The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)
Don’t miss out on visiting Iguazu Falls. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular places to visit in South America, if not the world.
Having visited both sides of the falls myself, I will explain everything you need to know about the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls here. I’ll let you know how to get there, how much it costs, how to get around the park, what the best spots are within the national park (the Devil’s Throat) and what wildlife you can see. Plus opening hours, the best time to visit, food and drink, medical facilities, ATMs and more. Check out each section below for all of this information.
What Are The Iguazu Falls?
The Iguazu Falls are the world’s biggest waterfall system. They stretch across the Iguazu River and are split between two countries: Argentina and Brazil.
There are 275 waterfalls that make up Iguazu with around 80% of those in Argentina and 20% in Brazil.
Iguazu Falls were chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature which were decided by over 500 million votes. So they’re kinda popular. They join the likes of Indonesia’s Komodo Island, the Amazon Rainforest, and Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay in this list. Not bad company to keep really.
There are 7 circuits at Iguazu Falls, of which 6 are on the Argentina side and only 1 on the Brazil side.
US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even exclaimed “my poor Niagara!” upon seeing this astonishing sight back in 1944, a reference to the impressive waterfalls in her own country. Quite what she was doing going sightseeing in South America at the height of WWII is something I’d love to know.
The falls are one of the main attractions for tourists coming to Argentina. Even more so than beautiful La Boca in Buenos Aires, or the spectacular German-style village Villa General Belgrano.
I will provide all the information that you need to know before visiting Argentinian Iguazu below, regardless of whether you’re coming for a one day trip, or spending several days enjoying the national parks that make up this border region.
Where Are Iguazu Falls? (Argentina Side)
Iguazu Falls are split between Argentina (near the town of Puerto Iguazu) and Brazil (near Foz do Iguacu) and also a short drive from Paraguay. Since we are talking specifically about the Argentinian side of Iguazu here, I will give you the details for that:
- A 26-minute drive from Puerto Iguazu Bus Terminal
- A 26-minute drive from the Brazilian border
- A 54-minute drive from the Paraguay border (via Brazil)
The Brazil border in particular is very used to tourists crossing. Therefore crossing is quick and easy. You can get through in about ten minutes on a bus where you will be mostly alongside locals (and possibly a handful of tourists). Argentina does not stamp passports, they will simply scan your passport and let you through.
If you are coming from Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, I would estimate your journey to take around 1.5 hours with border crossings taken into account and average traffic on the roads.
The bottom line is that the falls are very accessible from anywhere along the Triple Frontier (Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay) border.
What Are The Iguazu Falls Opening Hours?
Iguazu Falls (Argentina side) are open every single day of the year from 8am-6pm. This includes on national holidays.
You can enter the park at any time from 8am-4:30pm. Any arrivals later than this will not be entertained.
How Much Is The Iguazu Falls Entrance Fee?
Now this question is a lot harder to answer than you may think. The Argentine economy has been unstable for a while, but inflation is skyrocketing out of control as of March 2024 and prices practically doubled overnight following the removal of price controls across the country by new president Javier Milei.
During my visit to Argentina in September 2022, there was a “Blue Dollar” exchange rate. This was an unofficial exchange rate available through black markets across the country where you would receive around double your money if you exchanged US dollars for Argentine pesos. As a result, visiting Argentina was incredibly cheap. Great news if you were looking for world class steak on a budget.
Now the Blue Dollar still exists, but the rates have become a lot less favourable since the removal of price controls. Where the Blue Dollar would mean a 100% increase on your money compared to the official rate in late 2022, it now only provides you with a 25% increase as of March 2024. And due to the volatility of the economy right now, that rate could be completely different within weeks or even days. Check out the Blue Dollar website for the most up-to-date rates.
So let’s get back to the main question. How much is the Iguazu Falls entrance fee for the Argentina side? You should check the official Iguazu Argentina ticketing website for the latest prices. However, as of March 2024 it costs 20,000 pesos for adults (aged 17+) and 10,000 pesos for children (aged 6-17) whereas it is free for disabled people or anyone accompanying those with disabilities. These are the prices for foreigners, with Mercosur residents and locals able to purchase heavily discounted tickets saving as much as 90% compared to the foreign price.
Here are the Iguazu Falls (Argentina side) entrance fees per person for foreigners in March 2024 in full:
| Category | Entry fee | Cost in US$/£ (Official rate) | Cost in US$/£ (Blue Dollar rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults (Aged 17+) | 20,000 pesos | $24.37/£19.27 | $19.41/£15.36 |
| Children (Aged 6-17) | 10,000 pesos | $12.19/£9.64 | $9.71/£7.68 |
| Young children (Aged 0-5) | Free | Free | Free |
| Disabled people and people accompanying them | Free | Free | Free |
Now I cannot state clearly enough that these costs may be subject to rapid and drastic changes. Keep an eye on both the Blue Dollar website and the Iguazu ticketing website (for Argentina) for the most up-to-date information.
How Do You Get To Iguazu Falls? (Argentina Side)
By Air
Both sides of the falls are covered by local airports. The airport in Puerto Iguazu – Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport (IGR) hosts flights from a few destinations in Argentina and is just a 15-minute drive from Iguazu Falls.
Despite the name “international airport”, all flights to Iguazu are from Argentina. Flights arrive regularly from a handful of locations in the country’s north, namely: Buenos Aires, Rosario, Salta, Tucuman, Jujuy and Cordoba. A one-way flight to or from any of these destinations costs from £20-60 (US$25-76).
Despite being on the Brazil side, Foz do Iguacu International Airport (IGU) is slightly better connected and by far the best option if flying from Brazil. IGU is only a 41-minute drive from Argentinian Iguazu Falls (around twice the distance of the Brazilian falls). Factor in the border crossing and it should take just under an hour to make it to the entrance.
IGU offers flights to and from one international destination: Santiago in Chile. Flights from here generally take 3 hours and 9 minutes. Most of IGU’s connections however are in Brazil. All major spots such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre and from June 2024, Belo Horizonte are covered. As are some other places including Curitiba and Cuiaba. You’re looking at around £40-90 (US$50-114) for a one-way flight to or from another part of Brazil. Obviously the figure within this price range varies depending on which city you fly to/from and when you go. The Santiago-IGU flights generally start around the £62 (US$79) mark. Check out any flight website for accurate up-to-date pricing and routes.
By Bus
You can get to Puerto Iguazu Bus Terminal (Terminal de Omnibus) from 26 cities across Argentina. The most popular routes are from Cordoba and Buenos Aires. These are also the two routes I followed (from Cordoba to Iguazu and Iguazu to Buenos Aires) and the buses were relatively comfortable, even if the journeys were long.
It takes around 21.5 hours to travel between Cordoba and Puerto Iguazu, and 18.5-20 hours to travel between Puerto Iguazu and Buenos Aires.
Buses between Cordoba and Puerto Iguazu cost around £79/US$100. You can save around a fifth of the price using the Blue Dollar. However, as with anything in Argentina right now, prices may change drastically at short notice. Buses between Puerto Iguazu and Buenos Aires cost from £60/US$76 as things stand at the time of writing.
Other destinations include Rosario, Resistencia, Posadas and Puerto Rico (the city within Argentina’s Misiones Province, not the US Caribbean territory).
Map of Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)
Here is a map of Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side. It displays all the circuits and facilities within the park. I will be breaking many of these spots down further later on in this post.
What Can You Do At Iguazu Falls?
As previously mentioned, there are 6 circuits on the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls. You can also visit San Martin Island in the middle of the Iguazu River. On top of this, there are other activities such as the Full Moon Walk and the Gran Aventura Boat Tour. Let’s have a look at what each trail and the island have to offer. And these extra activities you can do.
Circuits At Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)
Circuito Superior (Upper Circuit)
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Distance: 1.2km (0.75 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
If you want to see purely waterfalls, the Upper Circuit is one of the best routes to do this. There are many viewpoints along the route, each with different names. Here are the best places to stop and sights to see on this route:
- Bella Vista: Meaning “beautiful view” in English, this spot absolutely lives up to its name. You can see great views of the falls and Iguazu River below
- Dos Hermanas: “Two sisters” in English, they get their name for being two waterfalls looking similar in appearance
- Alvar Nuñez: Named after Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca who attempted to spread Spanish influence into parts of the modern-day USA in the 1500s, this waterfall offers great views over the river with a lot of mist ascending as the water crashes over the cliff
- Mbigua: Another stunning view of the water crashing down over the rocks
- Salto Bossetti: You can get close-up views of the falls from this little viewpoint
- Bernabe Mendez: Another one named after a local celebrity, Mendez was killed in 1968 protecting the falls from poachers, as a nearby plaque says. The spot named in his honour offers great views of the river and the rainforest alike
- Dos Mosqueteros: The “two musketeers” is a smaller spot where you can see a couple of Iguazu’s more minor waterfalls
- Tres Mosqueteros: Tres means “three” in Spanish. Which means if Dos Mosqueteros is a duo of waterfalls, then Tres Mosqueteros must be… you guessed it. See three falls go down into the river from here
- Rivadavia Waterfall: Another smaller waterfall surrounded by rainforest
- Chica Waterfall: Another small one with great views of the surrounding rainforest. Can be a lot more powerful during the rainy season
- Ramirez Waterfall: Similar to the Chica Waterfall really. This one is also smaller than some of the others towards the top of this list
- Adan y Eva Falls: Two neighbouring falls named after Adam and Eve. If you come across a snake here. perhaps don’t take its advice on what to eat
This circuit is the best to see a combination of many falls, and the surrounding rainforest. You may even see some of the many animals which make Iguazu their home. More on that later on.
Circuito Inferior (Lower Circuit)
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Distance: 1.7km (1.1 miles)
Difficulty: Medium-High
The Lower Circuit combines some of the Upper Circuit’s falls with some of Iguazu’s main attractions.
Around 20% of this circuit covers some parts you already would have seen from the Upper Circuit. Namely, the Chico and Dos Hermanas waterfalls. You will also be able to get much closer to the Alvar Nuñez fall here, making the Lower Circuit the best viewing point for this particular spot.
The Lower Circuit also gives you sights of two of the most impressive parts of the Iguazu National Park.
Firstly, you can see Isla San Martin (San Martin Island), I’ve written about that in its own dedicated section below, so read on to find out more!
You can also catch a glimpse of the mighty Devil’s Throat here. During times when the Devil’s Throat Circuit is closed, this circuit is just about the best place to see it. The Lower Circuit is also heavy on rainforest scenery and wildlife.
Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat)
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Distance: 2.2km (1.4 miles) for a round trip
Difficulty: Easy
The big one. The highlight of Iguazu and the main attraction either side of the border. Unfortunately, it is also the most vicious section of the falls and has a tendency to destroy the walkways when the weather is bad. This can put the Devil’s Throat Circuit out of action for months. We visited during a terribly wet day and got absolutely soaked here, just days before the throat’s wrath obliterated the walkways.
You walk along a lengthy walkway to reach the viewing platform, where you will hear little over the crashing roar of the falls. I’m afraid you’ll struggle to hear your travel buddies at this point. The falls themselves are impressive as the falls cause a mighty cascade resulting in mist ascending, almost to the point where it obscures your view. In all fairness, we probably saw the Devil’s Throat at its worst, and you may be able to see more on a sunnier day, but this spot lived up to its name in our eyes.
Sendero Macuco (Macuco Trail)
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Distance: 4km (2.5 miles)
Difficulty: Medium-High
This lengthy trail at Iguazu is also arguably the best for wildlife, and not so much for seeing the falls themselves. Although the trail does end at the Arrechea waterfall, where you can go for a dip underneath this thin 30m fall.
You can see many colourful birds and butterflies on this trail as well as monkeys and perhaps some rarer creatures if you’re lucky.
Apparently in 1991, a child was eaten by a jaguar along this trail. Yikes.
Now don’t be scared. Jaguars are very elusive, and tend to avoid humans. The chances of one coming near you are incredibly rare, let alone engaging with you.
But to see some cool creatures, this is the place to be.
Sendero Verde (Green Trail)
Time needed: 30-45 minutes
Distance: 1.4km (0.9 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
The shortest and easiest trail in the national park. This one takes you from the entrance and the first of three train stations (Estacion Central) to the second station (Estacion Cataratas), which is also the start point for the Upper Trail.
You won’t see a drop of water on this trail, but you may well see an abundance of wildlife. Coatis can be found roaming around the Green Trail.
Sendero Yacaratia (Yacaratia Trail)
Time needed: 2.5 hours for a round trip
Distance: 10km (6.2 miles)
Difficulty: Medium
The longest trail in the park. You can either hike this one, or take a safari jeep to the shore. From the shore you can take a boat ride towards the Lower Circuit, Isla San Martin and even the Devil’s Throat (although still from a bit of a distance, it’s dangerous to get too close to the devil).
Another wildlife-rich route, this one is home to snakes, monkeys, birds and so much more. Take the jeep tour if you’re short on time. But hike if you fancy a challenge or wish to have the best up-close-and-personal experiences with the local wildlife.
Isla San Martin (San Martin Island)
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Distance: 2km (1.2 miles)
Difficulty: Medium
This tiny little island in the middle of the Iguazu River is a place with spectacular views of many surrounding waterfalls, and you can even catch a glimpse of the Devil’s Throat from here.
It gets very wet on the island, so prepare for this accordingly and keep your electronics protected.
The island is famous for its vulture population, although toucans and parrots can also be found here. Coatis and capybaras may also be spotted, as well as a wide range of insects.
The island is accessible only by boat.
Full Moon Walk
Time needed: 2.5 hours
Distance: 1.2km (0.75 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
For 5 nights a month, it is possible to visit Iguazu Falls at night with the jungles and pathways lit only by the light of a full moon. This event is known as Paseo a la Luz de la Luna, and you can see when this tour is generally available, with a full moon calendar displayed on the Argentina Iguazu website.
The usual route is effectively the Garganta del Diablo Trail, although it includes train rides to and from Estacion Central at the entrance. If you’re interested in Iguazu Falls tours, then this is one of the most unique you can do.
However, as of March 2024, the Upper Circuit route is used instead due to the Devil’s Throat closure. This is up-to-date information I received directly from the park itself that does not seem to be elsewhere online at the time of writing.
On the 5 available nights, there are 3 time slots you can choose from to visit the park: 7:45pm, 8:30pm and 9:25pm. Tickets cost 60,000 pesos for adults, 30,000 pesos for children (aged 6-12) and are free for children under 6.
These are the Iguazu Falls (Argentina side) Full Moon Walk fees for foreigners in March 2024 in full:
| Category | Entry fee | Cost in US$/£ (Official rate) | Cost in US$/£ (Blue Dollar rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults (Aged 13+) | 60,000 pesos | $73.11/£57.81 | $58.23/£46.08 |
| Children (Aged 6-12) | 30,000 pesos | $36.57/£28.92 | $29.13/£23.04 |
| Young children (Aged 0-5) | Free | Free | Free |
As mentioned previously, the Argentine economy is a bit wild right now, and these prices can change a lot at little or no notice. So keep an eye on the Full Moon Walk ticket portal for the latest prices.
Gran Aventura Boat Ride
To take a boat ride down the Iguazu River, you must take a tour with one of the two companies running trips.
On the Brazilian side, Macuco arrange everything, whilst on the Argentinian side, Iguazu Jungle are the company to contact. Any other companies generally charge more as they have to go through these two organisations anyway to sort everything out.
Tours run daily in all weathers, although they can be cancelled at short notice if the conditions aren’t suitable for a ride.
Tours generally include transport to and from your accommodation in either Puerto Iguazu or Foz do Iguacu. They also include a 4×4 ride across the Yacaratia Trail to get to the boat at the far end.
To book tickets, you can go to the Iguazu Jungle website. Tickets are 60,000 pesos (US$73.11/£57.81 officially, or US$58.23/£46.08 with the Blue Dollar Rate as of March 2024) and do not include access to the Iguazu Falls national park.
Please note: pregnant women and people with heart conditions are not able to do the Gran Aventura Boat Ride.
Other Facilities at Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)
Train Stations
There is a free train within the park that covers three stations, going back and forth between each of them throughout the day:
- Estacion Central: The first station is right by the entrance, which is also the start point for three circuits (the Yacaratia, Green and Macuco trails)
- Estacion Cataratas: The second station is at the end of the Green Trail. It is the start point for the Upper Circuit. It is also the best stop to get off at for the Lower Circuit which is just a 5-minute walk from the station
- Estacion Garganta: “Throat Station” in English. The final stop on the train is where you begin the circuit to see the Devil’s Throat. This is the only station near this part of the falls
Toilets
There are 7 sets of toilets at Iguazu Falls (Argentina side). Here are the locations:
- Near the entrance (x3)
- Estacion Central (start point for the Yacaratia, Green and Macuco trails)
- Estacion Cataratas (start point for the Upper Circuit and 5 minutes walking distance from the start of the Lower Circuit)
- Fast Food Dos Hermanas (start point of the Lower Circuit)
- Estacion Garganta (start point for the Devil’s Throat trail)
Food And Drink
Food and drink options at Iguazu become less and less as you get deeper into the park. You can easily find food at the entrance. Restaurante La Selva is the best spot for a sit down meal. It it best known for buffet-style lunches.
Just around the corner from Estacion Cataratas in the middle of the national park is Restaurante El Fortin where you can also tuck into Argentina’s famous steak. For something lighter, you can walk a couple of minutes away to find Fast Food Dos Hermanas at the entrance to the Lower Circuit.
Beyond this, you will need to bring your own snacks as food stops are scarce beyond this point. You won’t find any on the trails themselves. And be sure to take all your rubbish with you, until you’re able to find a bin. Even then, coatis are known to raid the rubbish bins, so you’re probably better off taking your rubbish back to your accommodation.
Medical Facilities
If you need medical care at the falls, you can find first aid spots at the three train stations.
Money
If you need to get money out, there is an ATM at the entrance to the park.
However, credit and debit card payments are now accepted for the entrance fee to the park. Boat tours, shops and restaurants also all take card payments nowadays.
How Many Days Do You Need To See Iguazu Falls?
As a bare minimum, I would recommend 2 days (one to visit the Brazilian side and 1 for the Argentinian side). This will cover pretty much all of the main highlights.
However, doing the entire Argentina side is fairly ambitious in a single day. Therefore I would say 3 days (2 for the Argentina side) will be enough to see everything. Either way, this should be an essential stop on your Argentina itinerary.
Where To Stay In Iguazu?
You really have three options. Staying in Foz do Iguacu on the Brazil side of the border, Puerto Iguazu on the Argentina side, or in the park itself.
It should take just under 30 minutes to get to the falls from Puerto Iguazu, and around 30-60 minutes to arrive from Foz do Iguacu, however if you wish to stay in the park itself, your option is as follows:
The Gran Melia Iguazu Hotel, which used to be called Hotel Sheraton. From US$624 (£493) per night, this hotel is located right by the start of the Lower Circuit, in the middle of the national park and provides a luxury experience for anyone with a hefty budget. Sorry budget backpackers, but we’ll have to settle for a more modest spot in one of the local towns.
The Gran Melia has views of the falls themselves, whilst also providing its own wide range of facilities. Namely a gym, spa, sauna, tennis court and indoor and outdoor pools. It even has several monkeys hanging around outside! There are also 3 restaurants and 4 bars on site. It also has a massive buffet breakfast with continental, American and Italian options, and much more.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Iguazu Falls?
The best time to visit Iguazu Falls is from July-August or March-April because these are the shoulder seasons with the best weather and crowds are still relatively low. In fact July-August may just be the better of the two periods, just in case the Devil’s Throat is closed in March off the back of another brutal rainy season.
For the best weather alone, May-June are the best months to visit Iguazu. However this is peak season and you can expect heavy crowds.
I speak from experience when I say to try and avoid the rainy season (September-February). When the rain comes down here, it comes down hard. It also means you won’t be able to take such brilliant pictures with the gloomy skies and mist from the falls obscuring your view. These months are also the most hot and humid, which is another factor to take into account. Plus the Devil’s Throat has a recent history of shutting down nearby walkways for several months due to its ferocious nature. Therefore you may miss out on the park’s highlight by visiting during or just after the wet season.
On the flipside, the falls are at their most powerful during the rainy season, therefore some may argue September-February are actually good months to visit if this is the main thing your wish to see. From personal experience however, I’d say the cons outweigh the pros of visiting during this period.
What Wildlife Can You See At Iguazu Falls?
Iguazu is best known for the falls of course, but it also happens to be home to abundance of wildlife which make this rainforest environment home.
Over 2,000 species of plants, 400 birds and 80 different mammals live here with some a lot more common than others. One of the most common which I saw several of was the coatimundi, or coati for short. This raccoon lookalike packs a vicious bite and you should try and keep your distance where possible. Easier said than done as they seem unphased by humans and will come right up to you on some of the trails.
Many birds here come in bright colours. The best known of these is the toucan which can spotted if you look up high in the trees. Birdwatchers may appreciate many lesser-known birds which can be found across the falls. Whilst vultures are often spotted on Isla San Martin.
And just like in any other Latin American rainforest environment you can encounter monkeys here. It is the black capuchin monkey that makes Iguazu its home. These little primates are not to be confused with similar capuchins such as those common in Costa Rica (which like Argentina, is one of Latin America’s safest countries). The black capuchin resides solely in the north of Argentina and southern Brazil.
You are pretty much guaranteed to see a lot of bugs, mollusks and insects, with countless colourful butterflies easily found here, especially on a sunny day. If the weather isn’t so good, then the snails come out to play. I saw one slithering alongside a railing on one of the walkways.
The rarest creatures in the park are jaguars. These elusive giant cats tend to avoid areas inhabited by humans, perhaps for the best given their lethal nature. If you are incredibly lucky, you may come into contact with a jaguar. But it should be stated that the chances are incredibly low. You may have better luck with winning the lottery.
Visiting Iguazu Falls: Which Side Is Better?
Both sides of Iguazu Falls are great, but I would say the Argentina side is undoubtably better.
Firstly, it has 80% of the waterfalls that make up Iguazu Falls in the first place, whereas Brazil only has 20%.
Secondly, it has 6 different circuits which give you a wide range of options in terms of both waterfall viewings and wildlife routes. You can see a lot of both here, and a lot of the tourist footfall is divided across the different trails, whereas on the Brazilian side everyone follows the same route.
Thirdly, Argentina is home to the jewel in Iguazu’s crown. The Devil’s Throat is an impressive sight to behold and in my opinion, was far more exciting to see than anything the Brazilian side had to offer.
Yes, this guide is focusing on Argentinian Iguazu. However I have been to both sides, enjoyed both sides and would say that overall Argentina is better. Is Brazilian Iguazu worth visiting? Absolutely, I would completely recommend it. I would just say that Argentina happens to have a lot more going for it.
If you are looking for any information on Argentinian Iguazu and you do not see it here, please leave a comment below and I will answer your questions for you. My aim is for this guide to be the best on the internet for all things related to Argentinian Iguazu, therefore please let me know if any further information needs to be added.
