- 2 nights in Iguazu Jungle Hotel – Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
- 1 night in Sanma Hotel – Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Visiting Iguazú Falls on both the Argentina and Brazilian sides of the falls was the highlight of our trip to the two countries. The falls is one of the largest and most spectacular waterfall systems in the world, located on the border between Argentina’s Misiones Province and Brazil’s Paraná State. The falls are formed by the Iguazú River, with most of the waterfalls situated on the Argentine side.
The name Iguazú comes from Indigenous Guarani or Tupi words meaning “big water.” According to local legend, the falls were created by an angry deity who split the river after two lovers fled together in a canoe. The falls were first documented by Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. Today, they are protected by Argentina’s Iguazú National Park and Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park, both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
We spent one full day on the Argentina side of the falls and one full day on the Brazilian side. We were lucky to enjoy the falls from every angle possible –
- Up close on a boat, getting soaked by the mighty falls!
- From above on a helicopter ride!
- Walking the Upper & Lower Circuits on the Argentina side!
- Panoramic views on the Brazilian side!
- Standing in awe at the legendary Devil’s Throat!
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
We flew from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú in the afternoon and had arranged a taxi service recommended by a friend. The service included –
- pickup from Puerto Iguazú Airport to our hotel
- transportation to Iguazú Falls and back to the hotel the following morning,
- drop-off on the Brazilian side near immigration.
- The entire service cost us approximately US$78.
- Having a taxi arranged in advance made it much easier to manage our airport transfer and visit to the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls. For the Brazilian side, we had a different person who helped us with immigration formalities and arranged transportation to our hotel and the falls. I’ll share more details about that experience in the Brazilian section of my Iguazú Falls travel guide (at the end of the Argentina section on this page).
On the day we arrived in Puerto Iguazú, we didn’t have time for any sightseeing, so we decided to relax at our hotel. It turned out to be a lovely place to unwind, with beautiful walking paths and man-made waterfalls scattered around the grounds. Best of all, from the patio of our hotel room, we could see the bridge leading to the Brazilian side.
- Planning your site seeing on Argentina side of the Falls
- Our Experience
- Boat Ride
- Upper Circuit
- Lower Circuit
Planning your site seeing on Argentina side of the Falls – The next day morning, after our driver dropped us off at the park entrance, we purchased our tickets to enter the falls, which included the train ride. Based on our experience, I recommend following this order to make the most of your visit to the Argentine side.
- Take the Train to the Walking Circuits – Start by taking the park train to the station that provides access to the Upper and Lower Circuits. From there, you can explore the walking trails and enjoy different perspectives of the magnificent waterfalls.
- Explore the Upper Circuit First (1.7 km) – I recommend doing the Upper Circuit first because you can enjoy spectacular views of the waterfalls without getting wet. Allow approximately 1.5 hours for this circuit. You will probably want to stop frequently to take pictures and videos, so there’s no need to rush.
- Walk the Lower Circuit (2 km) – offers a different perspective, bringing you closer to the waterfalls. The walking paths wind through the lush surroundings, with impressive views of the cascading water. Allow another 1.5 hours for this circuit. Be prepared to get slightly wet from the mist as you walk around and enjoy the falls from different viewpoints.
- Save the Boat Ride for Last – If you plan to take the boat ride, I strongly recommend doing it after completing the walking circuits. The boat takes you remarkably close to the waterfalls, and you will get completely soaked! You can purchase boat-ride tickets inside the park. The ticket counter is approximately 200 meters from the entrance and offers different departure times. The operators provide a large waterproof bag to protect your backpack, shoes, phone, and other belongings.
- Devil’s Throat – Unfortunately, the Devil’s Throat Circuit on the Argentine side was closed during our visit, so we couldn’t experience it firsthand and cannot offer personal tips about this section.
Our Experience – We wanted to take the boat ride at 2pm on the day we visited Iguazú Falls, but we could only get tickets for the 9:15am ride. The operators had canceled all rides scheduled from 2 p.m. onward because they expected the water levels to rise.
If you plan to take the boat ride as your first activity of the day, I recommend packing a complete change of clothes, including underwear, and a towel. You will get completely soaked! We took off our shoes and socks once we were on the boat and went barefoot during the ride. The operators provide a large waterproof bag to protect your backpack, shoes, phone, and other belongings. They also give clear instructions on when to keep your phone safely protected, so you can take pictures and videos of the experience right up until the boat goes under the waterfalls. It is an exhilarating experience, and you’ll want to capture as much of it as possible!
If you take the boat ride first, you don’t need to take the park train beforehand. After the ride, you will be dropped off at a location from where you can walk to either the Upper or Lower Circuit.
Boat Ride – The entire boat-ride experience takes approximately two hours from start to finish. We began with a 30-minute jungle truck safari through the forested park. Along the way, you may be lucky enough to spot a few animals and birds in their natural habitat. We followed the red route shown in the picture below.
After the safari, we walked down more than 100 steps to reach the boat. The operators helped us put on our life jackets, and then we were ready for the adventure! The boat ride was the highlight of the experience, bringing us incredibly close to the powerful waterfalls. Be prepared to get completely soaked, and have fun.
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Upper Circuit – After the boat ride, we were dropped off near the area with restaurants and access to the walking paths leading to the Upper and Lower Circuits. We decided to explore the Upper Circuit first. The elevated walkways offer spectacular views of the waterfalls from above, allowing you to appreciate their scale and beauty from different vantage points. We stopped frequently along the way to take a ton of photos and videos!
The Upper Circuit is approximately 1.7 km long, with the entire walkway made of metal platforms. It took us about 1.5 hours to complete, as we stopped frequently to admire the spectacular views and take photos and videos. After finishing the circuit, we stopped for lunch before heading out to explore the Lower Circuit.
Lower Circuit – The Lower Circuit is approximately 2 km long and is just as impressive as the Upper Circuit, offering a different perspective of the magnificent waterfalls. The walking paths bring you closer to the cascading water, and you should be prepared to get a little wet from the mist rising off the waterfalls as you walk along the trail. It took us another 1.5 hours to complete the circuit, and we felt incredibly fortunate to witness these magnificent falls in all their glory. As it turned out, we were lucky with our timing! The falls were temporarily closed the following week due to heavy rain and rising water levels.
We then took the train ride back to the entrance from where we were picked up by our taxi service. We entered the park at about 8:45 am and were done by 2:30 pm.
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
The next morning, our driver was at our hotel to pick us up by 8am to cross the border from Argentina into Brazil. On the Argentine side, immigration officials checked our documents while we remained seated in the car, much like the process at the US–Canada border. Once we crossed into Brazil, our Brazilian driver was waiting for us and took us to the immigration office to complete the entry formalities. Fortunately, there was no queue, and our documents were checked within minutes. We were then on our way to our hotel in Brazil.
The entire border-crossing process took less than an hour, and we arrived at Sanma Hotel before 9 a.m. It was a remarkably smooth and hassle-free experience, leaving us plenty of time to enjoy the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls! We left our luggage at the hotel, and our driver showed us the entrance to the Brazilian side of the falls, which was just across the road and within a five-minute walk. The location was incredibly convenient, with other attractions, including the helicopter rides and the Bird Park, also nearby and within walking distance. The driver service which included pick up from Brazilian immigration to hotel, airport drop the next day cost us $50USD.
- Panoramic Trail
- Helicopter Ride
- Parque das Aves
Panoramic Trail – We purchased our tickets for the Falls at one of the self-service kiosks. When buying the tickets, we had to select a time slot, and we chose 10:30am. The queue for the park shuttle, which takes visitors to the start of the Panoramic Trail, was quite long. We joined the line at 9:35am, but it took us until 10:25am to board the shuttle! The shuttle ride itself takes approximately 20 minutes, so be sure to factor in the waiting time when planning your visit.
Unlike the Argentine side, where you can explore several walking circuits, the Brazilian side has only one Panoramic trail which is about 2.5 miles long and is known for its spectacular panoramic views, giving you a wonderful perspective of the vast waterfall system as a whole.
Devil’s Throat viewpoint – By the time we reached the footbridge leading to the Devil’s Throat viewpoint, we were already partially wet from the mist rising off the waterfalls. However, as we walked farther along the footbridge toward the falls, the spray became much heavier, and by the time we reached the end, we were completely soaked!
The experience was exhilarating, and the sheer power of the cascading water was incredible to witness up close. If you plan to visit, be prepared to get wet, protect your phone and camera, and consider carrying a waterproof jacket or poncho.
At the end of the Panoramic Trail, you will find an elevator that takes you up to an elevated viewpoint, offering a spectacular view of Devil’s Throat from above. From here, you can see the entire footbridge stretching out over the water, with powerful currents rushing beneath it and waterfalls cascading all around. This is a wonderful spot to capture some unforgettable photos and videos !
Helicopter Ride – The helicopter departure point was conveniently located right next to Iguaçu National Park and across the road from Parque das Aves (Bird Park). Our flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, and we paid about US$110 per person. Helicopters take off every 15 minutes, provided there are at least four passengers for the flight to proceed. Each helicopter accommodates approximately six to seven people, including the pilot.
The helicopter ride was a thrilling way to see Iguazú Falls from above. While the walking trails on the Brazilian side offer spectacular panoramic views, a helicopter gives you a bird’s-eye view of the enormous waterfall system, the winding Iguazú River, and the surrounding rainforest. It was totally worth the price and if you have the time and budget, I highly recommend considering this experience.
Parque das Aves – or Bird Park, is a wildlife sanctuary that is conveniently located in across from the helicopter departure point. Opened in 1994, the park spans 16 hectares (approximately 40 acres) of lush forest. The park is home to a variety of birds and other animals, as well as butterflies. Visitors can explore forest trails and walk through spacious aviaries to observe birds in a naturalistic environment. Keep aside 1 hour to enjoy the park at a relaxed pace. The walking path is about 2km long.
Brazil