Mar 15, 2011
|Last updated on March 23rd, 2021 at 12:14 pm
A Guide on How to Get to Iguazu Falls
The best way to get to Iguazu Falls is from Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro. Afterall, the Iguazu Falls straddle the border between southern Brazil and northern Argentina. This UNESCO World Heritage site compromises 275 individual falls spread out across a large heavily forested area. The Iguazu Falls are undoubtedly one of the great highlights on a tour of South America. For anyone taking a tour of Argentina, trip to Brazil, or Paraguay, you must visit the spectacular Falls. Now, find out the best ways to get to Iguazu.
How to Get to Iguazu from Buenos Aires
The best way to get to Iguazu from Buenos Aires is by flying. The Falls are serviced by two airports. On the Argentine side is the airport of Puerto Iguazu in the Misiones Province. On the Brazilian Side is the airport of Foz Do Iguassu in the state of Parana. The airport of Puerto Iguazu Argentina has regular daily flights from Buenos Aires (2h). It is also possible to take a bus to Puerto Iguazu from Buenos Aires. The bus journey takes around 16-hours. This is a long time but the busses in Argentina are very comfortable with onboard service and fully reclining seats.
How to Get to Iguazu from Rio
There are daily flights from Rio de Janeiro (and Sao Paulo) to Iguazu. There are also flights from smaller cities such as Puerto Alegre and Curitiba.
How to Get to Iguazu from Lima
In recent years a LATAM flight from Lima to Foz do Iguazu has been established linking the Iguazu Falls with destinations in Peru. This has really opened up great options for people seeking comprehensive trips in South America. A great example would be our World Wonders of South America Tour, where you can explore Peru before visiting the Falls on your way to Rio.
I also recommend the Falls as a bridging destination for travelers interested in visiting both Argentina and Brazil. For example, you can tour Argentina and visit the Falls before crossing the border and visiting the Brazilian Falls. From there you can take domestic flights to another Brazilian destination. An example of this would be our Tango Samba, & Waterfalls Tour.
What to Do in Iguazu
There many things to do in Iguazu Falls. Iguazu Falls are not just a bunch of waterfalls — although those are impressive enough. There are two beautiful national parks on either side of the falls, which beckon birdwatchers, nature lovers, avid hikers, and shutterbugs who want to capture various angles of the sprawling falls. The Iguazu National Park on the Argentina side of the falls features an Ecological Train that whisks visitors from the entrance of the park through 5 miles of Misiones forest to the viewpoint of the Devil’s Throat, the gaping mouth of the falls.
The Iguacu National Park on the Brazil side is smaller than Argentina’s park, but it boasts a walkway that juts out towards the falls. From either park, visitors can take boat rides to get up close to the falls. Spend a full day hiking through the Iguazu National Park, looking for reptiles, butterflies, and gorgeous blooming plants and hardwood trees.
If you have an extra half-day, you can spend it exploring the Brazilian side. There are several ways to tour the Iguazu National Park besides the ecological train ride – you can take a Jeep Safari tour, for example.
Where to Stay in Iguazu
If visiting the Iguazu Falls you will invariably have to spend the night. A good rule of thumb is that if you arrive to the Falls from Argentina you should stay on the Argentine side. If you arrive to the Falls from the Brazilian Side you should stay on the Brazilian side. Each country has one 5-star hotel located in the grounds of the park. On the Argentine side there is the modern-styled Melia Hotel and on the Brazilian side the colonial-style Belmond Das Cataratas. You can also choose from a large number of hotels in all categories on both sides of the Falls. You can use these lists as useful guides: Recommended Hotels Foz Do Iguassu.
Need More Info on Iguazu?
Contact a South America Travel Consultant about our Iguazu Falls Tours or you can ask for help in creating your own dream trip!
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