Argentina’s main carnival is not in Buenos Aires. It takes place in Gualeguaychú, a river town in Entre Ríos province, where troupes called comparsas parade at night through the Corsódromo, an open-air venue with stands. The show finishes in the early hours, so planning the way back matters as much as the way there.
Before you plan the trip
- Parade nights are in summer, traditionally Saturdays in January and February plus the carnival long weekend. Dates change every year, so confirm them on the official carnival site.
- Tickets are sold separately, with numbered seats. Buy them before arranging transport.
- Rooms in town fill up on those nights.
Same-night return or overnight stay
There and back in one night. You leave Buenos Aires in the afternoon, watch the parade and return before dawn. It solves the shortage of rooms, but the drive home is long. With a booked vehicle the driver waits, and nobody in your party has to drive tired.
Staying over. This lets you add the river beaches or the thermal baths the next day. Rooms need to be booked well ahead.
Transport options
- Bus. Services leave from Retiro terminal. Check the return times, which do not always match the end of the show.
- Hire car. The road heads north from Buenos Aires and crosses the Zárate–Brazo Largo bridges. Tiredness on the way back is the main risk.
- Organised trips. Some agencies sell packages with transport and a ticket.
- Private transfer. One vehicle for your group, on your own timetable, at a price agreed beforehand. The route is described under transfer to Gualeguaychú; on parade night the driver’s waiting is added.
Arrival and meeting point
On carnival nights the streets near the Corsódromo are closed or restricted. The vehicle drops you as close as the traffic plan allows. Before you get out, agree an exact meeting point with the driver for afterwards and keep your phone charged. The crowd at the end is large and the signal can fail.
For groups of friends, a minivan takes 6–7 passengers and a van 8. Larger parties travel in two vehicles together.
If other carnivals in the region interest you, see the guide to the Corrientes and Encarnación carnivals.