South America Journeys · Argentina & Uruguay
Argentina & Uruguay
New Year in Summer, Backpacker Mode
About the Journey
We invite those who say, “It would be nice to spend the first days of the new year in summertime,” to join one of our favorite routes. We do this trip in backpacker mode, and it’s a lot of fun.
Accommodation (in clean boutique hostels, in double rooms where possible—most likely all of them), transportation (domestic buses and flights; taxis as a group for routes such as hostel–waterfalls–beaches–terminal–airport; ferry crossings between Argentina and Uruguay, etc.), and national park and site entrance fees (Iguazú Falls on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides, Cabo Polonio, etc.) will be paid from the common fund that we manage.
After contributing to the fund, each participant will only pay out of pocket for food, drinks, and personal shopping. Our meeting and farewell point for the trip is Buenos Aires (rarely Montevideo). We track flights together, and you purchase your own tickets.
Before departure, the only things you may need to do are simple ones, like buying a backpack (if you don’t already have one) and summer items. As we get closer to the trip, we will send you detailed documents covering what you need to bring, the climates we will encounter, money use, and safety.
Spending the first days of the new year in summer—at the beach and in Uruguay—is truly wonderful.
Wishing for a beautiful journey with a great group,
Our Route
This route was designed with the intention of: getting soaked at Iguazú Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides; wandering the streets of Buenos Aires; taking a boat trip in the nearby Tigre Delta; spending a week exploring Uruguay’s beaches; and ultimately being on the beach, in summer, with the warm people of these two countries in the first days of the new year.
I designed this route in Vamoss’ early years and first offered it in 2013. It became a route I felt deeply good about, and each time we ran it, we received very positive feedback. The only change you might consider is flying to Mendoza instead of Iguazú to do wine tastings. Uruguay’s coastal towns are each beautiful in their own way; if desired, we can also make a small adjustment there.
Journey Presentation
You can access the file that will help you imagine this backpacking trip we will do together by following “New Year in Uruguay & Argentina Route.”
Also, it is possible to join only a portion of the route and for us to prepare a personalized budget—just as a reminder.
Note: Aligning the trip with New Year’s Eve and being in Cabo Polonio or Valizas during the first hours of the new year requires confirming your participation at least 6 months in advance, and it also affects the budget.
Travel Dates and Seasonality
Almost all of Argentina and Uruguay have a four-season climate, so temperatures vary across the year. The weather in Buenos Aires is almost identical to Istanbul.
Because the core theme of the route is enjoying Uruguay’s summer and beaches, this itinerary should be scheduled during the summer months (December–February).