If you’re planning a trip to South America, you’ve probably been told to visit Iguazú Falls.  Sometimes when we decide to travel somewhere off the beaten path, like Iguazú, we’re concerned that it won’t live up to the hype.  Iguazú Falls, however, has definitely earned its reputation, along with Victoria and Niagara Falls, as one of the greatest waterfalls in the world.  Sitting on the Iguazú River, directly on the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazú gives you a unique opportunity to experience the natural world from the perspectives of two neighboring, but very different, countries.

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How Do I Get There

Getting to the falls, or Cataratas del Iguazú can be as easy as a 2-3 hour flight, or as long as a 17 hour bus ride from Sao Paolo or a 20 hour bus from Buenos Aires.  You also have the option of entering from Paraguay, which makes up the third country of the Tres Fronteras (or Three Borders) area around Iguazú.    The value of the Argentinian Peso and Brazilian Real might play a roll in your decision making.  Right now, the US dollar is worth more and flights are reasonable.  The town nearest the falls in Argentina is Puerto Iguazú and the larger town on the Brazilian side is Foz do Iguaçu.

There are some new airlines in Argentina that have made air travel much more competitive.  We flew FlyBondi from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú for $80 USD each.  JetSmart is another airline to check for great deals within Argentina.   Our flight from Foz do Iguaçu to Rio was $125 USD each on GOL.

Argentina: To get to Iguazú National Park (Parque National Iguazú) from the town of Puerto Iguazú, you have two options (unless you are taking a guided tour with transport).  Gather some friends and take a taxi together, or hop the bus from the city center (or any bus stop along Route 12).  The bus ride from the center of town is a little over 30 minutes and should cost approximately 130 AR ($3.40 as of this writing).  A taxi will be slightly more with only 2 people, but get together 3 or 4 and it will be very close to the same price.  You pay for your ticket on the bus in cash.  On your return trip, however, you buy your ticket at the park, next to the bus loading area, before getting on.

Brazil: To get to the Cataratas do Iguaçu, on the Brazilian side, you can take a taxi or separate tourist service, but the bus is your most reasonable option.  Catch bus number 120, which is also labeled as the Airport bus, as it heads out of town.  It will go straight down Ave Jorge Schimmelpfang and then turns onto Ave das Cataratas as it heads out of town.  The bus is only 3.75 Reais ($1), for the 30 minute ride.  You’ll be dropped off at the visitor center at the entrance to the park, which is also just across from the Avian Park if you want to visit both.  From there you will take another 25 min bus ride within the park past the excursion areas, and to the  walking path that will take you to the falls.  You catch the same bus at the same place on your way back.  Pay in cash for the bus both ways.

Costs for the Park

Argentina: 

  • Entry: $600 ARS ($15.60)
  • Boat Ride: $1500 ARS ($40)
  • Other optional 4×4 and hiking guided tours available.
  • Food: There are several snack shops with candy, crackers, soda, ice-cream bars, empanadas, and even Subway Sandwiches throughout the park where you could get a sandwich or several empenadas and a soda for around $300 ARS ($8)
  • The hotels found inside the park also have restaurants where you can get a nicer seated meal for more.

Brazil:

  • Entry: 67 BRL ($17.40)
  • Boat Ride: 215 BRL ($56)
  • Other optional trail hikes and guided tours available.
  • Food: There is one snack shop near the main viewing platform and another area with fast food and a buffet restaurant.  You can get a basic fast-food lunch for around 25 BRL ($6.50) or sit down at the buffet restaurant located just above the Devil’s Throat waterfall for 60 BRL ($16) plus whatever you want to drink and dessert.  They also charge a service fee and often have live music which will also be included as a charge on your bill.

What Do You Get?

Iguazu Falls on the Argentina Side

Argentina: 

You have as many as 17km to explore on foot that are included in your entry ticket.  These include the:

  • Macuco Trail to Arrechea Waterfall 7 km round trip hike (this is a nice small waterfall, but not one of the famed falls you will see from the rest of the park trails.
  • Upper Circuit 1.5 km loop
  • Lower Circuit 1.4 km loop
  • Gargantua Station with hike to the Devil’s Throat 1.1km (take the train to the Gargantua Station from elsewhere in the park)
  • The Green Trail 6oo meters from the Central Station to the Cataratas Station
  • Eco Trails

There are 275 Waterfalls along the 2.7 km of the Iguazú River.  Many of them are on the Argentina side of the border.  The largest is the Devel’s Throat at 82 meters tall.  You will walk along the top and midpoint of many of these waterfalls as well as being able to walk out to the very edge of the Devil’s Throat.

TOURIST MAP – Iguazu Argentina

Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side

Brazil:

  • Path of the Falls trail 1.5 km is the only free trail within the park.
  • You can take another 9 km trail on foot or bike as part of the Macuco Safari experience.

There are 275 Waterfalls along the 2.7 km of the Iguazú River.  The largest is the Devel’s Throat at 82 meters tall.  You walk along the river across from the majority of the falls, getting a very different view from the Argentina side.   You also get to look deep into the Devil’s Throat and have the chance to get close to the spray.

TOURIST MAP – Iguazu Brazil

Which is Better?

I will give you our opinion.  However, I really hope if you’ve made it all the way to Iguazú that you have time to visit both sides.  That said, I think the Argentina side has much more to offer.

  • You get up close and personal with many more of the waterfalls
  • You can see the falls with less mist and spray blocking your vision
  • The paths are clearly marked with multiple maps
  • Bathrooms and food stops are plentiful
  • There is so much more to explore for the price of entry

However, don’t skip the Brazilian side.

  • Smaller and at times less crowded
  • Offers a different perspective of the falls
  • Less people per boat (if you do a boat tour)
  • The buffet restaurant has an amazing view

Bonus

If you’re looking for a great place to stay on either side of the border, we have two great recommendations.  In Puerto Iguazú we stayed at a little hotel/hostel called Namara. It is at KM 5 on Route 12, so a little ways out of town, but very nice and relaxing and the owner is very accommodating and helpful with arranging transportation, food, etc.  It is quiet, so if you want more nightlife, I’d recommend staying in town, as Puerto Iguazú isn’t that big to begin with and the buses stop running at 11pm.

In Foz do Iguaçu, we had an absolutely amazing experience staying at a little place called the Grey House. Its run by a Brazilian couple who are very friendly and even though we had trouble communicating because of language differences, they provided everything we needed, including doing some laundry for us for free.  Their home backs up to the rainforest and they have an amazing patio with a pool and Koy pond.  They have a great outdoor kitchen you can use and bananas and other fruits growing on the property.  Definitely check them out on Booking.com. 

If you’ve visited Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú and have more to add, let us know!  Also, check out our posts from some of the other beautiful places to visit in Argentina.

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November 30, 2018
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