By air
Foz do Iguaçu (IGU), ~15 km; Puerto Iguazú (IGR) on the Argentine side
South America · Brazil
Iguazu Falls, Brazil
Hundreds of waterfalls on the Argentine border
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and August to November — strong flow, fewer crowds
Don't miss
The Devil's Throat
The Brazilian walkways
The Argentine circuits
The Itaipu Dam
Things to do
The Brazilian side's panorama walkways
The Argentine side's Devil's Throat
A boat under the falls
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
A rain poncho, quick-dry clothes
A quieter corner
The Parque das Aves bird sanctuary by the park gate
Questions travellers ask
Should I see Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian or the Argentine side?
Try to do both: the Brazilian side has the panorama walkways, and the Argentine side has the Devil's Throat and its circuits. Add a boat trip under the falls.
When is the best time to visit Iguazu Falls?
March to May and August to November, for strong flow and fewer crowds. Pack a rain poncho and quick-dry clothes.
What else is there to see around Iguazu Falls?
The Parque das Aves bird sanctuary by the park gate, and the Itaipu Dam. Try churrasco in Foz do Iguaçu.
How do I get to Iguazu Falls?
Fly into Foz do Iguaçu (IGU), about 15 km away, or Puerto Iguazú (IGR) on the Argentine side.
About Iguazu Falls
- Riverside
- Forest
Where it is
The Iguazu Falls are on the Iguazu River on the border between Brazil's Paraná state and Argentina's Misiones province, not far above its meeting with the Paraná River near the triple frontier with Paraguay; Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú are the gateway towns.
History
The Guaraní, whose language gave the falls their name, meaning big water, lived in the surrounding forest. The Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to record the falls, in 1541, and national parks now protect both sides, Argentina's Iguazú and Brazil's Iguaçu, UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1984 and 1986.
People
Foz do Iguaçu is a border city of many nationalities where Portuguese, Spanish and Guaraní are all heard, with a large Lebanese community, a big mosque and a Buddhist temple. Mbyá Guaraní communities near Puerto Iguazú sell carvings and baskets, and Brazilian churrasco and Argentine parrilla meet across the river.
Known for
- The Devil's Throat
- Panoramic walkways on the Brazilian side
- Boat trips under the falls
- Toucans, coatis and butterflies
- The Itaipu Dam nearby
Did you know?
Depending on the river's level, the falls divide into between 150 and 300 separate waterfalls along an edge about 2.7 km long, and about half the river's flow pours into the Devil's Throat.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.