Compare: Buenos Aires→Rio de Janeiro (1,968 km) vs Buenos Aires→Lima (3,137 km). Buenos Aires → Rio de Janeiro wins by 1,169 km (37%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,968 km
1,223 miles · Flight: ~2h 58min · Drive: ~31h 59min
✓ Shorter route
3,137 km
1,949 miles · Flight: ~4h 25min · Drive: ~50h 59min
Difference: 1,169 km (37%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 27min
Verdict
Buenos Aires → Rio de Janeiro is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 1,169 km (37%) shorter, saves about 1h 27min of flight time, and cuts roughly 298 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Buenos Aires → Lima only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Buenos Aires → Rio de Janeiro is the shorter route at 1,968 km, which is 1,169 km (37%) shorter than Buenos Aires → Lima. You would save approximately 1h 27min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Buenos Aires → Rio de Janeiro | Buenos Aires → Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,968 | 3,137 |
| Distance (miles) | 1,223 | 1,949 |
| Flight time | ~2h 58min | ~4h 25min |
| Driving time | ~31h 59min | ~50h 59min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,558 km | ~4,078 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 53° (NE) | 319° (NW) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~502 kg | ~800 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~437 kg | ~697 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$256 USD | ~$408 USD |
Flying from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro produces roughly 502 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Buenos Aires → Lima flight emits about 800 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 298 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 14 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 437 kg and 697 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro route covers 1,968 km (1,223 miles), staying within South America. Buenos Aires (population: 3,075,646) is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while Rio de Janeiro (population: 6,748,000) is in Southeast, Brazil.
The Buenos Aires to Lima route covers 3,137 km (1,949 miles), remaining within South America. Buenos Aires (population: 3,075,646) is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Lima (population: 10,092,000) is in Lima, Peru.
Flying from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro takes approximately 2h 58min, while Buenos Aires to Lima takes 4h 25min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 31h 59min for the first route and 50h 59min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Buenos Aires, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Rio de Janeiro and Lima as a destination.
The 1,169 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 2,558 km and 4,078 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 1,520 km of driving.
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) has a population of 6,748,000 and is located in the Southeast region of South America. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Lima (Peru) has a population of 10,092,000 and is situated in Lima, South America. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) — a city of 6,748,000 in the Southeast region of South America. It is also the shorter option at 1,968 km, which translates to a 1h 27min flight-time saving and roughly 298 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,558 km of road and a fuel cost band around $256 USD. The initial bearing is 53° (NE), so a great-circle flight leaves Buenos Aires heading roughly NE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Lima (Peru) — a city of 10,092,000 in the Lima region of South America. Even though it is the longer route at 3,137 km, it remains the obvious pick when Lima is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Buenos Aires are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 4,078 km of road and a fuel cost in the $408 USD range. Departing Buenos Aires, the great-circle bearing toward Lima is 319° (NW).
Buenos Aires (-34.60°, -58.38°) and Rio de Janeiro (-22.91°, -43.17°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Buenos Aires (-34.60°, -58.38°) and Lima (-12.05°, -77.04°) have a -1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Rio de Janeiro is closer at 1,968 km, which is 1,169 km (37%) shorter.
1,968 km (1,223 miles). Flight: ~2h 58min.
3,137 km (1,949 miles). Flight: ~4h 25min.
Flying to Rio de Janeiro is faster at ~2h 58min, saving about 1h 27min compared to Lima.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.