In This Guide:
- Introduction
- Pink Bear Tips
- Travel from Buenos Aires
- Where We Stayed (Loi Suites)
- Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls
- Devil’s Throat
- Brazil Side of Iguazu Falls
- Macuco Safari Jet Boat
- Helicopter Flight
- Pink Bear Rating
- Argentina vs Brazil: Which Side Is Better?
Introduction
Few places on Earth leave visitors speechless, but Iguazu Falls is one of them.
Straddling the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is a breathtaking system of more than 250 waterfalls stretching nearly two miles across the lush subtropical rainforest. The falls are located within two protected national parks and have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on both sides of the border.
While many travelers compare Iguazu to Niagara Falls, the comparison hardly does it justice. Iguazu is wider, more numerous, and feels far more untamed. Massive curtains of water plunge into the river below, creating towering clouds of mist, brilliant rainbows, and a constant roar heard throughout the park.
Both countries offer unique perspectives on this natural wonder. The Argentine side features an extensive network of trails and walkways that bring visitors remarkably close to the falls, including the famous Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), the largest and most powerful cascade in the system. The Brazilian side provides sweeping panoramic views that showcase the immense scale and beauty of the entire waterfall complex.
During our South American adventure, we visited many incredible destinations. You can read about all of them on our South America Travel Page:
At Iguazu, we spent time exploring both sides of the falls and quickly understood why Iguazu is often considered one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the world. Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, birdwatcher, or simply someone who appreciates incredible scenery, Iguazu Falls deserves a place on your travel bucket list
Pink Bear loved researching Iguazu Falls
Pink Bear’s Tips for Travel to Iguazu Falls:
- If you are staying in the city, AEP is much closer than EZE.
- AEP is 15 minutes from the center of BA if traffic is light. Traffic can be very bad in BA, so leave plenty of time to get to the airport, especially during the week, during “rush” hour.
- Jetsmart, the domestic carrier, is a reasonably priced choice with lots of times to choose from.
- The Jetsmart aircraft from AEP to IGR are “bare bones” Airbus, with a 3-3 configuration. The seats are very tight, so in our opinion, it was worth a little more for a premium bulkhead seat.
- LOI Suites is a nice resort with beautiful pools, but not in Puerto Iguazu, so you need a car to get to town.
- English is not widely spoken in this part of Argentina.
- For the best weather to visit in the southern hemisphere, fall, March or April; Spring, Nov or Dec. The weather is warm and dry.
- A passport and visa are needed for US citizens to enter Brazil to visit the Brazilian Park.
- Apply online before traveling.
- Processing typically takes about 5 business days, but applying several weeks in advance is recommended.
- The eVisa generally allows stays of up to 90 days.
Pink Bear’s Iguazu Falls Park Tips
- Visit early in the day
- Buy tickets online.
- Bring a waterproof, lightweight backpack.
- Dress in comfortable, lightweight clothing and sneakers; there is a lot of walking, and it gets very warm.
- There are boat trips under the falls on both sides. Brazil side is a little shorter and offers wet and dry options. For a wet boat trip under the falls, bring water shoes, a towel, and a change of clothes; you will get very wet.
- Bring a waterproof camera or phone case for the wet jetboat tour.
- Recommend at least a day on each side, since they each give a different perspective.
- Private guides are often licensed to enter the Parks an hour early.
Time Required: We recommend spending two days at Iguazu Falls—one full day on the Argentine side and one full day on the Brazilian side.
Traveling to Iguazu from Buenos Aires
We traveled from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, for our Iguazu Falls adventure. Puerto Iguazu is the Gateway to Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side. We left from the smaller local airport, AEP, which is much closer to the city than EZE.
She was not happy about being confined, but I was taking no chances with this mischievous bear.
Our Accommodations
After extensive research on TripAdvisor, Pink Bear selected Loi Suites for our accommodations in Iguazu. Loi Suites is located a bit outside Puerto Iguazu. It is a tropical resort in the middle of the rainforest. There are two beautiful pools, an extensive main pool area, and a secondary infinity pool overlooking the river. We ate all our meals at the lovely café. We did not venture into town for any meals because our days were very busy and the hotel was not directly in town. Even though it was not in town, we enjoyed it because it was a relaxing retreat after our long day of touring
More information on travel from Buenos Aires and Loi Suites can be found at:
Argentinian Side of Iguazu Falls: Close-up of Nature’s Masterpiece
While both countries offer stunning views, the Argentine side provides the most immersive experience. Nearly 80% of the falls lie within Argentina’s borders, and an extensive network of walkways and trails allows visitors to get remarkably close to the rushing water. From elevated pathways above the falls to scenic routes winding through the jungle below, visitors can experience Iguazu from multiple perspectives. The falls are protected within Iguazú National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves both the waterfalls and the surrounding Atlantic rainforest.
Our guide picked us up at 7:30 AM, and we arrived at the park by 8:00. The park opened at 8:30. We purchased our tickets online before our arrival. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance, since the line for purchase at the park is typically very long. We bypassed the ticket purchase area and queued up for the train that takes visitors into the park. We were given group numbers, and we arrived early, so we had an early group. The train ride is pleasant but can be crowded, especially at opening time.
Devil’s Throat
The undisputed highlight of the Argentine side is the legendary Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), a massive U-shaped chasm where enormous volumes of water plunge more than 260 feet (80 meters) into a cloud of mist below. Standing on the viewing platform at the edge of this roaring abyss is an experience that few visitors ever forget. We went directly to Devil’s Throat since it gets crowded as the day goes on. After the train, we reached Devil’s Throat via a long walkway. Our first sight of the falls was breathtaking. We hurried to get a good view and to take pictures, and yes, we got very wet!
After we viewed Devil’s Throat from above on the main viewing platform, we began to explore it from a different angle. We walked back to the train stop and took the train back to the first stop. From here walked the trail to view the falls from a different angle.
We continued on the many walkways around the park, viewing many smaller waterfalls.
We also got a view of the river and saw the jetboat that was headed under the falls.
Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls: Panoramic Views
While the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls offers an up-close and immersive experience, the Brazilian side is famous for its breathtaking panoramic views. Located within Iguaçu National Park, the Brazilian side allows visitors to appreciate the immense scale and power of one of the world’s largest waterfall systems. Approximately 20% of the falls lie in Brazil, but many travelers believe the best overall views are found here because you can see the entire curtain of waterfalls spread across the horizon. The Brazilian side features a relatively short and easy walking trail that follows the canyon rim, providing spectacular viewpoints along the way.
Established in 1939, Iguaçu National Park protects nearly 170,000 hectares of Atlantic Rainforest and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Together with its sister park in Argentina, it preserves one of the largest remaining sections of this endangered ecosystem.
Travel to Brazil from Argentina
Vanessa again picked us up very early, since she wanted to be at the entrance to the Brazilian Park by 7:30 AM. Since Vanessa is a Brazilian citizen and guide, she can access the park 1 hour before official opening. This was a huge advantage because it allowed us to be among the first visitors!
We were required to make a border crossing from Argentina to Brazil. For a US citizen to enter Brazil a Visa is required in addition to a Passport. We parked the car, and Vanessa walked us into the office to present our paperwork. In only took about 10 minutes because it was early and there was no line.
Brazilian Park: Known as Cataratas do Iguaçu
Once again we purchased our tickets online, so when we arrived, we just presented our tickets and walked into the main entrance. There is one hotel inside the Brazilian park, a Belmond hotel. Besides us, the only other people in the park when we entered were a few from the hotel. We walked along the main trail and had panoramic views of the entire falls with very few people in sight. It was a truly magical experience. I would highly recommend hiring a guide who has early access.
After our panoramic view of the falls from the main trail, we continued toward the walkway to view Devil’s Throat. From the Argentine side, the viewing platform provides a view of Devil’s Throat from above. On the Brazilian side, the view is head-on. In my opinion, the head-on view is dramatic.
After we faced the Devil’s Throat head on, we walked back toward the entrance and saw a glorious rainbow.
As we made our way to the park exit, I felt very fortunate to have experienced this incredible spectacle. In my opinion, both parks should be experienced since each shows the fall from a different perspective; however, I personally like views from the Brazilian side better than the Argentinian side. But that is just my opinion, and they are both incredible.
Macuro Safari Jetboat
There are Jetboat tours from both the Argentinian and Brazilian side. Since the Brazilian park is smaller, we opted to take the Jetboat on the Brazilian side. The jetboat ramp is only about 10 minutes from the park entrance. We arrived early ahead of the crowds. We had purchased tickets in advance, so we did not have to wait long for the tram to pick us up. The tram takes guests on a short drive through the rainforest. Guests have the option of a short nature walk or proceeding directly to the boat. We opted to go directly to the boat. Both Tom and I had brought water shoes, but those who did have water shoes could leave their shoes on the dock and go barefoot. Getting on the boat required a bit of agility; therefore, this tour does not seem appropriate for those with walking disabilities. As we proceeded down the river, the view of the falls was breathtaking.
We headed out down the river over some small rapids, and we saw some of the smaller falls and other jet boats ahead. We heard the roar of Devil’s Throat in the distance.
Then suddenly we were speeding toward the falls, and we braced for getting wet. But we had no idea how wet we were going to get.
Soon we were under the falls, and we were getting soaked. We came out and went in again and again and again. It was crazy, wet, and exciting.
As we were heading back, everyone was wet and laughing! When we got back to the dock, Vanessa was waiting with our towels and shoes. We dried as much as we could, then when we got back to the car, went to the restroom to change our wet clothes.
Next activity was the helicopter!
Helisul Táxi Aéreo Helicopter
The only authorized helicopter company that flies directly over the falls on the Brazilian side is Helisul Táxi Aéreo. We opted for a private ride as it offered us both a window seat. Pink Bear had to stay behind since bears are not allowed in the helicopter. We felt the extra money we spent was worth it. We were thrilled to get an unobstructed view of the falls. I got a spacious private seat next to the pilot. The helicopter gave us a bird’s eye view of the entire falls. The 10-minute ride was awe inspiring.
Pink Bear Rating:
⭐ Park: 10/10
⭐ Jet Boat: 10/10, if you want to get wet, but she sat this one out
⭐ Helicopter: 10/10, but no bears are allowed in the helicopter
⭐ Activity: Medium
After a long day of activity, we headed across the border back to Argentina. We reminisced about the day filled with wonder. The beauty of the falls, the excitement of the jet boat and the panoramic view from the helicopter. When we returned to the hotel, we bid Vanessa farewell and thanked her for a magnificent time. We relaxed by the pool, listened to the sounds of the rainforest, and then retired to our room to pack for trip back to Buenos Aires.
Stay tuned for more adventure as we join the Viking Expedition team to head to Patagonia!
Comparison of Argentina vs Brazil:
| Category | Argentina | Brazil |
| Best Close-Up Views | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Best Panoramic Views | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Walking Trails | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Time Needed | Full Day | Half to Full Day |
| Devil’s Throat | Above | Head-On |
| Overall Experience | More immersive | More dramatic |
Conclusion: If you only have one day, choose the Argentine side. If possible, visit both because they complement each other perfectly.
To read all about our exciting South American adventure: