How to Plan Your Best Trip from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls

Day trip or 2-day trip—which is best?

By Edd and Cynthia Staton

July 28, 2023

We visited Iguazú Falls for Edd’s birthday and it was an unforgettable memory. The extensive research and planning we did beforehand resulted in a flawless excursion.

With that knowledge plus our first hand experience, in this post we will help you design the best trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Iguazú Falls based on your time and budget.

Quick question: Do you find it annoying when, say, you want to make potato salad and you have to scroll down a web page through the history of potatoes and a bunch of other stuff to actually get to the recipe?

Same here, so we’re not gonna do that to you. First, we will answer your question of which is best—a day trip or 2-day trip from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls. We have lots of “insider tips” for you as well.

Then, once you’ve decided on the length of your stay, we have included all the info you need to have an epic adventure!

Sound good? Let’s go.

Day trip or 2-day trip—which is best? Let’s examine the pros and cons of each option.

Day Trip

Make no mistake—trying to do Iguazú Falls in one day will be a beatdown. You’ll leave your hotel or Airbnb before sunrise to go to Jorge Newberry airport in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires.

After flying two hours, you’ll take a taxi if this is a DIY trip or join your tour group and head straight to the national park entrance on the Argentina side of the falls.

(Brazil is not a realistic option because of unpredictable traffic volume both ways going through Immigration between the two countries.)

The Argentina park has two walking circuits to view the falls from above and below. There is also a jungle hiking trail, a free ferry to an island facing the falls, a train that takes you to the massive waterfall called Devil’s Throat, and the possibility of riding a boat right up to the falls!

The Upper Circuit is flat and only a half mile long. Catwalks take you out to the top of numerous falls for very impressive views. You will be able to complete this one in about an hour.

Plan on several hours to do the Lower Circuit. It’s longer and has lots of stairs to go up and down. Here is where you sign up for the boat ride to the falls and take the ferry to San Martin Island.

If you’re up to it, while you are on the island there is an arduous 2-hour round trip climb to a geologic formation called “The Window” for a breathtaking view of Devil’s Throat and the Brazilian side of the falls.

Save the train ride to Devil’s Throat for the end, because it will definitely be the highlight of your day. Once you leave the train station you’ll travel on wooden walkways for what seems like forever (to the viewing platform and back is 1.5 miles, but it’s so worth it).

When you are near the end the anticipation builds as the roar of the falls gets louder and louder.

Then there it is—the sights and sounds of nature’s fury right before your eyes. We guarantee you will be mesmerized.

After you have crammed in as many of those previously mentioned options as time allows, you’ll hustle back to the airport exhausted and maybe soaking wet (people were changing clothes in the airport bathroom) to return late in the evening to Buenos Aires.

We don’t recommend this way of visiting Iguazú Falls because:

• It’s simply too much to try to do in a single day.

• In our opinion, the overwhelming majesty of Iguazú Falls deserves the time and respect to experience it properly. This isn’t a take-a-selfie-and-move-on kind of place.

That being said, if this is likely your only trip to Argentina, and your schedule dictates a choice between doing a day trip to Iguazú or not going at all, we say go for it. This is a classic case of “something is better than nothing,” and Iguazú Falls is simply too important to miss.

Unless you are a super-seasoned traveler, trying to pull off a day trip to Iguazú Falls on your own is not the best idea. There are too many variables, time will obviously not be on your side, and any hiccup can throw the entire schedule into a tailspin and ruin your trip.

Best leave the planning to experts who do this every day. This tour takes care of everything except meals—transfers to and from the airports, airfare, admission to the park, and a bilingual guide.

2-Day Trip

A 2-day trip to Iguazú Falls allows you to see the falls from both the Argentina and Brazil sides, which we absolutely recommend doing. You might be wondering, “Why? It’s the same waterfalls. What difference does it make?”

This is one of those things that you really have to experience to understand, but we will try to explain.

The Brazil side has only one path that you can easily cover in half a day. What’s fabulous is you constantly enjoy remarkable panoramic views of the falls, so you can fully appreciate their massiveness. And get tons of incredible Instaworthy photos.

At the end of the path is a walkway that takes you out to the base of Devil’s Throat. There are seriously no words to describe the power of all that water rushing past you.

We summarized the Argentina side in the “Day Trip” description above. In this park you can easily spend an entire day because, while the views are terrific, they are sporadic and you’ll be doing a lot of walking through the subtropical rainforest between them.

So the two sides offer very different “flavors” of Iguazú Falls. And because you are there for two days, you get to go to both. Good for you!

Day 1

We suggest you visit the Brazil side on Day One for two reasons:

1.  You will be arriving from Buenos Aires that morning. Since visiting this side doesn’t take as long, you will still have plenty of time to take it all in.

2.  The views in Brazil are so stunning it’s almost impossible to process what you are seeing. This is the perfect introduction to Iguazú Falls.

What if you arrive too early to check into your hotel or Airbnb? The great news is there are lockers for rent at the entrance to the park to store your luggage. 

Pro tip:  Because of Argentina’s faltering economy, Argentine pesos are basically worthless in Brazil. Perhaps you’ve been taking advantage of blue market exchanges in Buenos Aires and paying for everything with cash. Once you’ve crossed the border it’s time to whip out your credit card.

If you decide to do this, getting from the airport to the Brazil national park, then back to your accommodations in Puerto Iguazú is a bit tricky. The two choices are to take a taxi or hire a private transfer. 

The taxi option presents numerous challenges:

• Taxis are not metered, so you are at the mercy of the driver regarding cost. 
• English is not widely spoken by drivers. If your Spanish is poor (or nonexistent), you can’t even try to negotiate the fare.
• Credit cards are not accepted. Here is where you need those pesos.
• How are you going to get back?

Private transfers are seamless but a bit pricey. A car will pick you up at the airport, use an expedited lane to cross the border (delays can be extreme), hold your bags in the vehicle and wait while you visit the park, then transport you to wherever you are staying in Puerto Iguazú.

Pro tip:  OK, we’re gonna fudge a little bit with this one. We’re talking about a 2-day trip to Iguazú Falls but, honestly, you’re going to enjoy yourself a lot more if you arrive the afternoon before. 

You can check into your hotel or Airbnb, have a nice dinner in town, go to bed early, and start fresh the next day. So, yeah, technically that’s a three day trip, but we’re just sayin’... 

If you agree with this suggestion, the cheapest way to arrive at Iguazú Falls on the Brazil side is by bus. Walk to the downtown terminal in Puerto Iguazú and take whichever bus company fits your schedule, Crucero del Norte or Rio Uruguay. The ride takes between 45 minutes to an hour. No visa is required to cross the border, but don’t forget to bring along your passport!

You can also go by taxi and try to negotiate a round trip fare, but the first two challenges presented above haven’t gone away. A better plan is to ask your hotel or Airbnb host to arrange transportation for you and skip the hassle.

Pro tip:  We used a private driver arranged by our hotel (more on that later) who did a super job. He was always on time and charged a very fair rate. His name is Epi, and he can be reached on WhatsApp at +54 9 3757-437362.

Don’t use WhatsApp? Now is the time to download it and get used to how the app works. Because almost everybody outside of the United States uses WhatsApp to communicate.

Once you have paid your admission fee you will board a train that transports you into the park. There are three stops. If you want to ride a boat that literally takes you next to the falls (multiple times!), get off at the first stop.

Boat rides are offered on both the Brazil and Argentina sides. But since this is your shorter day time-wise and the ride takes two hours, we recommend doing it here with this tour operator.

Another plus of this choice, especially if you have mobility issues, is there are no steps to reach the dock. On the Argentina side you must go down many steps with no handrail.

The train stops next at the beginning of the trail, right in front of Hotel das Cataratas. This is a Belmond property and the only hotel within the park.

Pro tip:  Before you begin walking the trail, go inside the hotel for a quick tour and an exclusive “sneak peek” preview of Iguazú Falls. Take the stairs in the lobby up, up, up to a tower where you get a fabulous view of the falls from a drone-like vantage point. A fantastic start to your adventure!

For the next 2–3 hours you’re going to take so many great photos. When you get to the end of the trail, it’s time for sensory overload as you get up close and personal with Devil’s Throat, the tallest of Iguazú’s hundreds of waterfalls.

The words “amazing” and “awesome” have become so clichéd that we rarely use them. But in this case we’ll make an exception—standing right next to Devil’s Throat is AMAZING and AWESOME!!

Once you are done taking pics and getting soaking wet, you can walk or take an elevator up to stop #3 for your return to the park entrance and transportation to Puerto Iguazú so you can relax and get ready for Day 2.

Day 2

Check out of your hotel (there are lockers for your luggage at the park) and use whatever method you chose to get to the Brazil side of the falls yesterday to arrive at the Argentina national park today. If you have pesos, it’s time to start using them again.

Pro tip:  In November 2022, Argentina’s central bank launched a preferential exchange rate for foreigners using credit cards. As of this writing Visa and Mastercard are participating.

While the rate isn’t quite as attractive as a blue market exchange, it is considerably better than the previous “official” rate. So if you aren’t comfortable participating in the blue market, your credit cards will now have much more purchasing power.

Enjoy Iguazú Falls here by following the guide shown above for a Day Trip to the Argentina side. Then take a taxi to the Puerto Iguazú airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires.

When to visit Iguazú Falls

There’s really no “best time” to visit Iguazú Falls. Better weather—cooler temps, less rain—is July through September. But during that period the falls are at their least spectacular due to decreased water flow because of less precipitation.

Hard to believe, but the volume of water during rainy season can increase 7.5 times. And the number of waterfalls can fluctuate from 150 to 300 depending on the season.

We were there in January, supposedly the hottest, wettest, and most humid period of the year. You see our photos. There was rain almost every night, but during the day the skies were blue and we weren’t uncomfortable at all.

Avoid weekends if you can because of bigger crowds, but don’t plan your trip solely around unpredictable weather. Iguazú Falls is a must-see destination any time of year.

What to pack

If you do Iguazú Falls right, you’re gonna get wet. Take the boat ride and you will be soaked. Plus the weather is generally hot and humid.

We recommend you wear clothing made from quick-dry fabric rather than cotton. Many brands offer SPF protection too.

A lightweight plastic poncho can help keep you dry. If you’re really worried about being uncomfortable, take along a change of clothes.

Skip the cute strappy sandals and flip flops. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Especially on the Argentina side because you will be walking a lot.

A baseball cap provides no sun protection for your ears and neck, so opt for a broad brim hat.

Speaking of which, cover every inch of exposed skin with 50+ sunscreen and insect repellent.

Where to stay

Puerto Iguazú has loads of accommodations to fit any budget, from hostels to luxury hotels. Choose from almost 500 options at Booking.com.

Each national park has one high-end hotel right on the property with views of the falls. On the Brazil side we ate lunch at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas (mentioned earlier) before entering the trail and can tell you the place is fabulous!

Gran Meliá Iguazú on the Argentina side also gets superb reviews. We tried to go there for a cocktail before leaving the park, but the guard wouldn’t let us on the property since we were not staying there. Bummer.

We chose a tiny 4-room boutique B&B called Secret Garden Iguazú and loved it. Even though the property is in a residential neighborhood, the vegetation is so lush it feels like you’re somehow in a private jungle.

The rooms are spacious. A tasty breakfast is served in the morning. There’s a cocktail hour in the evening. A private driver (see above) was arranged. What more could you ask?

Where to eat

The top-rated restaurant in Puerto Iguazú is Aqva. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner our first night there.

Other top restaurants include:

Restaurante La Rueda, an Argentinian steakhouse that’s been in business since 1975.

The Argentine Experience is more than just a 5-course dinner. Learn about culinary customs, make your own empanadas, and enjoy a fun evening around a communal table with fellow travelers.

In Argentina they love their beef. Quincho del Tio Querido is another landmark restaurant that has been satisfying customers for over 35 years with an expansive menu, huge portions, and a complimentary tango show.

La Mamma Pastas and Salsas serves up ample plates of homemade Italian pastas, ravioli, and gnocchi. Plan to share unless you are extra hungry.

Additional tips

Don’t worry about bringing food or even a water bottle. There are numerous places to purchase whatever you need inside the parks. Like any attraction, the prices are a bit high.

We saw signs everywhere warning about not feeding the coatis (small raccoon-like critters). Great advice, but we didn’t spot a single one either day. We saw monkeys and thousands of butterflies though.

If you have time, head to Hito 3 Fronteras (Three Borders Landmark) on the waterfront of Puerto Iguazú. From an observation point at the convergence of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers, you are standing in Argentina while looking across at the borders of both Brazil and Paraguay. How often do you get the chance to see three countries at once?

Pro tip: Take a taxi for this excursion. We found out the hard way it’s a much longer walk than it looks on a map.

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Edd and Cynthia Staton are recognized experts on retiring abroad and expat life. They have appeared on network television, written hundreds of articles for national and international publications, and are regularly featured in the media including MarketWatch and Next Avenue.

They are award-winning journalists, authors of three Amazon best-selling books, and creators of Retirement Reimagined!, a Master Course providing comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to successfully move abroad.

Visit their website for other Products & Services to help you live your best retirement!