Iguazu Falls is a really impressive attraction bordering both Argentina and Brazil.

We visited both the Argentine and Brazilian sides, and honestly, do both if you can. They’re equally impressive but offer different perspectives, so skipping one would mean missing out.

Argentine Side

Getting There

We flew from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú Airport (IGR), a short 1.5-hour flight. Upon arrival, you have two options for getting into town:

• Taxi: ~25,000 ARS (expensive)

• Four Tourist Travel Bus: 7,500 ARS. You can find their counter inside the airport, buy a ticket for the next van, and they’ll drop you at your hotel. It took around 30 minutes depending on stops.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Alojamiento “Lo de Romy”, and we loved it.

• You get a private apartment with a kitchen

• Super friendly host

• About $30 USD per night

• Perfect for budget travellers who want space and quiet

Getting to the Falls

Entry & Trails

The falls on the Argentine side offers a more close-up view than the Brazilian side.

The entrance fee to Parque Nacional Iguazú is another criminal 45,000 ARS per person (again, don’t rely on online prices, they rise quickly). Once inside, there are three main trails:

1. Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat)

   • Main attraction: massive, roaring waterfall

   • You can walk there or take the free park train (every 30 minutes)

   • Get your train ticket as soon as you enter the park, it fills up fast

   • We recommend going first thing in the morning to beat the crowds

    

2. Upper Circuit (Circuito Superior)

   • Elevated trail for panoramic views of several falls

    

3. Lower Circuit (Circuito Inferior)

   • Takes you closer to the base of the waterfalls and offers more dramatic views

    

All trails are easy to moderate, and it’s very doable in one day. You’ll get wet, so dress accordingly.

Brazilian Side

Crossing the Border from Argentina to Brazil

Since we were heading into Brazil next, we decided to cross the border directly at Iguazú, and it couldn’t have been easier. Even if you’re not continuing to Brazil, you can still cross for a day trip to the Brazilian side of the falls.

• Bus Fare: 6,000 ARS per person (we used Rio Uruguay again, buses leave about every hour)

• Ride Duration: ~15 minutes to the Argentine immigration checkpoint

• Immigration Process:

  • Quick 15-minute stop

  • Same bus waits for you at the Argentine side

  • You’ll get off again at Brazilian immigration, the bus leaves immediately so take all your luggage with you. You can wait to take another bus to the centre after you get stamped (same company, so comes every hour) or take an Uber, which is very cheap in Brazil.

  • Immigration was very fast and hassle-free

  • Total time to cross the border: about 45 minutes

   

Visa Note:

• EU passport holders: No visa needed
• USA, Australia, Canada: You do need a visa (≈$80 for a 10-year one)
• You can apply online, it’s easy and takes about 1–2 weeks

We arrived in Foz do Iguaçu around 8:30 AM.

Phone and Connectivity

Tourist SIM cards are not available in Foz, so be prepared to either:

• Navigate without mobile data, or

• Use an eSIM app. I used Nomad and it worked perfectly across Brazil

Where We Stayed

We booked CLH Suites Foz do Iguaçu for just 1 night since we were heading to Campo Grande the next day.

• Cost: $20 USD

• Room: Basic but clean and comfortable

• Location: Good access to transport (5 mins to local bus station) and restaurants

• City Vibe: Foz is a fairly big city, so food and amenities are easy to find and cheap

Getting to the Falls from Foz

Entry and Trails

• Ticket: 114 BRL per person (card payment accepted)

• Once inside, you’ll board a free park shuttle to access the trails

There are several stops, but here’s what we recommend:

1. Stop 3:

   • Access point for the 1.5 km panoramic viewpoint trail

   • Highly recommended, stunning views from across the canyon

    

2. Stop 4:

   • Go straight to the Devil’s Throat platform

   • Short walk to the most dramatic viewpoint

    

Optional: Get off at the first stop for an 18 km forest walk, only if you have extra time and energy

To return to Foz, just catch the 120 bus again from the same drop-off point.

Wildlife

No matter which side you’re on, wildlife is everywhere. Keep an eye out for:

• Coatis: very common, bold, and curious

• Black capuchin monkeys: especially in forested sections

• Toucans (including aracaris): more common on the Brazilian side

• Agoutis: shy, rabbit-sized rodents

• Butterflies: including the iconic blue morpho

Final Thoughts

Visiting both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguazú Falls gave us two very different, yet equally amazing, perspectives of the falls.

• The Argentine side lets you get up close, with 3 trails to choose from.

• The Brazilian side offers postcard-worthy views of the entire falls and an easygoing experience with more photo opportunities and less walking.

If you have the time and flexibility, we absolutely recommend seeing both sides. The logistics are simple, the wildlife is incredible, and both are equally as beautiful!