Both sides of the falls, the Devil’s Throat and a boat ride beneath the water, between Buenos Aires and Rio
Iguazú Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil, is one of the great natural wonders of the world: some 275 waterfalls spread across almost three kilometres of subtropical rainforest, with the thundering Devil’s Throat at their heart. The falls are shared by two national parks, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and each side offers a different experience.
We include Iguazú in our journeys through Argentina and Brazil, usually between Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. You arrive by plane at Puerto Iguazú or Foz do Iguaçu, spend a full day on the Argentine side with the Gran Aventura boat ride, and half a day on the Brazilian side, with transfers, local guides and the park entrances arranged.
Both. The Argentine side takes you among the falls; the Brazilian side shows you the whole panorama. With two nights you see both:
| Argentine side | Brazilian side | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | You walk among the falls: about two-thirds of them are in Argentina | The great panorama of the whole system, facing the falls |
| Highlights | The 1,200-metre walkway to the Devil’s Throat, the Upper and Lower circuits and the jungle train | A trail of about a kilometre with viewpoints, ending on a walkway at the foot of the Devil’s Throat |
| Time needed | A full day | Half a day |
| Boat trip | The Gran Aventura: a 4x4 drive through the jungle and a boat ride beneath the falls | Boat trips from the Brazilian side |
| National park | Iguazú National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 | Iguaçu National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 |
| Base town | Puerto Iguazú, small and close to the park | Foz do Iguaçu, a larger city with more flights |
| Time | Plan | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| One day | The Argentine side only: the Devil’s Throat and the two circuits | Very short trips |
| Two nights | Arrival; a full day on the Argentine side with the Gran Aventura boat ride; half a day on the Brazilian side before flying on. This is the plan of our journeys. | Seeing both sides without rushing |
| Three nights | Add the Parque das Aves bird sanctuary, the Itaipu Dam or an evening show with Brazilian barbecue | Families and slower travel |
The falls can be visited all year. The subtropical climate is hot and humid in summer and mild in winter, and the flow changes with the rain upstream:
| Month | High / low | Rain | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33.0 / 19.6 °C | 196 mm | Hot and humid; plenty of water; busy in the Argentine summer holidays |
| February | 32.6 / 20.0 °C | 180 mm | Hot, with afternoon storms |
| March | 31.1 / 18.4 °C | 175 mm | Very good: still warm, fewer visitors |
| April | 28.2 / 15.4 °C | 151 mm | Excellent: pleasant days, green forest |
| May | 25.2 / 12.2 °C | 128 mm | Excellent: mild and quiet |
| June | 23.1 / 10.4 °C | 138 mm | Mild days and cool nights |
| July | 23.7 / 9.7 °C | 84 mm | The driest month; winter holidays in Argentina and Brazil |
| August | 25.3 / 11.3 °C | 107 mm | Dry and mild; the water can be lower |
| September | 26.9 / 13.5 °C | 147 mm | Excellent: spring, warm and fresh |
| October | 28.8 / 15.3 °C | 220 mm | Warm; the rainiest month, with strong flows |
| November | 31.0 / 16.5 °C | 154 mm | Very good: warm before the summer crowds |
| December | 32.6 / 18.6 °C | 189 mm | Hot and humid; busy around Christmas |
Climate averages for Foz do Iguaçu, 1961–1990, from INMET, Brazil’s national weather institute. Very heavy rain can occasionally close the walkway to the Devil’s Throat for a few days, and in dry years the flow is lower. See the best time to visit South America for the rest of your route.
| Hotel | Where | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Belmond Hotel das Cataratas | Inside the Brazilian national park, facing the falls | The only hotel inside the park on the Brazilian side: walk the trail when the park is closed to day visitors |
| Gran Meliá Iguazú | Inside the Argentine national park | Rooms with views of the falls, steps from the circuits |
| Loi Suites Iguazú | In the rainforest near Puerto Iguazú | Suites and villas surrounded by the jungle |
| Yvy Hotel de la Selva | Puerto Iguazú | A small hotel in a forest setting |
| Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort | Foz do Iguaçu | A resort with thermal pools and gardens |
Staying inside one of the parks lets you see the falls early in the morning or at sunset, without the crowds.
Iguazú is the natural link between Argentina and Brazil. Our Brazil & Argentina Experience (14 days) flies from Rio to Iguazú and on to Patagonia, and longer journeys such as the Peru, Chile, Argentina & Brazil Icons of the South (26 days) arrive from Buenos Aires and continue to Rio. Read our guides to the Argentine side of Iguazú and Foz do Iguaçu, and our South America itineraries.
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Every Iguazú Falls itinerary can be adapted to your dates and pace. Plan a tailor-made trip →
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Everything you need to know before traveling to Iguazú Falls.
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