Guide to Iguazu Falls - Argentina & Brazil

Iguazu Falls Quick Stats

Location: Located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones.
Waterfall System: 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River.
Most Impressive Falls: ‘The Devil’s Throat’ – A U-shaped chasm where 14 falls plunge more than 350 feet.
Country Divide: 66% of the falls are within Argentine territory, 33% are within Brazilian territory.
Best Time to Visit: Spring (September – December) and Fall (March – June). Summer (January – March) is hot and humid, and in Winter (June – September) the water level is considerably lower.
Accessibility:
- Argentina:
  - Hours of Operation: You can enter the park from 08:00 am until 16:30 pm
  - Entrance Fee: Argentine nationals pay the cheapest entrance fee. Brazilian, Uruguayan, Paraguayan, and Venezuelan nationals (Mercosur) pay the second cheapest fee. The rest of the world pays full price. You can see Argentine Iguazu Falls entrance fee prices here.
  - The Argentine side offers the best sense of the unrelenting strength of the waterfalls. You can get close enough to be soaked from the spray of the crashing waterfalls.
- Brazil:
  - Hours of Operation: You can enter the park from 09:00 am until 17:00 pm
  - Entrance Fee: Brazilian nationals pay the cheapest entrance fee. Argentine, Uruguayan, Paraguayan, and Venezuelan nationals (Mercosur) pay the second cheapest fee. The rest of the world pays full price. You can pay your Brazilian Iguazu Falls entrance fee here.
  - The Brazilian side offers the best panoramic views of Iguazu Falls.

A Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls – Argentina

Closest Argentine City: Puerto Iguazu
Benefits: Rainforest trails, wildlife, and you can get close enough to be soaked from the spray of the crashing waterfalls.
Recommended Stay: 2 days

Visiting Iguazu Falls on the Argentine will allow you to stand closest to the waterfalls and understand the unrelenting strength of the water pouring from the Iguazu River. The Argentine side will allow you to get so close that you’ll get soaked from the spray of the crashing water. Additionally, you’ll have access to rainforest trails where you’ll see a variety of wildlife. There are a few panoramic views on the Argentine side of the falls, however, visiting on the Brazilian side offers the best panoramas of Iguazu Falls.

How to Get to Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

Flights – The easiest way to get to Puerto Iguazu is to fly. There are several direct flights operating from Buenos Aires on a daily basis. From the Puerto Iguazu airport you can take a taxi or a minibus to your accommodation.

Bus – Buses to Puerto Iguazu are available from a number of cities in Argentina. From Buenos Aires it’s roughly a 20-hour journey.

Ferry – From Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, it’s possible to take a short ferry ride to Puerto Iguazu.

How long to spend at Iguazu Falls

2 days is enough to spend in Puerto Iguazu. If you’re concerned about bad weather conditions, 3 days should give you enough time to avoid missing any sights.

The best time to visit Iguazu Falls

Iguazu is great destination to visit all year round. If you want to see the falls at their most powerful, visit between December and February. However the downside of visiting during December and February is that it’s peak season, the hottest time of the year, and the extra rainfall may lead to the closure of some trails.

If you visit from March to April or August to September there will be fewer visitors.

How to get to Iguazu Falls from Puerto Iguazu

Busses leave from Puerto Iguazu to Iguazu falls every 20 minutes, with the first leaving at 7am each day. The bus ride takes around 40 minutes each way. Upon arriving at the falls, there is an entrance fee of 600 pesos per person.

Argentine Side Iguazu Falls Trails

Circuito Superior – This is a half-mile trail that has some of the best panoramic views you’ll see on the Argentine side of the falls. Take this trail to see some of the main waterfalls from above.

Circuito Inferior – This is a one mile circuit that allows you to get close enough to the falls to feel the spray. You can also take a boat ride on this route to get another perspective of the falls.

Isla San Martin – In order to get to Isla San Martin you must take a quick boat ride. Once on the island, a short climb will reward you with views opposite some of the main falls. Note, if water levels aren’t right you won’t be able to visit Isla San Martin.

Garganta del Diablo – ‘Devil’s throat’ in English, this is the most powerful viewpoint of Iguazu Falls. Garganta del Diablo is only accessible via a short train ride, but it gives you the best idea of the thundering force of the falls. There are typically long lines for the train ride.

Sendero Macuco – This is the most secluded trail in the park, leading to a more remote waterfall. The trail is 3.5km each way, causing most visitors to skip Sendero Macuco. However, it’s worth the journey if you have time.

Necessary items for visiting Iguazu Falls

Due to food and water prices being overpriced inside the park, you should consider bringing your own. If you’re preparing yourself for a full day of exploring the falls, plan to bring more water than you think is necessary due to the extreme heat.

Consider bringing a raincoat if you prefer to stay dry when standing close to the falls. It’s also useful for sudden downpours.

A Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls – Brazil

Closest Brazilian City: Foz de Iguaçu
Benefits: Amazing panoramic views, helicopter rides.
Recommended Duration: 2 days

The Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls offers the most amazing views and panoramas of the falls, giving visitors a scenic perspective from a distance. While the Brazilian side boasts the best panoramic views of the falls, you do still have the opportunity to stand close enough to the roaring falls to get completely drenched.

Getting to Foz de Iguaçu

Flights – The easiest way to get to Foz de Iguaçu is to fly. There are several direct flights operating from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo on a daily basis. From the Foz de Iguaçu airport you can take a taxi or a minibus to your accommodation.

Bus – If you prefer to take a bus, buses are available from many major cities in Brazil. From Rio de Janeiro the journey is around 23 hours.

How long to spend at Foz de Iguaçu

2 days is enough to spend in Foz de Iguaçu. If you’re concerned about bad weather conditions, 3 days should give you enough time to avoid missing any sights. The Brazilian side of the falls only has a singular trail, so if you need to rush, a few hours will give you all the time you need.

Best time to visit Iguazu Falls

If you visit from March to April or August to September there will be fewer visitors.

How to get to Iguazu Falls from Foz de Iguaçu

Buses leave every 20 minutes from Terminal de Transporte Urbano and take approximately 30 minutes before arriving at the national park. Upon arrival, there is an entrance fee to the park.

Brazilian Side Trails

With only one trail to explore, visiting the Brazilian side is manageable in just one day. Upon arrival you will need to book a bus, which will then transport you to the trail. If you want to beat the crowd, book yourself on the first bus of the day at 9am.

Depending on your pace, the trail can take up to an hour or longer. Along the trail there are amazing viewpoints, which allow you to see many of the parks different waterfalls and also keep the trail interesting.

What you need to visit the park

Consider bringing a raincoat if you prefer to stay dry when standing close to the falls. It’s also useful for sudden downpours.

Additional Services on the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls

Helicopter Tours – For ~450 Reals per person, you can enjoy breath-taking views of the falls from high above. Flights only last approximately 10 minutes, and if you aren’t in a group of 4 you’ll likely be sharing with strangers.