How to Travel from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls for Half Price!

By Edd and Cynthia Staton

July 28, 2023

There are three ways to get from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Puerto Iguazú, the town nearest the falls: 1) drive, 2) bus, or 3) fly. If you’re on a super-tight budget and are OK traveling 18 grueling hours each way, feel free to choose either of the first two options.

This post is for those interested in saving both money and time. We detail for you the easy step-by-step guide we used to book our 2-hour round trip flights to Iguazú for about half what you would pay through a website like Kayak or Skyscanner.

Sound good? Let’s go!

Where is Iguazú Falls?

Iguazú Falls straddles the border between the northeastern corner of Argentina and southeast Brazil. There are national parks for the falls in each country.

Paraguay is nearby and shares the Iguazú River. In fact, there is a viewpoint in Puerto Iguazú where standing in Argentina you can see both Brazil and Paraguay. Pretty cool!

The climate is quite different from Buenos Aires—a subtropical rainforest, which means warm and muggy.

Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere, so November through March are the hottest months. We were there in January, dressed appropriately, and were totally fine. Whenever you visit, expect brief rain some time during the day.

Airlines servicing Puerto Iguazú

There are three airlines flying from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas

• Flybondi

• JetSMART

Aerolíneas Argentinas is the country’s largest airline. Flybondi and JetSMART are discount carriers.

Here is what to keep in mind when deciding which to use. By definition, the “discount” airlines will be a little cheaper. But in case of any mechanical or staffing problem, they have little or no backup.

After reading horror stories through online forums of unannounced delays and cancellations with the other two airlines, we decided to go with Aerolíneas Argentinas. A bucket list trip like Iguazú is too important to risk it being ruined trying to save a few bucks, right?

Plus, with the strategy we are now going to share, you’re gonna fly for half price anyway!

Just follow these two easy steps:

1. Bring crisp U.S. $100 bills with you to Argentina

In this guide we’re assuming you are actually visiting Buenos Aires, and not arriving at the international airport (EZE) from another country with plans to continue directly to Iguazú Falls.

If so, bringing a stack of large denomination bills from the United States will allow you to pay half price for almost everything in Argentina, not just your airline tickets.

How? By exchanging those bills for pesos via the Blue Market. 

The Blue Market got its name from the thin blue stripe on $100 bills. Argentina’s economy has been on a stomach-churning up and down ride for years, to the point that locals have little trust in banks. Therefore, cash is king—specifically US dollars.

As of the day of this post, the “official” exchange rate is 273  Argentine pesos for one US dollar. The Blue Market rate is 548—almost double! The rates change almost daily, but the Blue Market always keeps pace with the official rate.

How do you take advantage of this windfall?

Simply ask your Airbnb host, someone at your hotel, or your tour operator for a recommendation of where to make an exchange nearby.

Ours was in a unit on the 6th floor of our apartment building!

Or just stroll down Florida Street, the city’s huge pedestrian shopping area, where every 10 feet someone is shouting “Cambio (change), cambio, cambio!”

If you choose this route go later in the day for the best rate when quotas need to be met.

Is it legal? Technically, no, but the blue dollar exchange is an accepted part of daily life and the country’s worst kept secret.

2. Go to the Aerolíneas Argentinas office to buy your tickets

Now that you have a pocketful of pesos, walk or take an inexpensive taxi to the Aerolíneas Argentinas office (near Plaza de Mayo) to pay cash for your flights.

You will be given a ticket like at the deli counter. Then sit and wait for your number to show up on the monitor.

The employees speak English, but have all your flight information written down to speed up the process. The young man who helped us was very kind and professional.

Once your flights have been booked, you go to a window in the same area to pay. And that’s it. You’re done! 

Congrats. You just saved yourself half the price if you had purchased online with your credit card. Now keep that card in your wallet for the rest of your trip to Argentina and be amazed at how little you spend using pesos.

Now, about your trip to Iguazú Falls…

Besides booking your flights, you probably have all kinds of questions about planning a trip to Iguazú Falls:

• When to go

• How long to stay

• Which side—Argentina, Brazil, or both

• What to do

• Where to stay

• How to get around

• Where to eat

We did too. After extensive research, planning, and making the trip there for Edd’s birthday, we have all the answers for you. Read our comprehensive travel guide:

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

Our Top Travel Resources

FYI ~ When you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!

Flights ~

We love CheapOair and OneTravel because they offer a “Seniors” category in addition to “Adult” and “Child.” By taking advantage of this option we’ve saved hundreds of dollars on a single ticket!

Airport Lounges ~

Priority Pass membership has massively upleveled our entire travel experience. Hate sitting for hours in crowded airport chairs and spending a small fortune for meals and drinks? Trust us, hanging out in a quiet, comfortable lounge (over 1,300 worldwide) with complimentary food and beverages is way better.

Hotels ~

Booking.com is a user-friendly site for booking hotel and B&B stays. Sign up for their Genius discount and save 10% off the base price simply by logging in to your account.

Credit Cards ~

Taking advantage of huge sign-up bonuses for miles and points allows us to travel more and spend less. Here are ones we use and recommend. All have a host of benefits, and none have foreign transaction fees.

• Delta Platinum Business Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
• Capital One Venture Card

Tours ~

With a massive collection of 300,000+ experiences, millions of reviews, book now/pay later and free cancellation policies, you can’t go wrong with Viator.

Travel Insurance ~

We've used SquareMouth for years and highly recommend their competitive prices and excellent customer service. Their website allows you to compare side-by-side many different policies based on your custom criteria.

Phone Plan ~

Airalo is a new convenient way to keep your smartphone connected when traveling abroad. Download and activate one of their inexpensive eSIM cards with coverage options for a single country or an entire region. So much better (and cheaper!) than purchasing an expensive international plan from your existing carrier.

Travel Gear ~

With a portable charger from Anker you never have to worry about your phone battery dying when you’re out and about taking photos and seeing the sights. Compact, lightweight, and inexpensive, it’s a lifesaver!

Eagle Creek products are functional, durable, and (looking at you, anonymous black suitcase) distinctively stylish. This has been Cynthia’s go-to luggage for years.

Travelpro (Edd’s choice) created the very first upright rolling suitcase over 30 years ago. Their luggage and accessories are ultra-durable, amazingly lightweight, and surprisingly affordable.

For even more options check out our full Resources page!

Need Help Planning?

If you’re tired of spending endless hours on the Internet and need help figuring out your travel plans, our affordable personalized consultation services could be the solution.

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!