The Complete Guide to Iguazu Falls: Argentina & Brazil

With more than 275 falls, the Iguazu Falls are the most majestic of water falls.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the sheer size and scale of these waterfalls is unlike any other on the planet! To put this into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall and nearly three times as wide as Niagara Falls. But here in Iguazu, it’s pure nature and pure magic.

Table of Contents

Igauzu Falls straddles the border of Argentina and Brazil, giving visitors the option of admiring this beauty from either country. The falls are located in the Atlantic Rainforest and are surrounded by two very lush national parks.

In this complete guide to Iguazu Falls, you will have everything you need to know to navigate both the Argentinian & Brazilian sides of the falls and plan out your time in Iguazu perfectly!

First let’s make sure you have everything you need for your trip away-

Tips for Travelling South America

Travel with an eSim: Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travelers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards). More than one million people are already using Airalo’s eSIMs.With eSIMs from Airalo, travelers can download and install a digital data pack for over 200 countries/regions and get connected anywhere in the world as soon as they land.

Compensation for delayed or canceled flights: Since 2013, AirHelp has helped more than 10 million passengers understand their rights and receive up to €600 in compensation for delayed or canceled flights.

Book the cheapest Hotels: Hotellook — a service that helps you find and compare prices on hotels around the world, provided by a leading reservation system. Today, Hotellook.com offered to put together information on more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Car Rental: Rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service. They make eight million bookings a year (and counting) in over 60,000 locations across 160 countries. Rentalcars.com offers 24/7 customer service, connect you to the biggest brands in car rental and their website is available in 43 languages.

Trip Advisor: Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than one billion reviews and opinions of nearly eight million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby.

Find the cheapest flights: WayAway is a flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. Users can also purchase the WayAway Plus membership plan, which gives cashback on flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, and more.

ARGENTINA VS. BRAZIL?

If you have the time- visit both sides! You need 2 full days to visit both sides and it’s super easy- I did it! Each side offers a different and unique perspective to each other. If you only have time for one though, use this guide to Iguazu Falls to help you decide which views interest you most and choose accordingly.

CATARATAS DEL IGUAZÚ IN ARGENTINA

Cataratas del Iguazú (in Spanish) is located in Argentina and contains two-thirds of the falls! This side of the falls allows you to get up close and personal with the waterfalls! One of my favourite moments here was the boat ride that was included in my ticket. (Note: I booked my trip to South America with G Adventures.)
You should allocate one full day here to see the three different parts of the park: the Upper Trail, Lower Trail and Garganta del Diablo (aka “Devil’s Throat”). We easily spent 6-7 hours here exploring the falls by following the walking trails and stopping for photos.

–

FOZ DO IGUAÇU IN BRAZIL

Foz do Iguaçu (in Portuguese) is located in Brazil and features a breathtaking panoramic view of the falls! This side of the falls can be done in as little as a few hours. We only spent about 4 hours here and ended up seeing everything we wanted to! The Brazilian side is structured as one long trail along the river that takes you to along the boardwalk over the top of the Devil’s Throat. What I loved about this side was the numerous rainbows we spotted!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT IGUAZU FALLS

VISA REQUIREMENTS

With a passport from Australia, a Visa is not required for Argentina or Brazil with an allowed stay of up to 90 days.

HOW TO GET TO IGUAZU FALLS

My trip with G Adventures covered all things like accomodation and travel with getting to and from the Falls- all with our own guide! Check out their website for their tailored trips around South America.

–

ADMISSION TICKETS

Admission tickets are included when you book your trip with G Adventures. However, if you choose to travel outside of a tour then you must purchase tickets separately for each national park when visiting both sides of the falls. Tickets were available at both entrances – you do not have to purchase them ahead of time.

WHAT TO PACK

Insect repellent – Since Iguazu is located in a rainforest, you are sure to encounter some bugs. Make sure to apply some kind of insect repellant when out and about.
Comfortable shoes – There are several trails within the parks, so make sure to bring a pair of comfortable (and/or closed-toed shoes) to keep your feet protected!
Water – To stay hydrated! You can also purchase some inside the park if needed.
Snacks – The food inside the park leaves much to be desired, so bring along something to munch on.
Raincoat / Poncho – There are times where the mist from the falls is SO intense you’ll get soaked! There are some vendors that sell ponchos on the Brazilian side, but save yourself the trouble and money, and bring one along!
Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses – The sun can be quite strong, especially in the afternoons, so make sure you apply and re-apply sunscreen and protect your eyes as needed!
Camera – You are going to witness some amazing landscape views and stunning cascading falls. Bring a camera along to capture the memories. And if you’re a photo enthusiast, a wide angle / zoom lens or full frame camera will allow you to capture even more!

See my Packing List guide for more tips and get a FREE downloadable PDF when you subscribe!

* This post includes affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me keep this site going!*

Like this Post? Save it on Pinterest!