Updated December 2023.

"Big Water"

There are two “sides” of Iguazú Falls that one can visit: Argentina and Brazil. Both offer stunning views, fun activities, and a plethora of activities. However, if I HAD to choose one side, I would recommend visiting the Brazil side, especially since the Devil's Throat circuit on the Argentina side oftentimes is destroyed due to flooding.

Since the waterfalls are located on the Argentine side, the Brazil side offers more widespread views. However, the Brazil side is also the more crowded of the two and offers a shorter path.

1-Day Plan

While I wouldn’t recommend visiting both parks the same day as the commute between the two sides of the park can take 2+ hours (if one is using public buses and having to go through the immigration stations).

However, if one truly only has one day, I’d start at the Argentine side (go right when they open at 8 AM) and then go to the Brazilian side (park closes at 6 PM, but the last bus back to the park entrance is around 5:30 PM, so plan accordingly). 

A potential schedule is as follows (buy your tickets in advance!)
  • ​7:00 - 7:30 AM: Arrive at the Puerto Iguazu Bus Terminal and buy a round-trip ticket for Rio Uruguay and if the Crucero del Norte bus kiosk is open, buy a ticket to Iguazu Falls.
  • 7:30 - 7:50 AM: Ride the bus to the park
  • 8:00 - 10:30 AM: Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side
    • 8:00 - 9:00 AM: ​Green Trail and Lower Circuit
    • 9:00 - 10:00 AM: Upper Circuit
    • 10:00 - 10:25 AM: Train back to park entrance​​
  • ​10:30 - 10:50 AM: Ride the bus back to Puerto Iguazu
  • 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Take the Crucero del Norte bus across the border to Foz do Iguaçu.
    • The bus will drop you off twice for immigration.
      • Argentina Immigration: The bus will drop off and wait for all the passengers after going through the Argentina side.
      • Brazil Immigration: The bus will drop off passengers to receive an entry stamp to the Brazil side. Passengers will need to wait for the next bus to get to the Foz do Iguaçu Bus Terminal.
  • 2:00 - 2:45 PM: Take the 120 bus to the park​
  • 3:00 - 6:00 PM: Iguazu Falls: Brazil Side
    • 3:00 - 3:30 PM: Bus to first viewpoint
    • 3:30 - 4:30 PM: The Path of the Falls
    • 4:30 - 5:00 PM: Lower Level of the Devil's Throat
    • 5:00 - 5:30 PM: Upper Level of the Devil's Throat
    • 5:30 - 6:00 PM: Take the last bus back to the entrance

Facts

Semantics
Iguazu Falls is the English name for the waterfall. You might also see it spelled as Iguazú (in Spanish) or Iguaçu (in Portuguese). The name comes from the indigenous Guarani or Tupi words “y” meaning “water”, and “ûasú” meaning “big”.

Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú
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Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu
Notable Facts
  • This is the widest waterfall system in the world, but the widest waterfall goes to Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) since it is a continuous single curtain of falling water.
  • Iguazu Falls boast 275 distinct waterfalls and islands, but this varies from 150 – 300 based on season and water levels.
  • The heart of the Iguazu Falls is the Devil’s Throat, consisting of 14 waterfalls and a canyon 260-300 feet wide and 230-260 feet deep.
  • The waterfall consists of two separate steps.
  • The water used to be clear, but deforestation and land erosion has led to the water becoming more and more brown.
Myths
​The waterfall was formed due to a deity’s rage. He had planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí. However, Naipí had her heart for a mortal man, Tarobá. To elope, they fled by canoe on the river. Unfortunately, the deity found out and sliced the river to condemn the lovers to an eternal fall.

Brazil Side


  • ​TRANSIT: To get to the park entrance, take the 120 Bus for R$5 (CASH ONLY) from the Foz do Iguaçu bus terminal. The ride is ~45 minutes and buses leave every 30 minutes.
    ​

  • AIRPORT TRANSIT: The 120 bus also takes you to/from Foz do Iguaçu International Airport.
  • LODGING: Foz do Iguaçu is the nearest city, and there is more infrastructure than Puerto Iguazu on the Argentine side.

  • PARK HOURS: 9 AM – 6 PM.

  • TICKETS: One should pre-purchase their tickets on the National Park website. Otherwise, there are 10 self-service kiosks from which one can buy a ticket and a bus boarding time. Tickets cost R$100. If one arrives before 8:45 AM, the lines aren’t too bad, otherwise, it becomes quite crowded.

  • FOOD: WIth the ticket, one can add on the buffet lunch at the restaurant. Otherwise, there are plenty of snacks and stands around the Porto Canoas Square Station. 
  • LOCKERS: There are a limited number of lockers (~60), so make sure to get there early to snag one by paying at the kiosk and retrieving a coin from the "Guest Services" to use them. They are rather wide and easy to get if one is headed to the airport the same day. Lockers cost R$35 for the whole day. They are scattered around the entrance area and easily identifiable.
    • Locker Size: 
      • Height 82 cm
      • Depth 68 cm
      • Width 48 cm
PLAN
  1. Arrive at the Park Entrance at 8:45 AM and head to where one can board the bus.
  2. Take the bus to the final stop and head directly towards the trail and the “Upper Level”.
  3. Walk to the “Upper Level”. If the panoramic tower is operational, head there first for a panoramic view.
  4. Head to the “Lower Level”. Walk along the walkway leading to Garganto do Diabo (the Devil’s Throat) and the heart of Iguazu Falls. The spray from Santo Florentino will get you wet, but in my opinion, a poncho is not needed.
  5. Follow “The Path of the Falls” along the trail to see the various viewpoints, where there will be A LOT of people on the very narrow trail.
  6. End at the Belmond Hotel das Cataractas and walk along the road to where the bus dropped you off (the Porto Canoas Square Station).
  7. Spend some time in the Square and head back when ready.
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NOTE: Buses run quite frequently within the park. 

Argentina Side

  • TRANSIT: To get to the park entrance, buy a ticket for Rio Uruguay for ARS 2,000 each way (you should buy your return here too). from the Puerto Iguazu bus station. The ride takes about 25 minutes and buses leave every 30 – 40 minutes.

  • AIRPORT TRANSIT: A bus runs hourly for ARS 1,000 from Iguazu Airport. An Uber ride costs ~ARS 7,000, while taxis will charge ~ARS 12,000. Depending on when one arrives, the bus and Uber might not be available.
  • LODGING: Puerto Iguazu is the nearest city, and one should get a place close to the Puerto Iguazu Bus Station
    ​
  • PARK HOURS: 8 AM – 5 PM.

  • TICKETS: One should pre-purchase their tickets on the National Park website. Otherwise, one can buy tickets at the kiosk (there can be a long line). Tickets cost ARS 20,000. While there are timed entry tickets, it is possible to arrive after the time specified on the order.
    ​
  • FOOD: Two small food courts at the Cataratas train station and the start of the Lower Circuit offer dining options, but I found them to be overpriced and okay. For a buffet lunch, there is Fortin Cataratas Restaurant. I’d recommend packing some snacks and enjoy a nice meal in-town instead.

  • LOCKERS: A storage room specifically for lockers is to the right of the ticket booth. One needs to pay in the souvenir shop for a lock and key. There are ~15 lockers, so arriving early is key
    • Big Locker Size:
      • Height 68 cm
      • Depth 68 cm
      • Width 50 cm
    • Small Locker Size:
      • Height 38 cm
      • Depth 38 cm
      • Width 20 cm
PLAN
  1. Arrive at the Park Entrance around 7:50 AM, if you haven't bought your ticket yet.
  2. Take the Ecological Rainforest Train to the Devil’s Throat (if this is closed, look into doing La Gran Aventura boat tour).
  3. Head back to the Ecological Rainforest Train and explore the circuits.
  4. I would recommend starting at the Lower Circuit to view the waterfalls that one will then be walking over.
  5. Then head to the Upper Circuit before taking the Ecological Rainforest Train back to the entrance.
  6. There is a small museum discussing ecology and the history of the Atlantic Rainforest. While it is all in Portuguese, I would still recommend taking a quick walkthrough.
    ​
NOTE: One can also take the 1/3-mile long Green Trail instead of taking the train.​

Other Activities

Since the parks can easily be seen within a half-day each, I would recommend other hikes and options. ​Both parks offer opportunities to enjoy a speedboat on the Iguazu River to get up and close to the waterfalls. Note that the tourist operators on the Argentina side like to say that there is only one boat going out that day and urge you to buy your ticket immediately. Note that this is not the case and they do this to increase business.
BRAZIL
  • Macuco Safari Boat (R$386): One takes a train through the jungle before heading to the boat landing, where one takes a boat ride into the falls (there is a gift store and lockers to store one’s bags).
  • Helicopter Flight: 10-minute helicopter flights over the falls are offered that cost ~$1,400 USD that can be split up to 4 people.
  • Parque das Aves (R$80): Just outside the park entrance, this incredible bird sanctuary is a gorgeous sight to behold with an incredible assortment of native birds to the Atlantic Rainforest. Signage in English, Portuguese, and Spanish make it quite accessible.
ARGENTINA
  • La Gran Aventura (ARS 40,000): A 4x4 ride through the jungle takes you to a boat dock, where one speeds towards the waterfalls for an incredible experience (dry bags are provided).
  • Full Moon Walk: One of the coolest aspects of this park is that one can see the Devil’s Throat under the full moon and see a lunar rainbow. Dinner is provided, but tickets will need to be booked in advance.
  • Sendero Macuco: 4.5-mile roundtrip trail to see Salto Arrachea, a remote waterfall. It’s oftentimes closed due to wild cat sightings.
Note that for both Macuco Safari Boat and La Gran Aventura, the boat operators have GoPro cameras and will sell the videos at the end of the ride.

Restaurants

In my opinion, Puerto Iguazu has better restaurants and a more "neighborhood"-style vibe, while Foz do Iguaçu is much more spread out
Puerto Iguazu
  • Tatu Carreta: No-frills Argentine grill with lots of delicious steaks that are cooked right outside.
  • Restaurante La Rueda: Restaurant with filet mignon and surubi 
  • A Piacere: A nice steakhouse that has delicious food and a fine dining atmosphere.
  • El Quincho del Tio Querido: Tango dancing accompanies dinner, but one needs to book them in advance.

Foz do Iguaçu
  • Brasa Burger: Delicious burgers
  • Restaurante La Caverna: Steakhouse that also serves a few Brazilian entrees.

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