Most people traveling to Iguazu stop off in Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires before heading to the falls, either by bus or air. If you don’t want to deal with the airport twice you could also fly straight into Iguazu, although you will still touch down in Buenos Aires or Rio on your way.

There are two airports within five miles of the falls — Foz do Iguaçu Airport (IGU) on the Brazilian side and Cataratas del Iguazú (IGR) on the Argentine side. Keep in mind that even if you start your trip at Iguazú, you will still mostly likely make a stop in Buenos Aires or Rio anyway.

photo: Martin St-Amant

If planning your trip from overseas, Cheapo Air has some good deals to reach Iguazu as does Argentine ticket consolidator, Despegar.

 Air Travel to Iguazú from Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro

The cost to fly to Iguazú from Buenos Aires runs between US$250 and $550 per person. To get the best price available, make sure to book in advance if you are traveling in the high season, which runs from late December until February and Easter week.

For purchasing flights within the country, every local will point you to Despegar.com, since it’s one of the few discount ticket agencies in Argentina that allow you to purchase tickets online. Note that the prices listed on the website are in pesos.

If you are traveling from Brazil, try Despegar’s Brazilian counterpart, Decolar.com.

When purchasing tickets through either, make sure to put in your passport number when it asks you for your DNI (National Identity Card number).
These are the two major airlines that fly to Iguazú:

LAN Airlines

Tel: (in Argentina): (56 2) 687-2400

Aerolíneas Argentinas

Tel: (in Argentina):0810-222-86527

Buses to Puerto Iguazú from Buenos Aires

Most of the buses to Iguazu from Buenos Aires are fairly comparable in price. The trip takes between 16 and 18 hours in total. Long distance buses in Argentine are comfortable with ‘cama‘ or ‘semicama‘ seats that recline way back and meals and movies provided. Via Bariloche is one of the best companies for long-distance travel in Argentina, followed by Andesmar, but if you’re on a budget it may be worth shopping around to save a few bucks.

Most companies allow you to book on the phone with any major credit card — the largest companies will have a staff member that speaks English. You can also go to Retiro Station in Buenos Aires and buy the tickets in person.

Expreso Tigre Iguazú:

Call Center – (011) 4315-7700

Retiro – (001) 4663-889

Puerto Iguazú – (03757) 420-854

Crucero del Norte

Call Center, BsAs – (011) 5258-5000

Retiro – (011) 4315-1652

Misiones – (03752) 482-222

Expreso Singer

Retiro – (011) 4314-3927

Via Bariloche

Call Center, BsAs – (011) 4315-7700

Andesmar

Call Center, BsAs – (011) 6385-3031

Retiro – (011) 4313-3650/4242

Renting a Car

If you are very adventurous you could also rent a car to drive to Iguazú from Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro, but because it’s a long trip, mostly along a two-lane highway, it’s not a very logical option. It makes more sense to fly or take a bus to Iguazu and then rent a car in town. With the town’s small size and all the local buses and taxis, even renting a car isn’t really necessary, unless you plan on taking some side trips.

Just north of the cataracts, on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is the Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric power plant on the planet. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the US Association of Civil Engineers and is an interesting excursion for those who enjoy educational travel. Although they aren’t high in the list for many tourists, there are some gem mines in the area to visit as well. Many tourists opt to stay on the Argentine side of Iguazú rather than on the more urban and crime-laden Foz do Iguaçu. Nevertheless, because of the over-saturation of accommodations in Foz do Iguaçu there are some good deals to be had. The most desirable lodging option is the $US350/night Hotel das Cataratas, a colonial-style four-star hotel located inside the park, which is far more tasteful, although a bit more expensive than the Sheraton on the Argentina side.

Among the top of the line lodgings in Puerto Iguazú there are really only two obvious choices, especially if you’re here for only a night or two— the Sheraton Hotel located in the National Park in Argentina or the Hotel das Cataratas located in the national park on the Brazilian side.

These are the only hotels located in the actual park itself, so they have a corner on the market. Although a Brazilian visa is needed to stay there and it’s more expensive, the Hotel das Cataratas has much more character and style than the Sheraton.

Hotel das Cataratas-$$$$$
Rodovia Br 469 km 32
Parque National de Iguaçu
Tel: (55) 45 2102-7000
Toll Free: 0800 726 4545

Sheraton Resort & Spa Iguazú-$$$$
Parque Nacional Iguazú
Tel: (54) (3757) 491800

• Mid-range Lodgings

Hotel Posada La Sorgente — A nice little Posada that with a friendly staff and a pool, which is essential in the summer. It’s located within walking distance to town and has rooms starting at under AR$4000 (US$100) per night in the low season.
Av Cordoba 454
Tel: +54 (3757) 422756 / 424252
$$-$$$

Hotel Saint George — A 100-room three-star hotel in the center of town with a historic restaurant, nice pool, jacuzzi and attractive rooms starting at $US120/night ($AR460)
Av. Córdoba 148
Downtown Puerto Iguazú
Tel: +54 (3757) 420633
$$$

• Hostels in Puerto Iguazú

Hostel Bambú — Good location, clean, nice atmosphere — a good bet if you can live without a pool.
Av. San Martin 4, 3370
Tel: +54 0357 425864
$-$$

Marcopolo Inn — The more low-key partner to the Hostel Inn, located downtown.
Av. Cordoba 158, 3370
Tel: (54 3757) 425-559
$-$$

The Hostel Inn — Young travelers looking to socialize are fans of this one, the only caveat is the location, which is a bit far from downtown.
Ruta 12 – km 5
Tel: (54 3757) 421-823
$-$$

Stop Hostel — A newer hostel with a nice breakfast spread but somewhat mixed reviews.
Av. Victoria Aguirre 304, 3370
Tel: (54 3757) 15-547-709
$-$$

Read More:

Iguazu:Transportation and Lodging

Getting to Iguazu Falls –Flights and Buses

Getting to and around Puerto Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú is located in the northern part of Misiones, a province in the northeast of Argentina. It is about a 17-hour bus ride from Buenos Aires and costs around $AR440-$AR750 ($US116-$194) for roundtrip ticket. Make sure you request a ‘cama’ or ‘semi-cama’ (seats that recline) — it’s worth the extra expense. The flight takes a much less taxing 1h30min and costs $AR1,050-1,220 ($US 272-315) if booked in advance. There is an international airport in Puerto Iguazú (IGR) that has two incoming and outgoing flights to Buenos Aires every day. Many consider LAN airline the most reliable. The falls are about a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport,. There is also a shuttle service that will also take you to the downtown area, traveling Route 12, along which several hostels are located. The downtown area has a variety of accommodation to choose from, some restaurants and a bus station, although the town of Puerto Iguazú is more of a pit stop than anything else.

There are few taxis around the city center but by far the most useful form of transportation is the bus that goes from the downtown to the falls, making frequent stops along Route 12. From the terminal to the Argentine National Park, the bus costs about five pesos and leaves roughly every 45 minutes. This terminal is also the gateway to omnibuses traveling to and from all parts of Argentina.

Sleeping and Eating in Puerto Iguazú

Even if you’re adverse to chain hotels, you might want to make an exception at the falls. The admittedly ugly Sheraton Hotel is in the Argentina National Park and has a spectacular $US250/night panoramic view of the waterfalls (just make sure you request a room with a view). It also has the usual five-star amenities — a gourmet restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts and is accessible for wheelchair users, but staying here is all about the location, which besides the views, allows visitors to explore the falls at dusk and beat the crowds in the morning. Reservations are recommended, especially in the high season.

There is a supermarket in town for those who want to snack or cook in the kitchen of a hostel. Those who prefer a prepared meal will find plenty of restaurants offering the usual pizzas and steaks in the downtown area. Las Cañitas, La Rueda and La Esquina, located in Hotel Saint George, are some standouts. Aside from the local casino, don’t expect a party in Iguazú, because most people in the town are just passing through.

—by Jenna Frisch

← continued from: Iguazu:The Fury of Nature
→ continue reading:Iguazú: Hotels, Hostels and Buses

The name Río Iguazú (Iguazú River) or ‘Great Waters,’ is the name given by the Guaranis who used to roam its banks. The Upper Iguazú drops over 80 meters at the pinnacle of the cataracts, marked by the largest fall, La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil’s Throat), feeds into the Lower Iguazú, collects in a canyon, and then flows into Argentina’s Paraná River. The falls span over 2.7 kilometers of the river’s edge, forming a semi-circle of 275 individual waterfalls with water rushing down at 1,300 m3 per second.

Here there is a majestic sparkle in the air as if you’ve stepped into the scene of a Disney-made fairytale. The sun dances off the water pouring over the fault’s edge, casting rainbows throughout the air and dusting the vivid greenery with a diamond-like shimmer. There is a sereneness and elegance about Iguazú Falls that causes jaws to drop and heads to shake in disbelief, leaving no questions about why the UNESCO World Heritage site sits high on the list of candidates for the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

Upon arrival, the surreal beauty of the jungle and waterfalls are masked by the imposing Visitor Center structure. The price to get through the magic gates is $AR85 for foreigners, $AR20 for Argentines (or residents with a DNI) and $AR40 for those of Mercosur countries. If planning to return for a second day, make sure to get your tickets stamped by park rangers on the way out because admission on day two is discounted to $AR45 for foreigners.

Several languages can be heard along the trails, a testament to the worldwide reputation of one of Argentina’s top tourist attractions. Get an early start and try to stay ahead of groups of tourists on guided tours who populate the paths. While many do hire tour guides, it is not a necessity and they don’t overwhelm the park. Luckily, there are plenty of courses to walk and passing others is as easy as just picking up pace and scooting by.

Aquatic Tours

Iguazú Jungle provides the aquatic tourism in Argentina’s National Park (Parque Nacional de Iguazú) and offers opportunities to navigate both the upper and lower sections. The Great Adventure Tour ($AR 200-), the most daring and longest offering, includes a tour of the Yacaratiá Trail, introducing you to the subtropical climate that is home to 2,000 species of plants, 450 types of birds, 80 mammals and the countless insects that inhabit the forest. Along this eight km safari ride you may see snakes crossing the trail, capuchin monkeys swinging between trees, huge spiders spinning their webs in the branches and red-breasted toucans perched in the treetops.

The bilingual guide points out the edible trees that line the dirt path and explains how hearts of palm are extracted from the numerous Palmetto trees in the jungle. The 20-minute safari concludes near the water’s edge, where boats wait to traverse the Lower Iguazú River. After a six km cruise showcasing some of the smaller falls, the current picks up and you are thrown into two km of rapids and a close encounter with the mouth of The Devil’s Throat, a drenching beneath the Dos and Tres Mosqueteros, (Musketeer Falls) and San Martín cascades, and a close view of the San Martín Island, a paradise that sits at the heart of the cataracts. The finale leaves passengers soaked yet awed by the feeling of having faced the fury of the falls; the water quells the heat and one cannot resist the urge to gaze upwards to receive a bath by Mother Nature.

Iguazú Jungle tours offers an assortment of aquatic excursions – the Nautical Adventure, which is the same trip as the Great Adventure tour without the safari ride, the Ecological Tour, which traverses the calm waters of the Upper Iguazú, and a variety of packages that combine the different programs.

Walking Trails

Coatis, or Brazilian aardvarks are part of the racoon family

Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground will find plenty of walking trails that provide breathtaking views and the vertigo-inducing sensation of standing on the fault’s edge, where a refreshing mist gives relief from the humidity. Along these walkways are packs of Coatis, or Brazilian aardvarks, that feed on stray berries and pose along the railings for snap-happy tourists.

Groups of butterflies rest their wings all over the trails

The Lower Circuit takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to traverse, hosting 150 meters of stairs, but the face-to-face encounter with five different falls makes up for the effort it takes to arrive. This is a nice circuit to conquer at the end of the day, once the crowds have dispersed — you may feel as though you are discovering the falls for the first time, especially those such as Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters), tucked away in a quiet crevice complementing the peacefulness of the trail at dusk with their synchronized pitter-patter on the pool below. A diverse mix of walkways and jungle paths make it likely to spot several of the different species of birds resting in treetops, including boomerang-like swifts (the park’s official symbol) parakeets and parrots. Iguanas and lizards also scurry across the trails, but perhaps the most inspired picture comes from the swarms of vibrant butterflies that land on the limbs of passers-by.

The Upper Circuit – 1200 meters, can be complete in roughly 35 minutes, and consists of various lookout points at the peak of several cataracts, starting with Bossetti Fall – named after an explorer who ‘rediscovered’ the falls in the late 1800s – and finishing at the Mbiguá Fall. This course boasts some of the most impressive panoramic views that can be enjoyed from the Argentine side and highlights the vast expanse of the Brazilian border.

All trails throughout the Argentina Park are connected by the Rainforest Ecological Train (Tren Ecológico de la Selva), which facilitates access to each part of the park with three different stops along the way. From Central Station, one can either take the train or walk the Green Trail (Sendero Verde, 20 minutes of a ‘canopied’ walkway through the jungle) to Cataratas Station, which marks the beginning of the Upper Circuit. From here, the train travels deep into the forest, explores different branches of the Upper Iguazú and ends at the Devil’s Throat Station, where the Devil’s Throat Circuit begins.

The Devil's Throat, photos by Jenna Frisch

Allow an hour for the popular Devil’s Throat Circuit because unlike the other paths with several vistas, there is only one balcony area to get a good view of the falls.

Once you reach the Devil’s Throat, the railing is the only thing holding you back from certain death, but this unrestricted access liberates the onlooker and makes the crowd disappear into the background. The thunder of the river breaking over the banks here is hypnotic. If the Devil’s Throat Fall is the conductor, the neighboring cascades are the orchestra, keeping perfect rhythm with the main event. Adding to the devilish drama are the swarms of turkey vultures menacingly circling overhead, as if waiting for someone to fall to their demise.

Food in the Park

There are restaurants, which have pizza and other basics, near the entrance of the park, but expect the usual tourist offerings of overpriced, mediocre food. There are also fast food options near Central Station and Devil’s Throat Station, useful for the bathroom facilities and places to sit and relax throughout the day. Packing your own pic-a-nic is a healthier and cheaper option. The ultimate dining experience in the park is the once-a-month full moon tour to the Devil’s Throat, which provides a chance for visitors to see the daytime shimmer replaced with serene silver and blues of the falls at night.

Puerto Iguazú and Other Local Attractions

In addition to being home to Iguazú Falls, Puerto Iguazú hosts the area of Hito Tres Fronteras (Three Borders Milestones), which is the point where the limits of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil come together. Still, with so much magnificence in close proximity you only really need a day or two to have the full experience.

→ Cont. Getting there and Lodging