mdkulkarni

Hey! I know that there is a previous post on this issue but I am finding it hard to incorporate this in my itienary so was wondering if someone can help me?? I am planning a honeymoon starting Jan 2nd to Buenos Aires and Rio with perhaps a stop at Iguasu. My problem is that since I am travelling from Capetown- my entry point into Latin America will have to be Buenos Aires. So my question is how do I travel further as I really want to visit the Iguasu Falls ( which side is better?) and then go to Rio? I want to be in the continent for upto 10 days! are there any other must sees? Also I have read in a few guides that Jan is the worst time to visit S.A as temperatures are soearing to 40 deg celcuis and many shops in Buenos aires and rio are closed as mostly are on vacation till feb? Is this true? We are travelling half the globe and really do want to make the most of our trip!! PLEASE HELP??

Thanks

Dondiega

Well, I have been to Rio in January and yes it is hot sure about 40 degrees. I do not remember ever any shops being closed during this time because it is the high season for tourism and this is when they make their money so that doesn't make sense. If you are on your honeymoon check out Buzios about 110 miles from Rio www.buziosonline.com.

mrwunrfl

I don't understand why it "will have to be Buenos Aires". I see that SAA goes to BA via Sao Paulo.

You might take a look into getting a Mercosur Air Pass for travelling around S. America.

mdkulkarni

There are 2 reasons why it "has to be" B.A
- We are travelling from India and South Africa is the best route into South America. The travel times are really long and we have been really working hard at making sure that we dont waste more time than we need to-travelling
- There is a nonstop flight from Cape Town going to Buenos Aires ( Malaysian Airlines). The flight dureation of this flight is 9 hours as oppossed to the SAA route which flies only from Johannesburg, with a stop over in capetown and then to Sau paulo. The travle time is more than 13 hours. Not counting that from Sau Paulo to Rio.

Are there any other options on how i can travel to Iguazu? which side is better? Also we are thinking of sticking to one hotel chain through out our trip so that we can avail disocunts! Does anyone know about the Shereton hotels in B.A and Rio? we want to stay in Shereton Park towers in B.A and the Shereton in Rio?

need as much help as we can possibly get!

Dondiega

There is a Sheraton hotel in Iguacu but I have not stayed there but I hear it is the best hotel to stay at in the area because of its location near the falls. I have stayed at the Sheraton in Rio and it is a very nice hotel just outside of Leblon and Ipanema beaches but right on its own beach with an olympic size type pool.

mrwunrfl

See both sides of the falls.

You said you were flying from Cape Town, but now say from India. I don't think that means that you are flying Malaysian Airlines from India to Kuala Lumpur, Jo'burg, Cape Town. I am guessing that you don't plan on returning to CPT or to India?

From BA, fly an Arg carrier to Igauzu in Arg, go to the Brazil side and fly from Foz de Iguacu to Rio. From Rio, go to Sao Paulo and return to Cape Town.

Or fly into S.P. and connect to Rio, then go to Iguacu, Iguazu, BA and return to CPT. But ten days is not really enough for that trip. You could skip B.A.

mdkulkarni

Thanks for your messages.
mrwunrfl: This is the route.
India to Capetown ( this is a non stop flight) the flight is east wards and does not stop over in South east asia
Cape Town to B.A ( which is also a non stop flight only operated by Malaysian Airlines on wednesdays and sundays.
Since we are getting the circle atlantic fare- we will be returning to India from rio with a stopover in Europe.
I hope things are clearer now.
So from what I understand from these last posts : Once I am in B.A take an Argentinean carrier to Iguasu- then to the brazil side and take a flight from there to Rio!

Also what about hotels? what are the good 5 star hotels at these locations? Also does anyone know of any good dicounted hotel rates website?

me

Took AR. airline to fly BA-Iguazu( little under 200 USD round-trip)We've stayed at the Sheraton Iguazu and think it's the best place to stay(it's right in the park at the falls,save time travel in & out, falls-view room , delicious breakfasts included) You should see both sides ,Brazil side has panoramic view , the AR side you can walk (rails) all over the falls , I prefer the AR side if I have to pick one, more exciting .The falls are marvelous ! I loved BA , so I would never say "skip BA". If it's not for the long flight from the US (10hrs+) , we've even thought of buying an apartment there. Try buenosaires.gov.ar
Good luck to you.

Graziella5b

Hi I agree with Me,
Buenos Aires is a very sophisticated city lovely for a visit and prices due to the current exchange are very low.
They have many nice hotels, the most luxurious ones go by rates more or less international over 200 dollars, but the four stars which are very nice too, jump down a lot tgheir rates and through a travel agent rates in the vecinity of 70 dollars with breakfast can be easily obtained.
We stayed in the Argenta Tower Hotel a four stars ( really four because some hotels upgrade themselves since there is no official rating system), we got the
reservation and good rate through
wowargentina.com.ar, email wow@
fibertel.com.ar, talk to CIntia. I have no commercial connection with them but as many others in this forum was highly impressed by their honesty and professionalism.
The Argenta Tower Hotel was very inexpensive I do not recall exactly but we paid aprox. 65 us with a very nice breakfast buffet.
Also through WOWargentina I got reservations
at the Sheraton in Iguazu. The Sheraton is the best choice particullarly because of its location inside the National Park in the Argentine side where the falls
( there are many, many falls) are located. You can step out from the
hotel and walk around, with or withoug a guide. There is no need for one since all the possible paths are perfectly well indicated. There is also a train, like a special train, that takes you around the park paying very little.
The paths takes you to boats etc In the park, there is like a center where there are a few restaurants. But the best bet is the Sheraton itself. There is a buffet lunch and a buffet dinner and a la carte options. There is also light fare in the bar. Buffet breakfast is included in the rates.From all over you get beautiful views of the falls.
To go to the Brazilian side there are private cars with chofer that would take you for not much , show you around and wait for you.They are called REMISES in Argentina. We did that
and had lunch on the Brazilian side in the best hotel there, and old colonial hotel with lots of charm and good food. They also have some live music in the dinning room. Good service.
You can return to Buenos Aires and then fly to Rio or continue from Iguazu to Rio. To do that you must leave Iguazu from the Brazilian airport, a taxi will take you from the Sheraton for 15 to 20 dollars, (50 argentine pesos) do not pay more because we have friends that did that and that is what they paid. Instead of going to the front desk they went down in the same Sheraton hotel to a local travel agency. Actually the travel agency I am talking about is located in a trip of shops in the same building but to access them you have to exit the hotel and go down a stairs. The doorman will tell you.The people from this travel agency wear yellow t shirts and have yellow vans.. It was a big difference with the quoted rate from the front desk.
Always check with more than one source.
Rio is a beautiful city and you will love it, food is great too. In one word both cities are beautiful each in its own way. About the weather you are going in Summer so it will be hot but you will be ok.
Only check if in Iguazu you would need an insect repellent for mosquitos or something like that. Have fun.

Graziella5b

You know I realized that I am not sure of how much my friends were charged to go from the Sheraton to the Brazilian Airport in Iguazu. But I know that they asked for a car to the Sheraton upon arrival and hired one upon leaving from the yellow shirt
travel agency and that it was like three times less.
To get from the Argentine airport to the Sheraton you can hire this service with wowargentina , we did that, and it was very little.
Just for you to know the argentine airport is much closer to the Sheraton than the Brazilian airport.