Ultimate Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina From Brazil

“Can you visit the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls from Brazil?”

That is the question. And yes, you can easily cross over from Brazil on a day trip. The immigration process was actually the quickest and easiest part of my day when I went.

If you’re planning to get to the park right when it opens, you’d have to cross the border at around 7:30 AM, and there won’t be many people there. I got through in under five minutes.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay in Argentina?” Well, I guess. But I was based in Brazil at the time, with only one weekend to spare in Foz do Iguaçu, so I kept it simple and stuck to one hotel.

Because one side gets you up close and personal, while the other gives you the panoramic view, I don’t think a visit to the falls is fully complete without both. So, gotta do what you gotta do!

And since I spent an entire day there, I’ll show you everything, from crossing the border, getting tickets, to booking a boat tour that puts you almost underneath the falls (Yes).

You better get yourself mentally ready to see EPIC, because this place is SO worth it!

Best Time to Visit Iguazu Falls

The temperature in Iguazu generally never drops below 54°F (12°C) year-round, so you won’t ever run into freezing weather, no matter what time of year you visit. However…

Visiting from May through October guarantees cooler weather that is perfect with the sun and the cold from the waterfalls.

But be sure to pack layers because the mornings and later afternoons cool down quite a lot. Or you’ll end up questioning all your life choices, especially as you stroll along the well-shaded trails.

A Quick Introduction to Iguazu Falls

The Iguazu National Park of Argentina, along with its sister, Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is also one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

The waterfalls span a width of 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) and drop some 80 meters, about three times the size of Niagara Falls and twice as high.

The name “Iguazu” (written Iguazú in Spanish and Iguaçu in Portuguese) came from the indigenous Tupi language. The word “y,” which means “water,” and the word “ûasú,” which means “big.”

The Waterfall’s Origin Story

You know that if something belonged to the indigenous, it must come with a grand legend, right? Iguazu Falls is no exception!

Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful girl named Naipí, but she decided to flee with her human lover down the river. In a fit of rage, the deity sliced the river, killing the lovers and creating an eternal waterfall.

Pretty dark, but thanks to his rage, here we are with one of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts!

How to Visit Iguazu Falls from Brazil

For now, I’m writing specifically for those who are planning to visit from Brazil.

One day, when I’ve visited Argentina and know how the transportation works there, I will update the post with more information.

Option 1: Taxi

Taxis are not economical, but I highly recommend them over buses. They’re possibly the most amount of stress and worry you should preoccupy yourself with on such an exciting trip.

Download the 99 App, as they’re the main competitor of Uber in Foz do Iguaçu and will work better 99% of the time. (See what I did?)

You can also ask your hotel to call you a taxi. One ride from Foz do Iguaçu to the Iguazu National Park shouldn’t cost you more than $25-$30.

To get back after your day, there are always taxis waiting at the park to take people home. As long as you have a sense of how much the ride should cost (now you do), just hop on one!

Option 2: Shared or Private Transfers

The most convenient option, which requires a bit more investment on your end, is a private transfer. They will pick you up from Foz do Iguaçu and drop you back off at the end of the day.

I crossed this way myself, and not having to worry about the logistics for once was so worth it. Below are some solid transfer options where your driver is paid to wait for you at immigration.

For a slightly more economical option, this shared transfer comes at a very reasonable price considering the service spans 4 days.

• It includes a pick-up from the airport to your hotel
• A ride to the Argentinian side
• A ride to the Brazilian side, and
• An airport drop-off.

What to Expect at the Border

Going through immigration is surprisingly simple, especially if you go before the tour buses start coming.

Public transportations go through the middle of the road, while people get off and enter the building to the right on the sidewalk.

The immigration office is quite literally one small hallway with 5-6 windows for you to present your documents.

If no visa is needed, all you have to do is hand over your passport, let them know your hotel, OR that you’re leaving at the end of the day, and you’ll pass right through. ¡Bienvenida a Argentina!

Iguazu National Park Overview

Located in Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Iguazu National Park is smaller in area than its sister park in Brazil, but it contains most of the waterfalls.

There are multiple trails and activities you can do, so be prepared to spend a full day here.

Visitors Information

• Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
• Admission Ticket: AR$35,000 (US$37) for all foreign visitors
• Address: Ruta 101 Km 142, N3370 Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina

The Park Train System Explained

On the park map above, notice the orange route that goes around the park all the way up to the Devil’s Throat trail up top. That is the route of the park train, which runs every 20 minutes or so.

There are 3 train stations.

• Estación Central: Closest to the park entrance, and is the first station on the route
• Estación Cataratas: Close enough to Estación Central that you can quickly reach by walking through Sendero Verde, or the Green Trail
• Estación Garganta: The Devil’s Throat Station, furthest away from everything else in the park. The ride takes about 20-25 minutes.

To get on the train, you need to have a printed ticket in hand, which you can get for free from the kiosk right by each station. Just tell the staff you’re here for the train, and they’ll hand you one.

The 3 Must-See Trails Inside the Park

There are 3 main trails that you absolutely shouldn’t miss, plus 2 extra ones if time permits.

I recommend following this order: Devil’s Throat, Lower Circuit, Upper Circuit, then, if time allows, one of the remaining trails. But completing all 5 in one day is physically impossible.

Let’s look into each trail in more detail.

1. Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo)

Let me make this clear, I had never seen such magnificent waterfalls in my life. No offense, but Niagara has got NOTHING on this part alone, never mind the entire Iguazu Falls.

This U-shaped waterfall is the largest in the system, spanning 150 meters (492 ft) with a height of 82 meters (269 ft).

The height and the overwhelming amount of water that flows down mean that the Devil’s Throat is constantly covered in a cloud of fog that you can see from afar.

Pair that with the morning rays of sunlight peaking through clouds, and your day is set, which is why I recommend visiting it first thing!

2. Lower Circuit (Circuito Inferior)

The Lower Circuit (Circuito Inferior) offers an up-close view of the falls closer to their base.

Walking along this trail, you’ll find yourself immersed in the flora and fauna of the park while discovering the hidden little falls that you won’t see from afar.

I did mention fauna, yes? If you’re a serial clip-recorder of Quatis (South American Nasuas), the little friends that look like raccoons with anteater faces, you’ll find them on this trail.

And yes, I am guilty of being a serial clip-recorder of Quatis. They’re freakin’ adorable and I’d love to take one home if it was an option.

• Distance: 1.4 kilometers (0.8 miles)
• Time Needed: 60-90 minutes depending on fitness and speed
• Open Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:45 PM

3. Upper Circuit (Circuito Superior)

Once you’ve had your fair share of waterfall photos from the Devil’s Throat and the Lower Circuit, it’s time to look at things from a different perspective.

The Upper Circuit (Circuito Superior) lets you walk… quite literally… along the edge of the cliff where the water flows down. It was my favorite few hours of the day.

I said a few hours because I must have spent at least an hour at each of the falls on this trail. Maybe that was why I couldn’t make it to the remaining 2 trails in the park… Whoops.

• Distance: 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles)
• Time Needed: 90-120 minutes
• Open Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:45 PM

Best Spots to Get Good Photos of the Falls

If you have limited memory space left on your phone and cannot afford to take a thousand photos of the falls like I did, below are the coolest stops that promise the most epic photos.

All of them are on the Upper Circuit.

Pay attention to the names below so you can clock them on the trail.

• Salto Adán y Eva: You can fit many of the waterfalls into one picture here
• Salto Mbigua: The closest view of the longest continuous section of the falls to your right
• Salto San Martín: You’ll be standing right on the biggest section of the falls, not necessarily the most stunning photos, but it’ll be hard to leave. The views are absolutely breathtaking.

Adventure Activities Around Iguazu Falls

Apart from the trails that let you explore the falls from above, below are some less conventional options, as well as other places you can visit in the area.

Option 1: Boat Rides with Iguazú Jungle

If you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and you want to get in the water, then you’ll love Iguazú Jungle! There are 3 types of boat rides you can take with them.

The one I did is called “Gran Aventura,” where they take you right up to two of the falls.

It is the closest you’ll ever get, and also the most soaked you’ll ever be for the entire day.

But don’t worry, the tour provides massive dry bags that you can fit entire backpacks in, so your stuff doesn’t get wet on the boat.

To reach the Iguazú Jungle office, find the main restaurants inside the park (closest to Estación Cataratas) and walk behind them, or simply follow this link.

You’ll see a building with yellow adventure trucks parked out front. It’s okay to purchase tickets at the office as well as book online in advance.

Please keep in mind that if you have an online voucher, you will need to visit their office before the tour time and have your physical tickets printed.

Option 2: Adventure Day Tour to Iguazu

This is a top-rated tour from Brazil that includes the boat ride as part of its itinerary, so you can get picked up and relax for the day.

Although I guarantee that arranging everything myself was quite easy, the visit ended up being much more satisfying at my own pace.

How I Maximized My Weekend in Foz do Iguaçu

Just in case you’re in the same situation, where you’ve got one weekend in the area, and you want to take advantage of the time to do everything, here’s how I spent mine.

• Friday: Arrived at night (I had Portuguese classes in Rio weekday mornings)
• Saturday: Argentinian side (took the whole day)
• Sunday: Parque das Aves in the morning, Brazilian side in the afternoon, Three borders in the evening (shows start at 6:30 PM)
• Monday: Flew out first thing in the morning

I was SPENT that weekend. But the entire language school associated me with a lot of coffee and no sleep anyway, so they didn’t think anything was different the next week!

Don’t Miss Out on the Panorama View of the Falls!

While you get to walk on the falls in Argentina, trying to capture the entire fall system is literally impossible. But you can do it from the Brazilian side!

So check out my guide to the Brazilian side of the falls and know what to expect there, too. I also included information on Parque das Aves and the Three Borders as well.

Now that we’re on the topic of beautiful things… can I convince you to visit Paraty? After Iguazu Falls, I spent the next weekend in Paraty, and had the most magical time.

And there’s no doubt you can’t skip Rio de Janeiro, a.k.a. my South American home. The landscape is insane, and of course, the food scene is amazing.

I have more ideas and tips on my Brazil Cultural Travel page if you need them!

Iguazu Falls FAQ

📌 Pin this for later

Sharing is caring!