RIO TO BUENOS AIRES

Our Clients’ Reviews

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  Alec Tombs

  RIO TO BUENOS AIRES

  

  Written December 2011

  A really great holiday with some truly "world class" highlights, but the proportion of time spent travelling was too large. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Iguacu was incredible, definitely one of the 7 wonders of the natural world. Snorkelling in the river in Bonito was like swimming in your own giant aquarium, and the sight of macaws, toucans, giant storks and various other exotic birds in the Pantanal was totally unique in my experience. Rio, of course, has a number of iconic attractions such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the beaches, but what I  remember most clearly from Rio is the insignia badge on the side of the vehicles of the Police Elite Squad given the task of clearing the drug gangs from the favellas (slums). As our guide told us, "when they go in, they don't come out with prisoners". Their insignia? A skull with a dagger driven through it, backed by crossed rifles/sub machine guns. The Met Police they are not.   

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Eze was a delightful leader and made a huge contribution to the success of the trip.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be aware that you will be spending a lot of time travelling and won't be getting much exercise on this trip. There is no need to take all your money in dollars, there are plenty of ATMs available, except for the Pantanal, when you don't need any money anyway. 

   
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  thomas jackson

  BUENOS AIRES TO RIO

  

  Written September 2010

  Very much a well-organised and thought-out trip, that packed an enormous amount into 2 weeks ......from the big cities of Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro to the beauty of the Iguacu Falls: from the wild-life and tranquility of the Pantanal to the old colonial setting of Paraty.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Several inspirational moments.......the Iguacu Falls , Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Statue of Christ without doubt.........but also the sea cruise off the Brazilian Costa Verde; canoeing near the caimen crocodiles in the Pantanal; and drifting down, in wet suits and snorkel, the crystal clear river near Bonito, coming close to all manner of colourful fish!   

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent ..one of the best , if not the best, I have had in more than 25 trips with Exodus and similar companies. Always knowledgeable, well organised, efficient and with a smile. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Yes...do go on the trip! Its packed with things to see and do. You won't be disappointed!  

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  There's a bit of everything for everyone in this trip.....sightseeing in the big cities; wild life watching in the countryside; sailing in a schooner along the coast; the tango and salsa; horse riding and swimming, and even taking in a top class football match in Buenos if you want it.

   
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  Karen Wellham

  BUENOS AIRES TO RIO

  

  Written September 2010

  A good holiday with lots of sightseeing - leisurely 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The Flavas of Rio (optional tour) were really interesting. The helicoptor flight over Igazu waterfalls was a must (but another optional extra)

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent - Ale was great and went out of his way to ensure everyone in the group was having a good holiday.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go to the Pantanal in the wet season. The wildlife is mainly birds and camen. I think the wet season with boat rides would add a new dimension. If you are looking for big game safaris this is not the place for you.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  My personal view is that its one of the more expensive but less exciting holidays.

  The highlights were the Igazu falls - amazing, and Rio.

  The Pantanal was a little disappointing in the dry season.

  Exodus Response

  Hi Karen,

  Thanks for your feedback on the trip. I'm glad you enjoyed the trip and found Alejandro to be an excellent leader.

  I just wanted to add a note to your comment about the best time to visit the Pantanal. We schedule the majority of our trips to coincide with the dry season because this is by far the best time to see birds and animals in this region - as well as the caiman, there are also lots of mammals which inhabit the area, including capybara, giant anteaters, several species of monkey, deer, peccaries and foxes.

  During the rainy season, it can be difficult to access large parts of the Pantanal, and this makes it a lot harder to spot birds and especially the mammals mentioned above since they tend to shelter in more remote areas which are beyond the reach of transport from our lodges. During the dry season, however, water becomes much more scarce, and both mammals and birds tend to congregate around the shrinking waterholes, so sightings are much more frequent and access to wider areas of the region is much easier.

  We do run a couple of departures of this trip during the wet season (November to March/April), so if your focus is more on the experience of being in a flooded wetland area rather than on wildlife then you may want to consider these trips, although you should be aware that transfer times can be much longer if there has been a lot of rain and not all daily activities will be available.

  Thanks again for your comments, and I hope your next holiday is as enjoyable.

  Regards,

  Tim Fearn (Exodus Product Manager)

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   
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  Karen Trimnell

  BUENOS AIRES TO RIO

  

  Written September 2010

  Excellent itinerary.  Saw everything I wanted to and sooo much more.  Went wanting to see Iguazu and Christ the Redeemer in Rio.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  It will have to be a few:  the tango dancers in Buenos Aires; Iguazu Falls, particularly from the helicopter; seeing it from Argentina first, going in the zodiac dinghy into the curtains of water and getting soaking wet; and then seeing it in Brazil, which was even better.  All the birdlife in the Pantanal - kingfishers, more toucans than I could have wished for (love them), tiny owls, more birds than I can name but most wonderful of all, the hyacinth macaws.  Especially when four of them landed on four fenceposts in front of us after our morning horseride.  Awesome.  Swimming (floating really) down the river in Bonito, the fishes were amazing, so many and so big, wonderful; and then tons of red and green macaws where we had lunch.  Going to the blue cave and in the afternoon laughing on the waterfalls walk - you walk along a river and everytime there's a waterfall get in and swim - much screaming when the water's cold.  Paraty, a nice and relaxing day on a schooner.  And Rio.  Ipanema was cloudy and cold but somehow that didn't spoil it.  Going up Sugar Loaf and to the Christ the Redeemer statue.  And the last day walk on the (finally) sunny beach (went to the favellas in the morning but not something I'd particularly want to do again). 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  He was brilliant.  Obviously loves both countries.  Two particular things stand out (from many) in the Pantanal we did a night drive and I asked if the truck could stop and have the engine turned off so we could see the Milky Way.  Ale sorted it out and (I think) everyone loved it.  Also, in Buenos Aires, he took us on the underground - but we had to wait for an old fashioned carriage, so we could see it - it was charming. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  On the night bus from Iguazu to the Pantanal, wear lots of layers, the air con was freezing. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you're interested in going to Brazil, I would definitely recommend this trip.

   Excellent value for money.  So much packed into this trip.  A friend and I booked on the same trip and one of the things we discussed was having the relaxing day in Paraty on the Schooner at the end of the trip, rather than the beginning.  That was definitely a good thing.  I saw everything I wanted to see and much more as well.  I can't remember it all, but lots of little things, like the clouds of butterflies on the train on the Argentinia side of the falls. 

  Brazil's such a massive country with a wide variety of habitats, it's impossible to "do" the whole country in two weeks but this trip packed in tons and I loved it all.