Iguazú Falls

The Argentine side of Iguazú offers the most visceral and close quarters encounters of the waterfalls.

Two rainforest trails called the Upper Circuit (Circuito Superior) and Lower Circuit (Circuito Inferior), both offer great views of Iguazú Falls, from the tops of the cascades and the river bank. On the Lower Circuit in particular, be prepared to get wet from the spray and mist.

For the ultimate experience, a long suspended walkway leads you to the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), where a viewing platform reaches towards the heart of the torrent, and you’ll be dumbstruck by the wild power of the falls. It’s Iguazú’s greatest highlight. Boats trips are also on offer here. 

The Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls is all about perspective, with the widest panoramic views giving a true sense of its epic scale – without getting your camera wet.

The rainforest walk to the falls teases with glimpses of the river and falls as it winds through the trees, before finally revealing the grand spectacle framed by the deep green of the jungle.

The popular Parque das Aves (Bird Park) is also close by. Dedicated to helping preserve rainforest species, it breeds rare species and cares for trafficked birds. The park is made up of a series of enormous aviaries in the forest reaching up to 30 m high – they're so large one is often deceived into thinking the boundaries aren't there at all. 

The rainforest around Iguazú Falls is absolutely teeming with life. One of the animals almost all visitors will see is the coati, a type of long-snouted South American raccoon. They have learned to scavenge from tourists (despite feeding being banned) and can be quite brazen when looking for a meal.

Birdwatching is rewarding anywhere around the falls, but the earlier you get up in the morning and the farther into the national parks you go, the more you’ll see. Toucans and parrots are among the most colourful birds, but the rainforest here is home to more than 400 species.

Look out for capuchin monkeys and listen for howler monkeys, which are more often heard than seen.

Argentina has a rich food culture, thanks to its long heritage of European (and particularly Italian) immigration, and its vast pampas that’s home to cattle and sheep ranching.

A great way to eat your way around the country at a single table is the Argentine Experience at Iguazú Falls. Over a series of courses, you can get a complete primer on the country’s cuisine, from the most tender steak to the sweetest dulce de leche desserts – and even get hands-on, learning how to make empanadas and chimichurri.

Everything is washed down with a selection of the best wines from across the country, plus a taste of the other great national obsession – yerba maté.

As a major tourist destination, Iguazú Falls has a wide variety of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. For travellers extending their Antarctica trip to Iguazú we recommend staying on the Argentinian side of the border, to more easily connect with Buenos Aires and flights to the cruise departure port of Ushuaia. 

While its possible to stay in the centre of Puerto Iguazu, our favourite hotels are all outside of the city: either next to the falls themselves or tucked into their own private slice of rainforest. 

Iguazú Falls is served by two airports, one on each side of the international border. 

Puerto Iguazu Airport (airport code IGR) is in Argentina. It has direct daily flights to both Buenos Aires airports, Eziza International (EZE) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP). The flight takes two hours. 

All flights to Ushuaia (for Antarctica cruises) have to connect via Buenos Aires. 

Foz do Iguaçu/Cataratas International Airport (airport code IGU) is on the Brazilian side of the falls. It has direct daily flights to Rio (GIG, two hours) and São Paulo (GRU, 90 minutes).