What you should know about Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is the widest waterfall in the world and a must visit in South America! It stretches between Argentina and Brazil with 275 cascading drops and was founded as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2011.

The falls can be accessed by either Argentina or Brazil , each side offering a unique experience. We visited Buenos Aires so we flew to the Argentinian side of Iguazu. It is like no other waterfall because of it’s tremendous size and power that you truly feel when you're near it. If you thought Niagara falls was impressive, Iguazu is twice as tall and three times as wide. 

Which Side Should You Visit?

Both sides have a lot to offer, but have different perspectives. The Argentinian side is not as large in land size as the Brazilian side, but has a lot more trails to offer for tourists. The Argentinian side also has two-thirds of the waterfalls.

There are six different trails to visit on the Argentinian side: Superior circuit, Lower circuit, Devil’s throat, Macuco Trail, Rainforest Ecological Train, and Green Trail. The Brazilian side has a constant view of the waterfall as you go down the trail. 

Argentina

These are all the trails the Argentinian side has to offer:

• Superior Circuit: This view is a panoramic view of the top of the waterfalls. You will be able to see the waterfalls below from the upper walkway. It is about two hours to walk this and 1750 meters. Difficulty=easy.

• Lower Circuit: This view brings you through the jungle so you can explore the natural rainforest habitat while walking towards the falls. It is about a 2 hour walk, but medium-high difficulty because of stairs and steep walkways. 

• Devil’s Throat: This is one of the MOST popular spots in Iguazu falls. The Devil’s throat allows you to be so close to the actual falls. To get to this spot, you need to take the ecological train and then walk. Difficulty=easy, but long. 

• Macuco Trail: This trail is 4.8 miles (7.7km long roundtrip) in the natural jungle so you get to see a lot of wildlife, like monkeys and birds. At the end of the trail is a small waterfall, Arrechea waterfall. It takes about 3 hours to complete and is only open during these hours: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Difficulty=medium.

• Rainforest Ecological Train: The train is quiet so it doesn’t disturb the animals and is environmentally friendly. There are three stations throughout the park. Make sure you get to the park early and get a train ticket as soon as possible (that is one mistake we made.. We didn’t realize that you needed a timed train ticket).

• Green Trail:  A small 600 m trail that connects the main station to the Cataratas station. It is only a 30 min walk and very easy through the jungle. Very nice and peaceful walk. 

We did the Superior circuit and got to see the view from the top, which was pretty insane. We couldn’t believe just how massive the waterfall was! We also rode the train which was very pleasant. We got to see lots of wildlife everywhere we went, which I love! 

Ticket Price: $15 (800 ARS). https://iguazuargentina.com/en/parque-nacional-iguazu

Hours: 8AM-6PM (Last entrance to park is 4:30 PM)

Brazil

Even though the Brazilian side is three times larger in the amount of land it covers, it only has ONE circuit trail. The 1500 m trail takes about two hours. There is a bus that brings you to three different stops: the safari, the entrance to the falls, and the end of the falls. If you don’t want to walk, go to the last stop and take the elevator to get to the falls. This circuit is not difficult. 

Ticket Price: $18 (72R$)

Hours: 9AM- 6PM (Last entrance to park is 4:30 PM)

Things to Know

• It is really hard to get a picture at the falls because there are SO many tourists and the mist from the waterfall soaks all of your equipment. Be prepared for this! 

• No drones are allowed at the falls unless you obtain a special permit. Honestly it seems really risky to even fly a drone in the areas of the falls we visited. 

• Make sure you get your train ticket (on the Argentinian side) as soon as you enter the park! This is critical because you could be waiting longer than you’d like just to get on the train.

• A day trip doesn’t feel long enough because there is SO much to see. However, if all you have is a day.. It is worth it ! 

• For the Brazil side, you need a visitor’s visa. 

• Pack snacks, water, sunblock, and insect repellent. If you have snacks on you, make sure they are sealed and away in a bag. Otherwise, animals will try to grab them from you. 

• Bring a rain jacket! We thought we would get misted, NOT soaked! The mist was so powerful and the falls are so big.. You get soaked!