The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls’ Brazil Side & Argentina Side
The Iguazu Falls is a manifestation of nature’s glory bordering Brazil and Argentina. There’s a lot of debate about which side to visit, but we decided to go on a journey chasing waterfalls on both sides! Here is your ultimate guide to visiting the Iguazu Falls’ Brazil and Argentina sides.
Fun Facts on Iguazu Falls
Unsurprisingly, the Iguazu Falls is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. With nearly 275 waterfalls, it is the most extensive waterfall system in the world. The Iguazu Falls spans 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) wide and ranges in height from 197 to 269 feet (60 to 82 meters). About 80% of the Falls are on the Argentine side.
How to Get to Iguazu Falls?
Visa Requirements
A tourist visa is needed to enter Brazil. U.S. citizens visiting Argentina for 90 days or less for tourism or business will not require a visa.
Airports
There are two international airports near the Iguazu Falls: Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport (IGR) on the Argentine side and Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU) on the Brazilian side. We flew from Salvador and chose to fly into IGU on the Brazilian side because it was significantly cheaper than flying into IGR.
Taxis
Uber wasn’t available in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, or Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. A locally based car-ride-sharing app called 99 was sometimes reliable. But for the most part, we either had the hotel staff call a taxi for us or we caught one at a taxi stand.
We arrived at the Argentine border control around 1 a.m., and there were no lines. During the day, we traveled back to Foz do Iguaçu, and the migration office was crowded. Our taxi drivers had migration papers that we filled out en route. It took us about 30-45 minutes to get processed.
Pro tip: Make sure you agree on your price before you get in the taxi. A taxi from the IGU Airport to Argentina should cost around $39 USD and vice versa.
Iguazu National Park
Misiones, Argentina | Adult Admission Cost- $26.44 (600 Argentine Pesos)
On the Argentine side, the Iguazu Falls borders the Misiones province. We had a fabulous time at Hotel Guaminí Misión in Puerto Iguazu.
To Purchase a Tour in Advance or not
We had three days in Misiones. During our first day we went to downtown Puerto Iguazu. We stopped by different tour agencies and inquired about packages for the boat ride under the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). The Garganta del Diablo has the highest water flow of the Iguazu Falls. Due to a recent mudslide, it wasn’t possible to do the boat-only excursion. They only sold the combined jungle trek and boat excursion, which took a different route to the falls that wasn’t impacted by the mudslide. There was a miscommunication about purchasing the tour in advance to avoid the boat ride selling out at the park. If you have your heart set on doing the boat ride during a particular time, you should book it in advance. We could purchase the boat package at the park, but only a one-time slot was available.
Pro tip: The tour agencies all sell the same experiences for the same prices. If you want to purchase tours in advance, save some time and visit one agency.
Transportation to Iguazu National Park
We walked about eight minutes from our hotel to a bus stop in downtown Puerto Iguazu. We rode a Rio Uruguay bus to the Iguazu National Park. The buses run along many stops on the main road and can be caught at the bus terminal downtown. The buses run every 20 minutes (although they often run a bit behind schedule), and the ride is about 45 minutes. On the way to the park, we could pay the bus driver directly ($3.37). However, on the way back, we had to purchase a bus ticket before boarding the bus. We bought the tickets in an office right beside the bus stop at the park exit.
Pro-tip: As you can imagine, the bus route to the Iguazu Falls is popular. Try to catch the bus on the main road to ensure you get a seat. Most people get on at the bus terminal stop downtown.
What to do Immediately As You Get to the Park?
- Grab a map at the information kiosk. Maps are posted throughout the park, but having your own makes navigation easier.
Book your boat ride ASAP. If you plan on booking a boat ride ( I highly recommend you do!), book it before entering
the park. There’s a kiosk near the information kiosk where you can make your purchase. Returning there in the middle of your visit is inefficient because it can get busy. The only time slot available was at 11 a.m., which was perfect. Aim to book your ride between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to avoid crowds. It was more expensive ($63) because we had to purchase the jungle trek with the boat ride.Avoid guided tours. Unless guided tours are your thing, having a tour guide is not necessary for getting a full experience of the park.
Map out your plan. The three major highlights of the Argentinian side include the Lower Circuit, the Upper Circuit, and the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). The Upper Circuit trail runs along the top of the falls; the Lower circuit runs along the bottom. I recommend the following order of visiting things – Upper Circuit, boat trip, Lower Circuit, and the Garganta del Diablo.
Getting Around
The park was well-marked with signage, making it relatively easy to navigate. The park is entirely accessible on foot, but there is a train that leaves you close to the circuits. We visited the Iguazu Falls in January during peak season (January-February). It was extremely crowded because it was during this time that most Brazilians and Argentinians went on vacation. The ticket to board the train at Iguazu Falls is free, but it is suggested that you wait in line for them. Since it was so crowded and people were rushing, having a ticket wasn’t enforced.
Best Time to Visit Iguazu Falls
Although the park opens at 8 a.m., the first train doesn’t run until 8:30 a.m. You can walk to the Upper Circuit and beat the crowd waiting for the train.
Jungle Trek & Boat Ride Experience
After walking through the Upper Circuit, we headed to the meeting point for our jungle trek and boat ride under the 80-meter-tall Garganta del Diablo. The jungle trek was a truck ride through the Iguazu jungle, ending at the boat ride meeting point. While learning about the different plant and animal species at Iguazu was nice, I felt the ride was an underwhelming experience I could have done without.
Before the boat ride, we had life jackets and dry bags to store our belongings. It was an exhilarating but quick experience (about 20 minutes round trip). We stopped in the middle of the Iguazu River for a few minutes to capture the fantastic view of the falls. Once we were about to go under the Garganta del Diablo, the guide instructed us to put our belongings away. It was gorgeous from afar. Once we went under, it was all a blur — I could barely keep my eyes open. But I loved it! I felt like I was on a waterpark ride!
We viewed it from the top after going under the Garganta del Diablo. The sound of the water rapidly dropping from 269 feet into the Iguazu River was electrifying. The falls created a mist that left everyone soaked.
How much time should you spend?
When I was doing prep research for this trip, many bloggers mentioned spending 8 hours in the park. I didn’t intend to spend that much time there, but low and behold, we did. We arrived at 8 a.m. when the park opened and left around 4:30 p.m. There is a lot to see, and between trying to maneuver around massive crowds and a torrential rain storm that kept us in a restaurant for 1.5 hours, those 8 hours flew!
Iguaçu National Park
Paraná, Brazil | Adult Admission Cost- $17.47 (62 Brazilian Reis)
Transportation
The park is accessible by public bus and taxi. Since we were short on time, we took a taxi to and from the park.
Getting Around
Immediately after paying our entrance fee, we hopped on the free double-decker panoramic bus that went to various points in the park. We took it to the main Mirador walkway of the falls. The park has several hiking spots, but we decided to skip the hike and go directly to the falls since we only had 2 hours.
Experience
We followed the walkway, stopping at every viewpoint to admire the beauty of the falls. After about an hour, we reached the final point of the walkway and the main attraction of the falls—the extension to the lower base of the Garganta do Diabo. After getting drenched at the base of the falls, we took an elevator up to get an aerial view of the falls. Although the Brazilian side is much smaller, it offers better views because it shows the entire landscape of the falls.
Precaution about Iguazu Falls Animals
We saw many animals in both parks, including monkeys, butterflies, and iguanas. The one animal you have to be careful around is the coaties. These little animals are part of the raccoon family, and although they appear sweet, they can be vicious. The Brazilian side had a lot of graphic posters of humans attacked by coati to discourage people from touching them. Be extremely careful with your food around them. I witnessed a few coaties doing a grab-and-run from an elderly couple.
Packing List
While you can spend most of your time at the park and not get wet, the Lower Circuit, The Devil’s Throat, and the Iguazu Falls boat ride will leave you drenched. Here are some essentials to pack:
Dry bag: If you go on a boat ride, you will be provided with a dry bag to store your belongings; however, I found my helpful bag while walking through the park.
Waterproof pants: It was really hot when we visited, so I wore athletic shorts during the walk and waterproof pants when it was time for the boat ride.
Water shoes: By far one of my most useful travel-related purchases. There’s nothing worse than soggy shoes.
Optional change of clothes
So, which side should you visit? As you can see, it is a tough choice to make. The Brazilian side offers impressive panoramic views of the falls, and the Argentinian side provides the opportunity to get up close to the falls. Both have lovely walks through forested scenery, but of course, you’ll get more of that on the Argentinian side since it covers more land. Ultimately, I say go to both if you can! However, there may be practical reasons for choosing one side. For U.S. citizens, the price of the Brazilian visa is steep ($160). U.S. tourists don’t need a visa to enter Argentina.
Visiting Iguazu Falls is a majestic experience; you can’t go wrong about visiting either side!
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