Visit Iguazu Falls

Go to both sides. The falls straddle Argentina and Brazil, and visiting only one is a mistake you will regret once you are back home looking at other people’s photographs. They show completely different things.

Argentina

The Argentine side is the more immersive experience. A network of park walkways takes you to the edge at multiple levels. The Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) circuit puts you within metres of the largest curtain of falling water in the system; the spray column on a clear day is visible from 20 kilometres away. The upper circuit gives elevated views across the whole falls; the lower circuit takes you under some of the smaller cascades. Plan a full day.

Brazil

Brazil offers the panoramic perspective. The iconic shot, showing the full crescent of falls against the rainforest, is from the Brazilian side. The main viewpoint trail is short (about one kilometre) and the experience can feel rushed. Worth a morning, not a full day. The Parque das Aves (Bird Park) adjacent has walk-through aviaries where toucans, macaws, and harpy eagles can be observed at close range; genuinely good, allow two hours.

Getting There

Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) are the two gateway towns. Both have airports with direct flights from Buenos Aires, Rio, and São Paulo. Verify current visa requirements: US, EU, and UK citizens no longer need a Brazil visa as of 2024, but rules change.

Staying

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas on the Brazilian side is inside the national park, giving access before and after public opening hours. Worth the cost for photography and avoiding the midday crowds. On the Argentine side, Gran Meliá Iguazú is the park hotel equivalent.

Practical Notes

The boat tour (Argentine side) soaks you completely; there is no mild version. Camera and phone need waterproof protection. A rain jacket is necessary even on sunny days; the spray at Garganta del Diablo soaks anyone within 50 metres within about four minutes.

May and June see the falls at maximum flow after autumn rains; July and August are drier. Avoid Argentine national holidays and Brazilian Carnival. The park entrance fee on the Argentine side runs approximately USD 10 to 12 (verify current rates as Argentina’s currency moves); the Brazilian side around BRL 100 to 120.