Argentina & Brazil: Buenos Aires to Rio

Welcome to Buenos Aires – one of Latin America’s most alluring cities. A private Flash Pack transfer will be waiting to whisk you from the airport to your central boutique hotel. Here, you’ll meet your group and guide before heading out to help prepare your authentic welcome dinner. Tonight, you’ll learn how to make empanadas, Argentine-style steak and wine cocktails, rounding off with the national drink of maté, which has been shared as a gesture of friendship for centuries. The perfect way to get to know your fellow Flashpackers and share the excitement of an epic week to come.  

Rested and ready for your first adventure, you’ll get your bearings this morning on a cycle tour of the city. Arriving in the historic barrio of San Telmo, you’ll leave the bikes behind and set off on foot along the atmospheric cobbled streets. Explore lively antique markets housed in crumbling Italianate buildings, windowshop at bohemian galleries and stop off to sample street food, such as choripan (sausage in a bun). After lunch, you’ll visit one of the city’s hidden gems: El Zanjón de Grandos – a fascinating 400-year-old labyrinth of tunnels, sewers and cisterns from the city’s earliest settlement. Finish your day at a traditional Porteño bar to sample fine Argentinian wine in true local style. Salud!

A free day lies ahead in Buenos Aires. You might opt to cruise the channels of the Paraná Delta to explore lesser-known island neighborhoods. Or perhaps you’ll soak up some culture with a tour of the Teatro Colón – one of the world’s finest opera houses. Whichever activity you choose, you’ll rejoin your group this evening and get the opportunity to access a locals-only milonga dance club, where you could see seasoned porteños show off their real tango moves, before being whisked off to one of the city’s elegant speakeasy bars. Travelling by none other than vintage Chevrolet, you’ll be transported back to the time of Prohibition – a world of illicit alcohol and secret knocks on doors. 

After breakfast, you‘ll swap the sultry sway of Buenos Aires for the urban rhythms of Rio. No city on earth has a setting to compare: its sprawling suburbs clustered around rainforest-covered mountains, rising sheer from a bottle-green bay. After your flight, you’ll check in at your luxe Ipanema hotel and have the rest of the day to explore. Our suggestion? Meander down to the beach for a dip in the sea, or savour views of the city from Arpoador Rock. Reconvene with your group this evening for dinner and cocktails, where you’ll learn how to make caipirinhas – an essential Brazilian skill. 

Start your city exploration with an exhilarating 4×4 Jeep ride along Rio’s famous beaches to the heart of Tijuca Forest – the world’s largest urban rainforest – with beautiful peaks, creeks and waterfalls. Continue to Corcovado Mountain, where snaking trails lead up to the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer. It’s a real pinch-yourself moment as you savour the expansive bay views in the shadow of the majestic monument. Next stop is Santa Teresa, a picturesque bairro of winding streets and a laidback bohemian vibe. Climb the mosaic-covered steps of Escadaria Selarón before heading to a restaurant for lunch (optional). The afternoon is yours to enjoy Rio as you please, perhaps heading back to Ipanema for sundowners and a spectacular sunset. 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before a true Carioca activity. This morning you’ll be learning to play beach volleyball on Ipanema Beach. Your teacher is a local legend and will soon have you serving, passing, blocking and spiking in friendly competition. The rest of the day is yours to relax – your Flash Pack guide will be on hand to offer some suggestions. Why not hike up Morro da Urca and catch a cable car over to Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio’s most iconic natural landmark? Or you could stroll through the verdant botanic gardens before people-watching on Copacabana’s golden sand. This evening, you’ll head out to the famous Rio Scenarium venue for a farewell feast and to dance the night away to live music.

It’s your final morning and time to say a fond farewell to your group. You’ve done so much in just a week and created memories – and friends – to last a lifetime. After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time for you to make your own way to the airport. Looking to explore South America further? Perhaps Peru or Colombia might be just what you’re seeking.