The Iguazu Falls are one of the most spectacular and impressive waterfalls in the world, located on the border between Argentina and Brazil in South America.
With more than 275 individual waterfalls, Iguazu is actually the largest waterfall system in the world! The closest comparison is probably with Niagara Falls in Canada and the United States, although Iguazu Falls is larger than Niagara Falls in most indicators.
This spectacular waterfall has become a national park in Argentina and Brazil, and both sides of the waterfall are worth a visit, as they offer different views! You can see the best attractions of Iguazu in a couple of days, although you could well spend more time there.
This guide will explain how to get to Iguazu Falls in Argentina or Brazil (with or without an excursion), and will also provide a map of Iguazu Falls and additional information. Finally, I will share some interesting facts about the waterfall itself!
Where are the Iguazu Falls?
The Iguazu Falls are located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, on the South American continent.
There are cities and airports on both sides of the border, with many tourist-friendly hotels and restaurants, and you can easily move back and forth between the two countries to see both sides of the waterfall.
The city on the Argentine side of the waterfall is called Puerto Iguazu, while the Brazilian side is called Foz do Iguaçu.
How to get to the Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil
The main way to get to the Iguazu Falls is to fly there by plane from one of the main cities in Argentina or Brazil.
As for Argentina, you can fly from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu (airport code: IGR), which takes less than 2 hours and is offered by several airlines at quite reasonable prices. Buenos Aires has two airports (AEP or EZE) and you can use either of them to fly here.
If you are in Brazil, you can fly from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro to Foz do Iguaçu (code: IGU), which will take about 2 hours, more or less. These routes are also offered by several airlines with daily departures.
Once you arrive in the city of Puerto Iguazu, you can reach the Argentine Falls by bus, taxi or excursion. The bus is inexpensive, safe and easy to use, with regular departures from the city bus station to Las Cataratas and vice versa.
However, if you want something more personalized and convenient, a taxi or a private tour can be a good option. You can ask the driver to wait for you while you inspect the waterfall, and then take you back to the city.
The Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls works almost the same way. You can get to the Brazilian falls by bus, taxi or excursion, and all these options work well depending on your needs and how much time you have on your itinerary.
It is also easy to cross the international border between Argentina and Brazil and travel back and forth by bus, taxi or excursion, exploring both sides of the Iguazu Falls.
For example, I settled on the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, but I made a day trip to the Brazilian side by bus and also made a separate day trip to the Paraguayan side by taxi.
As a US citizen, I did not need a Visa for Argentina, Brazil or Paraguay, so it was very easy to make day trips between them, but be sure to check the current Visa requirements for your citizenship in those countries to avoid any problems at the border, and be sure to take your passport with you!
