

Gosh I love traveling.

I'm glad you liked it. I need to go back to BA and Rio to experience them without rain, as well as visit SP. I also plan to do a separate northern South America trip to Peru, maybe the Amazon in northern Brazil, etc., but that will have to wait a while.

[Dan]

I need to go back to BA and Rio to experience them without rain, as well as visit SP.

Take advantage of those Visas while you've got em

Apparently the peso can be had for 13:1 now: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/world/americas/argentinas-currency-falls-sharply-against-the-dollar-stirring-inflation-fears.html?_r=0
Makes me want to fly back down for some Asian