Iguazu Falls Argentina & Brazil Travel Guide 2023

Iguazu Falls Argentina & Brazil Travel Guide 2023

Iguazu Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular and impressive waterfalls, straddling the border between Argentina and Brazil in South America.

With more than 275 individual cascades, Iguazu is actually the biggest waterfall system in the world! The closest comparison is probably Niagara Falls in Canada and the United States, although Iguazu Falls is bigger than Niagara by most measurements.

This spectacular waterfall has been made into a national park in Argentina and Brazil, and both sides of the falls offer different views and are well worth a visit! You can see all of the best highlights in a couple of days, although you could easily spend longer.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Iguazu Falls Argentina or Brazil side (with or without a tour), plus a map of Iguazu Falls and more info. Lastly, I’ll share some interesting facts about the waterfall itself!

Where Is Iguazu Falls?

Iguazu Falls is located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, on the continent of South America.

There are towns and airports on both sides of the border, with plenty of tourist friendly hotels and restaurants, and you can easily go back and forth between either country.

The town on the Argentine side of the falls is called Puerto Iguazu, while the Brazil side is called Foz do Iguacu.

 

How To Get To Iguazu Falls Argentina & Brazil

The main way to get to Iguazu Falls is by flying from one of the big cities in Argentina or Brazil.

For the Argentina side, you can fly from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu (airport code: IGR), which takes less than 2 hours and it’s offered by multiple airlines, with pretty reasonable prices. There are two airports in Buenos Aires (AEP or EZE) and you can use either of them to fly here.

To get to the Brazil side, you can fly from Sao Paulo or Rio De Janeiro to Foz do Iguacu (code: IGU), which takes about 2 hours, more or less. These routes are also offered by multiple airlines with daily departures.

Shop Now: Argentina & Brazil flights at Skyscanner

Once you arrive in the town of Puerto Iguazu, you can get to the Argentina waterfall by bus, taxi, or tour. The bus is cheap, safe, and easy to use, with regular departures from the bus terminal in town to the waterfall, and back.

However, if you want something more personalized and convenient, then a taxi or private tour can be a good option. You can ask the driver to wait for you while you explore the waterfall, and then take you back to town afterwards.

The Brazil side of Iguazu Falls works much the same way. You can get to the Brazil waterfall by bus, taxi, or tour, and all of these options work well depending on your needs and how much time you have in your itinerary.

It’s also easy to cross the border between the two countries and go back and forth by bus, taxi, or tour.

For example, I based myself on the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls, but I did a day trip to the Brazil side using the bus, and I did a separate day trip to the Paraguay side with a taxi.

As a US citizen, I didn’t need any visa for Argentina, Brazil, or Paraguay, so it was very easy to do day trips between them, but remember to check the current visa requirements for your nationality in these countries and bring your passport to avoid any border hassles!

 

Best Iguazu Falls Tours

One of the easiest ways to visit Iguazu Falls is with a day tour from Puerto Iguazu or Foz do Iguacu.

GetYourGuide has high-rated day tours to see Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side, with boat tours where you can see the waterfalls up close and get soaked. This can be a fun way to see the beauty of Iguazu Falls from a different angle.

On the Brazil side, they have day tours to Iguazu Falls from Foz do Iguacu, with similar boat tours and an optional visit to the bird park. Just like on the Argentina side, these tours include a trilingual tour guide and hotel pickup and drop-off.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!

Book Now: Iguazu Falls Argentina / Brazil Tour

 

Other Iguazu Falls Tours

GetYourGuide also has some convenient day tours that cross the border to see Argentina or Brazil from the other side. This can be a handy solution if you’re planning to see both sides of Iguazu Falls.

In other words, they have a tour that goes to the Argentina side of the falls starting from Brazil, or a tour to the Brazilian side starting from Argentina.

If you’re short on time, they even have package tours from Buenos Aires or Rio De Janeiro that include flights, a private driver and tour guide, and your national park entrance tickets.

 

Iguazu Falls Argentina Side: What To Expect

The Argentina side of Iguazu Falls is bigger and more spread out than the Brazil side, so it’s divided into circuits that visit different parts of the waterfall. The best things to see are the upper circuit, lower circuit, and Devil’s Throat viewpoint.

The park is well connected by walking trails and a free mini train system, so it’s pretty easy to get around. You can choose to walk the entire park, explore it by train, or use a combination of the two transport methods.

If you’re in decent shape, I would recommend walking the upper and lower circuits in the morning without the train, and then using the train to go to the Devil’s Throat viewpoint in the afternoon. This will give you a good workout, but it’s not too much for a day.

    

Along the way, you can see all kinds of wildlife like monkeys, coatis, crocodiles, turtles, and lizards, plus various kinds of birds, spiders, and butterflies. If you’re lucky you might even see a tapir.

The upper and lower circuits at Iguazu both have some amazing panoramic views of the waterfall to enjoy, but in my opinion the very best thing to see in Argentina is the Devil’s Throat viewpoint (in Spanish: ‘Garganta Del Diablo’).

At the appropriately named Devil’s Throat, you can stand and gaze directly into the center of Iguazu Falls, a massive U-shaped curtain of water with a tremendous roaring sound and a cloud of mist.

I’d say it’s the single most impressive feature on either side of Iguazu Falls!

 

• Entrance Fee (Argentina)

Iguazu Falls is a national park in Argentina, so there’s a fee you have to pay to enter the park. This applies whether you’re visiting the walkways or doing other activities like a boat cruise, although some day tours already include the park fee in their price.

You can find the current entrance fee on the Argentina national parks website. However, if you visit two days in a row then the second day price is discounted by 50 percent, so just remember to keep your ticket so you can show them.

You can pay for your park tickets with a credit or debit card, or with the local currency (Argentine Pesos). I paid with a foreign credit card and that was fine.

You can book your park tickets in advance, but there’s really no need, because they’re unlimited and never sell out. Lines are always quick at the ticket counter, and I got mine in less than a minute. The only thing you might want to book in advance is the boat cruise.

 

• Opening Hours (Argentina)

The opening hours for the Argentina side are 8 AM to 6 PM, but the last entry is at 4:30 PM.

This is the same every day of the year, including holidays like Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday.

• Map (Argentina)

Here’s a handy map of the Iguazu Falls Argentina side you can use to plan your trip. You can click the map to view it in full size.

There are also maps signposted throughout the national park to help you find your way to all of the trails and waterfalls.

Iguazu Falls Brazil Side: What To Expect

The Brazil side of Iguazu Falls is a bit smaller and simpler than the Argentina side, but there’s still plenty to see and do.

The park has one main pathway that follows the side of the river, ending with a thrilling balcony near the edge of the falls, and then several platforms that let you see the waterfall from above, either by stairs or elevator.

The Brazil park is a loop arrangement with a free bus service that takes you from the entrance gate to either end of the park, and back. Overall, it’s shorter and easier to visit than the Argentina side.

I loved the Brazil side of Iguazu Falls, and even though it’s not quite as impressive as the Devil’s Throat, I think it’s more photogenic than the Argentina side in some ways. It would be a big mistake to skip this side of Iguazu just because it’s smaller!

When you get done exploring the Brazil side of Iguazu Falls, there’s also a nice bird park you can visit near the entrance to the national park. It has lots of great South American birds, including some colorful macaws and toucans!

The bird park is called ‘Parque Das Aves‘ and it’s just a short walk from the waterfall entrance. Don’t miss it! The ticket is separate from Iguazu, and it’s a little pricey, but it’s worth it.

 

• Entrance Fee (Brazil)

You can check the current Brazil park fee on the official website here, and they also let you buy tickets in advance.

Just like on the Argentina side, there’s no need to book the park tickets in advance, because they’re unlimited and never sell out.

At the park entrance, you can pay for your tickets with a credit or debit card, or with the local currency (Brazilian Reals). They also accept Argentine Pesos, US Dollars, or Paraguayan Guarani.