How to Visit Iguazu Falls 2026 | Which Side Is Best?

🚌 How to visit Iguazu Falls

You may already know that you can visit Iguazu Falls from different locations depending on the country you're in, with one shore belonging to Brazil and the other to Argentina. Each shore has its own walkways and perspectives for viewing the falls, but they are not connected to each other. Although that doesn't mean that if you're in Argentina you can't experience the Brazilian side and vice versa. In fact, regardless of the country you've arrived from, Visiting both sides is highly recommended..

Let's explaincarI'll give you detailed instructions on how to get to them from different tourist spots in both countries so you know How to add a visit to Iguazu Falls to your itinerary.

How to get to Iguazu Falls from Argentina

To visit the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, you have to travel to Puerto Iguazu, a city that borders Brazil and Paraguay. The normal thing is to arrive from Buenos Aires Since it's relatively close, considering the distances across Argentina. If you're visiting the Salta and Jujuy regions, you could also arrive via Corrientes.

How to get to Iguazu Falls from Brazil

To visit Iguazu Falls from Brazil you have to go to Foz do Iguaçu, a city well connected to major cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Curitiba by carretera as if by plane.

How to visit Iguazu Falls from Paraguay

The less common and well-known option is to visit Iguazu Falls from Paraguay, and in fact that's how we did it. Although Paraguay currently doesn't own either side of the falls, It borders both Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú in the so-called Triple Border.

If you want to visit this natural wonder from Paraguay, you'll first have to cross the border into Brazil at the International Friendship Bridge to see the Brazilian side. Of course, you can also cross the Argentine border to visit the Brazilian side. Crossing the border into both Brazil and Argentina is simple and fairly quick if you do it on foot.

To get to Iguazu Falls from Paraguay you will have to take the bus of the company Our Lady of Assumption From Asunción to Ciudad del Este or Foz do Iguaçu, the journey takes about 5 hours. The border crossing by bus is very slow because of heavy traffic, so we got off in Ciudad del Este, crossed the border on foot, and once in Brazil, we called an Uber.

💧Best time to visit the Iguazu Falls

There is no perfect time, since the climate in Iguazú is subtropical and rain can appear at any time. Even so, Each season has its advantages and disadvantages, so we'll tell you the most important things to help you decide when to go.

🔸 From April to September: It's the so-called dry season. It rains a little less, the temperature is more pleasant, and the humidity drops a bit, which is welcome. However, if there has been a long period without rain, the flow of the falls could be somewhat less, although they are still impressive.

🔸 From November to March: It is the rainiest season and also the hottest. If it coincides with several days of heavy rain, The flow of the falls can increase and become even more spectacular., although there's also more humidity and some circuits may be closed for safety reasons. Furthermore, December, January, and February are peak season in Argentina and Brazil, with large crowds on the main platforms.

In summary, Any time is a good time to visit IguazúYou can choose between cooler weather and fewer people, or see the falls at their most powerful, albeit with more heat and people.

Where to stay to visit the Iguazu Falls

To visit both sides you can choose to stay in Brazil or Argentina, but The most comfortable option is to stay in the country you are traveling through to avoid crossing borders carwith the luggage. However, there are luggage storage facilities at the ticket booths at the entrance to the falls, both on the Brazilian and Argentinian sides.

If you are traveling on a tight budget The cheapest place to stay is BrazilRestaurants and public transportation are also more affordable. If you're concerned about safety, we found Foz do Iguaçu to be a really peaceful and safe city, just like Puerto Iguazú.

📍Recommended accommodations in Foz do Iguaçu:

• Foz Presidente Economic Hotel: Cheap, with pool and breakfast included.
• CLH Suites: very central, very friendly and attentive staff.

📍Recommended accommodations in Puerto Iguazú:

• AATRAC Hotel: Good value, breakfast and jacuzzi in the patio.
• Bagu Seven Mouths: Modern, central and buffet breakfast included.

complete guide to visit the Iguazu Falls

let's go with Everything you need to know to visit the Iguazu Falls once you're there!

How long does it take to visit Iguazu Falls?

To visit You should dedicate yourself freely to both shorescar 2 full days, one for Brazil and one for Argentina. Although the visit doesn't actually require a full day, between transfers and border crossings, you'll lose a lot of time. Plus, with two days, you'll have time to do additional activities, like the boat tour.

If your itinerary is very tight and You only have one day to visit the falls from both countries. the best option is hire a tourThanks to private transportation, you won't waste a lot of time waiting for public transportation or at the border crossing, so you can visit one side in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Hire 1-day tour of Iguazú.

Visit Iguazú National Park in Argentina

The area of ​​the falls is located about half an hour from the center of Puerto Iguazú and the best way to get there is by plane. public bus which starts its route at the bus terminal and drops you off right in front of the ticket office.

At the beginning of 2025 the journey costs 15.000 Argentine pesos and They only accept cash payments. If you prefer you can also hire a guided tour in Spanish with pick-up in the city center.

Opening hoursThe National Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. Last entry is at 16:00 p.m. Arriving early will help you avoid the crowds.

The fee to visit the park increases every year, especially in 2025 due to a change in the policy of National Parks in Argentina. The pass For foreigners it costs 45.000 pesos15.000 for nationals and 7.000 for students. If you're a student, be sure to have a copy of your registration number on hand to prove it.

When we went in January 2025, the price was almost 45 euros, which we thought was amazing. carOr, but now in 2026 because of Another devaluation of the Argentine peso and, with no increase in prices, seeing this marvel costs 25 euros (in January)

Circuits on the Argentine side

There are three different circuits to visit Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side, and they're connected by an eco-friendly train and hiking trails. You shouldn't miss any of the circuits; to explore them all, you'll need a pair of shoes. 4-5 horas.

Lower Circuit (blue): This is the closest to the park entrance and can be reached on foot in a short walk to avoid the line at the main train station. It doesn't get too close to the falls, but it offers a beautiful and very photogenic view of some of the falls.

Superior Circuit (red): This circuit formed by platforms over the water runs along the top of some jumps.

Devil's throat (orange): It is the jewel in the crown of the visit, without a doubt the viewpoint at the end of the platform is one of the most impressive places we have seen, and where you will get the wettest.

Boat or helicopter tour

Visiting the Iguazu Falls is a unique experience, but if you want to make it even more unforgettable you can complement your visit with one of the tours offered for see the falls from a different perspective:

• Boat tourOn this tour you will board a boat at the Macuco dock on the Argentinian side and travel along the river and get closercarWe'll be very close to some of the waterfalls so that everyone ends up thoroughly soaked.
• Helicopter tourIf you don't want to get wet, you can also see the falls from the air thanks to the helicopter tour.

Visit Iguaçu National Park in Brazil

To get to the Brazilian shore of the falls you can use public bus line 120 It runs through the center of Foz do Iguaçu and ends at the entrance to the falls. The ticket costs only 5 reais and can be paid directly by card. If you prefer, you can also take an Uber or hire a taxi. tour guided in Spanish with pick-up at your accommodation.

Opening hoursThe National Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.

The entrance to the park For foreigners it costs 117 reales and for MERCOSUR citizens it costs 115 reais. You can buy the ticket directly at the box office or you can book onlineIn general, visiting the Brazilian side is considerably cheaper than visiting the Argentine side.

Circuits on the Brazilian side

On the Brazilian side, there is a single trail that runs along the entire shore to reach the Devil's Throat viewpoint. To reach the trailhead, there are some shuttle buses that leave every few minutes From the ticket office to the waterfall. Halfway there, there's a stop for those taking the boat trip, and from there begins a 3-km round-trip trail that crosses the jungle toward the riverbank. We did this to try to spot wildlife, but there really isn't much to see.

The trail to see the falls begins in front of the luxurious Belmond hotel, the only hotel inside the national park. To It will take approximately 2 hours to complete the tour., and you will reach an area with a couple of restaurants and a bus stop to return to the park entrance.

Boat or helicopter tour

On the Brazilian side, boat tours are also offered.carGo to the bottom of the waterfalls and get soaked, or take a helicopter tour over this natural wonder. Do these activities. It's cheaper in Brazil.

• Boat tourThis tour begins at the Macuco de Brasil pier, which you can reach via the park's internal bus and a short drive. From there, you'll board a boat to get close to the park's most impressive waterfalls.
• Helicopter tour: To make your visit to Iguazu Falls even more unique, you can see them from the air.

special options to visit the Iguazu Falls

Apart from the usual tickets and schedules, there are some more exclusive options to visit the Iguazu Falls. at dawn or duskThese options are only available on the Brazilian side and cost slightly more than the standard ticket, but they're well worth it.

The visit at dawn It's only available on Thursdays and Saturdays at 6 a.m. It costs 230 reais per person and includes breakfast at the park's restaurant.

The tour to see the sunset at Iguazu Falls It takes place every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday at 16:00 PM, and the ticket costs 195 reais. This same ticket also gives you access to the park during normal opening hours that same day.

How to cross the border between Brazil and Argentina in Iguazú

The border crossing between these two countries it's really simple And they're very used to receiving tourists who come and go on the same day to see the other side of the falls. For example, we were staying in Brazil and crossed into Argentina in the morning and returned to Brazil in the afternoon.

Crossing from Brazil to Argentina

From the center of Foz do Iguaçu to the border post there are only 7 km and you can go by taxi, Uber or busTo take a bus, you have to take the one headed to Puerto Iguazú. Most start their journey at the Urban Transport Terminal. We took one called Intercity, which cost 25 reais and only accepted cash.

Once we arrived at the border, the bus driver told us that if we returned to Brazil the same day, we didn't need to complete the procedure, although other passengers who did didn't even take five minutes. Some people have had different experiences, so it's best to Take your passport and do what the driver tells youLet them know you're going to the falls so they can drop you off at a stop where the Argentinian bus goes directly. Otherwise, you'll end up at the bus terminal and have to take it from there, which will significantly extend the journey.

Crossing from Argentina to Brazil

In the case of crossing from Argentina to Brazil, the process is exactly the opposite. Start by taking a taxi, Uber, or bus from the Bus Terminal towards Foz do Iguaçu, several companies offer it at an approximate cost of 30.000 pesos in cash.

Crossing the border from Argentina to Brazil is also very quick. Since we were coming from Brazil and hadn't entered Argentina, we crossed the border directly without getting off the bus or showing our passports.

✅ Practical tips to visit the Iguazu Falls

We share some practical tips based on our personal experience to help you make the most of your visit to this unique place.

• Avoid the weekendThere is a lot of local tourism.
• Enter the park early to avoid crowds and the heat.
• Bring a drink and some snacks. The prices are outrageous and the options are limited.
• Do not feed the coatis or monkeysThey are wild animals whose behavior has changed because of tourists. And if they bite you, you'll need rabies treatment.
• Wearing a raincoat can be useful during the colder months.
• Carries cap or hat and sunglasses, there are many areas without shade.
• Hay luggage storage next to the ticket offices for access to both National Parks.
• If you're visiting both sides of the river, we think it's best to start with Brazil. Although it's a personal decision.

¿What side of the falls is better?

It is difficult to say that one side is better than the other since Both are amazing and offer completely different perspectivesOn the Argentinian side, you can explore the upper part of the falls and more.carYou'll get very close to the falls, so close that the mist will soak you. In contrast, in Brazil the route is more scenic until you reach the lower part of the falls, where you'll also end up very wet.

That said, having more trails available and being able to be right above the Devil's Throat made the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls seem a bit more impressive and reminded us a lot of the Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland. Although We definitely recommend visiting both shores..

Thank you for reading, we hope this guide on How to visit Iguazu Falls that helps you plancar your trip. We have more articles with practical information about Argentina, so feel free to continue exploring the guides of Argentina.

We also encourage you to follow us on Instagram to gossip about our routes. Have a good trip and enjoy this natural wonder!

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