CFW

We're planning a trip for next January from NY and want to go to Rio, Iguasu,and Buenos Aires. We could go NY-BA-IGU-Rio or reverse, and want to go on our own rather than with a tour group, though we wouldn't mind being with a group in IGU if that is that is the least expensive way to do it. Any suggestions for cheap airfares? Or air/hotel packages? There are packages from BA to Iguasu, but they involve RT to BA & it seems silly to backtrack from IGU to BA & then go back north to Rio. Help!

wheredafungawe

I did this itinerary in October, 2002. I bought an open jaw ticket from the US, arriving in Buenos Aires and returning to the US from Rio. To get to Iguazu, buy a one way ticket from Buenos Aires flying into Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, then buy another one way ticket from Foz do Iguacu, Brasil to Rio. I found that this was the cheapest and quickest way to go. I can recommend the Tropical das Cataratas hotel on the Brasilian side. I paid about $110/night for 2 night with a view of the falls.

CFW

Thanks, that sounds great. What airlines did you use? And how much were the tickets?

mrwunrfl

Use IGR for Iguazu, Argentina.
Use IGU for Iguassu, Brazil
BUE for both airports in Buenos Aires
RIO for both airports in Rio DJ.

Brazilian carriers: TAM, Gol, VASP, Varig
Argentine carriers: Aerolineas Argentinas, Southern Winds, Astral, others.

wheredafungawe

I think I paid about $125USD from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu (Aerolineas Argentinas) and about $200USD from Foz do Iguacu to Rio (Varig). This was in October, 2002 so things may have changed.