A Guide to visiting Iguazu Falls

One of the things I had dreamed of doing for years was visiting Iguazu Falls (In the Guarani language it means “big waters”).  Finally while I was backpacking through South America and planning to visit the lost city in Colombia and Machu Picchu in Peru, I decided to book my return flight from Buenos Aires to make sure I fitted in Iguazu.

There are so many amazing places to visit in Argentina, but Iguazu has to be one of my favourites.  I love waterfalls and if I hear of a beautiful waterfall in a country then I have to go and visit.

It is an amazing site and having visited many other waterfalls around the world including Niagara falls, still nothing compares to these.  The sheer size and volume of water that passes through them is unbelievable and if you are in South America, it’s definitely I place that I recommend you visit.

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About Iguazu Falls

It was discovered by Alvar Nunuz Cabeza de Vaca in 1542 and became Iguazu national park in 1934 and declared World Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1984.

When was Iguazu Falls discovered

Iguazu Falls was officially discovered in 1541 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca though the local Brazilian tribes already knew of its existence.  Iguazu National Park was created in 1934 to help preserve the falls and in 1984 it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

Where is Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is a waterfall between Brazil and Argentina in South America.  It is on the border and it is possible to see the falls from both countries.

Iguazu Falls Facts

• During the rainy season (dec, jan & feb) there are up to 275 falls and 150 minimum during the dry season.
• During the rainy season up to 450,000 cubic feet of water can flow through the falls each second!! I was there in September and I can say there was an impressive amount of water then, I can’t believe it’s possible that more water could flow through!!
• The rainforest around Iguazu has over 2,000 species of plants
• The opossum which I saw on the Brazilian side of the falls is the only marsupial to be found outside of Australia.
• The longest waterfall is 82 metres.
• Iguazu Falls covers an area of 2.7km (1.7 miles).
• Eleanor Roosevelt, the former first lady of the USA said “poor Niagara” after visiting the falls.
• 80% of the falls are in Argentina and 20% in Brazil

When I did my trip to Patagonia and was in Buenos Aires I tried to fit in a trip to Iguazu Falls but just did not have enough days left, that’s why when I set off to South America in 2012 for 5 months I knew that I had to fit it in.

When is the Best time to visit Iguazu Falls

The weather at Iguazu Falls is generally the same all year round, though the busiest times are January and February as Brazilians and Argentineans have their holidays then.  It is also the hottest and humidest time of the year.

I visited in September and it wasn’t too busy or hot and humid and there seemed to be a lot of water going for the falls.  I can’t imagine there being more water!!

How to get to Iguazu Falls Argentina

I set off from Salta, Argentina and got 3 buses taking 22 hours before I arrived in Puerto Iguazu, it’s a very small town, easy to walk around and find a hostel.  I hadn’t booked a hostel but as I had met some people on the bus, I decided to stay in the same hostel as them.

It is also very easy to get to Iguazu from Buenos Aires, you can either get a bus or fly, though the bus does take around 18 hours.  There are many things to do while in Buenos Aires, it is a great city to explore and nearby there are also some great resort towns such as Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires where you can enjoy the sun, surfing and paragliding.

The next day it was up early to get the bus from town (every 30 minutes) to see the Argentinean side of the falls.  I was there at the end of September and there was lots of water then, it’s an amazing sight.

Iguazu Falls Opening Hours Argentina

The park is open from 8am till 6pm, every day of the year.  Last entrance is at 4.30pm.

Iguazu Falls Entrance Fee

The entrance fee for Iguazu Falls Argentina depends on your nationality.  If you are from a country other than Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay & Venezuela then you will need to pay 800 Argentinean pesos (around USD14 depending on the exchange rate).  This can be paid either by cash or visa or mastercard.  There are ATM’s at Iguazu if you require some cash.

Make sure you take your passport with you as you will be asked for it, when buying your ticket.  If you are visiting in high season January or February then it is recommend to buy your ticket online beforehand as the park can get full and entrance stopped.

I arrived at the site and paid my 800 argentinean pesos in cash as required and paid for the Iguazu Falls boat ride that takes you up close to the waterfalls (you will get soaked no matter what you wear, so make sure you take a change of clothes with you.  You get a waterproof bag on the boat so your belongings are kept dry).  It is amazing to see the waterfalls so close and we were practically underneath one of them at one point, to feel the power of them so close is unbelievable.

The boat ride starts with a safari ride in a large jeep that takes you through the jungle until you reach the waters edge.  Then it’s on with the life jackets and put your other belongings in the dry bag before you start the trip.  You will close to the falls and at one point you are practically under one of the waterfalls meaning that you get soaked.  Before this though the boat will stop so that you can get some pictures on the boat with the falls in the background.  This was one of my highlights of visiting the park and something I think everyone should do.

Lower Circuit

As it was a pretty cloudy day, when I got off the boat soaked it was a freezing walk up to the nearest toilets to get dry and changed, but the walk up along the lower circuit (it is 1,600 metres long) had some amazing views.

If you don’t do one of the boat rides then it is definitely worth doing the walk along the lower circuit and getting the boat across to Isla San Martin where you can get a closer look at some of the falls.

Upper Circuit

After getting changed I then walked to the upper circuit (it is 650 metres long) to get a view of the waterfalls from the top, what amazing views.

Devil’s Throat

After this it was on to the jungle train (you have to get the train to Devil’s throat, there is no path to walk) and across to the most famous fall, Devil’s Throat Iguazu, it is 1,100 metres long and has 14 falls with a drop of 107 metres. The noise and spray is unbelievable but it’s a very impressive site.  This is the most impressive part and a place you cannot miss on your trip to Iguazu.

After this it was back to Puerto Iguazu and out for a nice dinner, before seeing Iguazu Falls Brazil the next day.

Where to stay in Iguazu Falls Argentina

Budget –  Hostel Iguazu Falls is close to the bus station and also has a swimming pool, perfect for cooling down on those hot days.  Breakfast is included and there is a kitchen for guest use.  Click here for more information and pricing.

Mid Range – Hotel Amayal is in a central location and has an outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing area.  Each room has a private bathroom and tv and free wifi and some have a terrace.  A continental breakfast is included.  Click here for more information and pricing. 

Luxury – Panoramic Grand is located close to the centre of Puerto Iguazu with panoramic views of the Iguazu river.  The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, casino and fitness centre.  A buffet breakfast is included.  Click here for more information and pricing.

How to get to Iguazu Falls Brazil

If you are travelling from Rio or Sao Paulo then the easiest way to get there is to fly and generally it only costs slightly more than the bus.  The flight is only around 1 hour, whereas the bus I got from Iguazu to Rio took 28 hours!!!

How to get from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguazu

The bus from puerto iguazu to foz do iguacu takes you direct to the bus terminal Rodoviario Urbano in foz do iguazu, here is where you can also get the bus to Iguazu Falls.  It stops at the border and waits for you to go through immigration, though if you have any problems and take longer than normal the bus will not wait for you.

Bus to Iguazu Falls from Foz do Iguazu

You will need to go to the bus terminal Rodoviario Urbano and from here there is a bus every 20 minutes, starting at 8am that goes to Iguazu Falls.

Iguazu Falls Opening Times Brazil

The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Iguazu Falls Brazil Side Entrance Fee

The Iguazu entrance fee on the Brazilian side too depends on your nationality.

It costs 70 Brazilian real if you are not from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay or Venezuela and this can either be paid by cash or card at the entrance or you can buy your tickets online beforehand.  This is recommended if you visit January or February as the park gets full quickly.

Once I had paid my entrance fee, I got my Iguazu Falls map, then I got on the bus until the Path of the Falls stop.  There are other stops before this but generally they are for paid trips.  I chose to do my boat trip on the Argentinean side but there is also the opportunity to do a boat trip on the Brazilian side.

If you are visiting Iguazu then I definitely recommend you do a boat trip, it is certainly a lot of fun, though you will be soaked through, even with a poncho!!

The Path of the Falls is a boardwalk that you follow, it is 1,200 metres long, with stops along the way so that you can get some great shots of the falls.  As soon as we got off the bus we saw the Opossum’s who were not scared to come close to people to try and get some food!!

Towards the end of the boardwalk you can take a path that goes out over the water so that you can get a closer look of the falls and a closer look of Devil’s throat which is 90 metres high.  It is amazing to get so close to the falls and feel the power of the water, though you will need to make sure that you have a rain jacket or poncho to keep dry as you are going to get very wet!!

Once you have finished you can go up to the gift shop and restaurant to dry off and enjoy a snack or meal with amazing views of the falls before catching the bus and returning to the entrance.

Where to stay Iguazu Falls Brazil

Budget – Hostel Bambu located close to the centre of town, this hostel has an outdoor pool and lounge area with hammocks.  The hostel has a bar and breakfast is available at an additional price.

Mid Range – San Rafael Comfort Class Hotel is located in the centre of Foz do Iguazu and has an outdoor pool and sun deck.  All rooms have air conditioning and a buffet breakfast is included.  Click here for more information and pricing.

Luxury – Belmond Hotel das Cataratas is a 5 star hotel located in Iguazu National Park with views of the falls.  It is pure luxury with an outdoor pool, tennis court and fitness centre.  The hotel has 2 restaurants, one overlooking the falls.  Click here for more information and pricing.

What to wear to Iguazu Falls

It can be very hot and humid at the falls so you will want to wear some light clothes.  Here is what I think you need to take to the falls:

• Passport
• Shorts
• Tshirt
• Spare change of clothes
• Rucksack
• Sun Screen
• Sun Hat
• Trainers

Which is the best side to see Iguazu Falls

It is hard to say which is the best side of Iguazu Falls, but people say that the Argentinean side is for experiencing the falls and the Brazilian side is for viewing them.

Personally I loved the Argentinean side, there is a lot of walks to do and things you can do for no additional cost.  You can easily spend a full day there.

The Brazilian side, there are some short walks you can do that are included in the ticket price but a lot of things, you have to pay extra.  If you don’t pay for additional activities then 3 hours is plenty of time.

If you go to Iguazu Falls then you will need a full day for the Argentinean side, there are a lot of free walks to do and so much to see.  A must is the boat ride up close to the falls, but this you can do either on the Argentinean or Brazilian side. The Brazilian side you need less time, there is only a small area with free walks (after you have paid your entrance fee).  There are a lot of paid activities but I didn’t do any of these.  It is hard to choose a favourite side, if you have time it’s worth visiting both, but I would say you can’t miss the Argentinean side.

If you have some time in Argentina then you read about these incredible 22 places to visit.

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