For my first visit to Brazil, I really wanted to travel to Iguazu Falls. At first we were not sure if it was possible, as we were there for a wedding and did not have a lot of time. However, we went for just two days and we met up with some of the other wedding guests there too! The falls are the largest in the world and there are so many of them to see. You have a great view from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. I won’t pick a favourite as both are amazing! The river boat ride goes up close to the falls. We got totally soaked by the spray and were laughing the whole time with the other passengers.
The local wildlife was very entertaining. Fuzzy coati were everywhere! They were on the trails and the fences. We even found one sticking out of a trash bin. In addition, the bird park was a great place to visit and see some beautiful tropical birds up close.
Highlights
- Iguazu Falls- visit both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides
- Mirante da Garganta do Diabo
- You can get very close and feel the spray of the waterfalls in a number of places
- Join a boat tour from Macuco Safari, which takes you close enough to the falls to get soaked!
- Iguazu bird park to see some of the local wildlife. You will already see the fuzzy coati walking around the parks. They are very fond of food so we even found on in a trash bin!
Before you go
- Iguazu falls is a short flight from Rio (2 hours 15 minutes) or Sao Paulo (1 hour 40 minutes(
- The waterfalls can be viewed from the Brazilian or Argentinian side. Take a taxi across the bridge between the national parks.
- There are admission fees. For the Brazil side, you can pay at the machines at the entrance with credit card. The Argentina side has an office to buy tickets from
- Take a poncho or you’ll probably end up buying one
Transport
- There are two airports to choose from : Puerto Iguazu (IGR) in Argentina and Foz de Iguazu (IGU) in Brazil.
- Taxi was the easiest way to get between the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the falls, and also to the Bird Park
- Once you are in the parks, you will need to walk, and there are good paths
- From the Belmond hotel, we could walk to the falls area on the Brazil side
- If you are feeling adventurous then try the boats on the river to get very close to the falls. We used
Accommodation
- We stayed Iguazu falls for 2 luxurious nights at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas on the Brazilian side of the falls
- The room was beautiful and spacious with a view of the water
- We had comfy robes and slippers
- The buffet breakfast was excellent and we did not have enough time to try everything. I especially loved the dulce de leche doughnuts
Food
We didn’t think about food too often because we were mainly at the hotel when we were not out seeing the falls. Our stay was short and there were not many restaurants nearby. Also, we wanted to maximise our time out viewing the falls so we ate quick lunches like sandwiches and fruits. Luckily, the food at the hotel was excellent and we could have our breakfasts and dinners there.
As mentioned, the buffet breakfast at the hotel was delicious and had a great variety. I especially loved the fresh tropical fruits, cheese bread, dulce de leche doughnuts and corn cake.
At the hotel, we also enjoyed the beautiful cocktails! I had a bright blue one in the photo, and each cocktail came with a bird toothpick. I remember we kept drinking more cocktails to try to get the whole collections of birds. Of course, now I have no idea what happened to the bird sticks! The bar was very chilled out and a good way to relax in the evening.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No you don’t need a tour guide, but you may need a taxi driver if you want to see the falls from both countries
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, most people speak some English because there are so many tourists
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: Yes on the trails to see the falls, but you may need a taxi to travel to the different starting points, and to the bird park
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