Iguazú Falls holidays
Iguazú Falls holidays at a glance
Our Iguazú Falls holidays take you to one of South America’s most spectacular natural wonders, on the border between Argentina and Brazil. This is the world’s largest waterfall system by the number of cataracts spread along nearly 3km of river, the exact number rising and falling with the season. Individual falls range from 60 to 82m high, and the tallest, the Devil’s Throat, is where about half the river’s flow crashes into a single U-shaped gorge.
Two national parks protect the falls, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites:, Iguazú National Park in Argentina and Iguaçu National Park in Brazil.
Set in subtropical rainforest alive with butterflies, toucans and inquisitive coatis, Iguazú is easy to reach and easy to combine. Direct flights connect it with Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, and it pairs naturally with either city or a wider trip through Argentina and Brazil.
The great question at Iguazú is which side to see, and the answer is both if you can. Argentina holds roughly 80% of the falls and the walkways that take you into the action, with upper and lower circuits across the basalt islands, a trail to San Martín Island and a final walkway out over the lip of the Devil’s Throat.
Brazil is about scale, a single panoramic path delivering the classic postcard view of falls stretching as far as you can see. Between them you’ll feel the spray, hear the roar and understand why Iguazú leaves such an impression.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Iguazú Falls
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Give the falls two nights, and see both sides. Stay inside one of the national parks if you can, so you’re on the walkways early, before the day-trippers arrive.
When to visit Iguazú Falls
Iguazú is worth seeing year-round, and the falls are spectacular in every season. The main things to weigh are heat, crowds and water levels, which shift the experience from month to month.
These are the peak summer months, with a spike in heat (up to 40°C), rain and humidity. Thanks to the rainfall, the falls are at their fullest and most dramatic, soaking onlookers in a refreshing spray. Visitor numbers are high as this is Latin American holiday time, and some trails may become inaccessible due to the wet climate.
There are not so many visitors during these months, with the exception of Easter week, which can be busy. From April – June you’ll spot colourful butterflies in the jungle foliage and rainbows among the misty spray. Temperatures cool over this period, and can be crisp (below 10°C) in the mornings from June – August, making this an ideal time for energetic outdoor activities such as hiking and cycle rides. Though the climate is cooler, most days are clear and sunny.
During this period the weather is not too humid or hot, and you may experience some rainfall. After the dry season the volume of water in the falls is reduced, revealing individual cataracts which plunge over exposed granite cliffs.
Places to visit in Iguazú Falls
The falls sit at the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, with a town on each of the two main sides. Where you base yourself shapes your days, though most trips cross the border to take in both national parks. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Experience one of South America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, where immense waterfalls plunge through subtropical rainforest alive with birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls offers sweeping panoramic views, exhilarating adventures and an unforgettable perspective on this extraordinary landscape.
Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
Walk the spray-soaked catwalks that carry you out over the falls, take the ecological train through the jungle to the Devil’s Throat and ride a speedboat into the base of the cascades. The Argentinian side of Iguazú puts you closer to the water than anywhere else, deep inside the national park and its wildlife-rich forest.
Top Things to do in Iguazú Falls
There’s far more to Iguazú than looking. From boat rides into the spray to flights over the gorge, here’s what we recommend.
Fly over the Iguazu Falls in a helicopter for breathtaking views over the entire length of the cataracts.
After dark, peer over the Devil’s Throat at Iguazú Falls by moonlight when silvery rays illuminate the thundering cascades.
Upgrade your visit to Iguazú with a wildlife safari and open boat ride to the base of the falls.
Accommodation in Iguazú Falls
Accommodation ranges from town hotels to two special lodges set inside the national parks themselves, and we hand-pick every option for location and character. Staying in the parks, at Belmond Das Cataratas on the Brazilian side or Gran Meliá Iguazú on the Argentine side, buys you the falls before and after the crowds. In Puerto Iguazú and Foz do Iguaçu, hotels from the comfortable to the boutique, such as Awasi Iguazú with its private guide and vehicle, put you within easy reach of both parks.
The only hotel in Argentina’s Iguazú National Park offering views of the falls and located within walking distance of the entrance to the walkways.
Low-key Mercure Iguazú Hotel Iru, enveloped in jungle rainforest, offers a peaceful base for visits to Iguazú Falls.
Orquideas Palace Hotel is a secluded resort-style hotel close to Iguazú Falls in Brazil and Argentina. Book with Journey Latin America.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Iguazú Falls
Experience the natural wonder that is Iguazu Falls as part of your holiday to Brazil and Argentina. Book online now or speak to an expert.
Group Iguazú Falls Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Gaucho: Vintage Argentina
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Mendoza and the vineyards · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
12 days from £3,791
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Jacana: Crossing the continent
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Asuncion and the heartland · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
19 days from £4,583
Sandpiper: Atlantic to Pacific in style
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · Chilean Lake District (south) · Torres del Paine National Park · Santiago and the vineyards
19 days from £7,062
Tangara: Blue lakes and emerald coasts
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Chilean Lake District (south) · Argentinian lake district · Buenos Aires · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
15 days from £3,892
Toucanet: Cities and Cascades
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires
9 days from £3,048
Trogon: Natural Brazil
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Brasilia and the Cerrado · The Pantanal
12 days from £3,662
Tailor-Made Iguazú Falls Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Luxury Brazil: Rio, Iguazu Falls and Buzios
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
11 days from £7,800
Luxury Rio, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and the pampas
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · The Pampas
11 days from £7,990
Self-drive Argentina: Highlights of the hidden northwest
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
14 days from £3,650
Signature Argentina: Patagonia, lake district and Iguazú Falls
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Argentinian lake district · El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
13 days from £4,950
Signature Brazil, Argentina and Chile: Coast to coast
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires · Mendoza and the vineyards · Santiago and the vineyards
15 days from £5,650
Signature Brazil: Brazil at a glance
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · The Brazilian Amazon · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Salvador, Lencois and the beaches of Bahia
15 days from £4,375
Signature Northern Chile and Argentina: Atacama Desert to Iguazu Falls
Places visited: Santiago and the vineyards · Atacama Desert · Salta · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires
15 days from £5,600
Signature Paraguay: The Missions and the Chaco
Places visited: Asuncion and the heartland · The Chaco · The Jesuit Missions of the south · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side
11 days from £3,550
Value Iguazu Falls: Buenos Aires to Rio
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
10 days from £1,900
Wildlife Brazil: Jaguars of the Pantanal
Places visited: The Pantanal · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
11 days from £6,725
FAQs about visiting Iguazú Falls
Iguazú Falls is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- What is the best time to visit Iguazú Falls?
The best time to visit Iguazu Falls depends on your priorities. For the most dramatic water flow and fullest falls, visit between December and March when rainfall is highest and the Iguazu River is at its peak. However, this is also the busiest and most humid period. For more comfortable weather with fewer crowds, March to May and September to November offer an excellent balance – pleasant temperatures, moderate water levels, and the falls are still impressively full. June to August is the coolest and driest period with lower water levels, but you’ll see more exposed rock formations and individual cascades. Ultimately, Iguazu Falls is spectacular year-round, and there’s no bad time to visit.
- Can you do Iguazú Falls in one day?
Whilst it’s technically possible to visit Iguazu Falls in one day, we don’t recommend it. To properly experience both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the falls, you need at least two full days – one day for each side. The Argentine side alone has several walking circuits that take 4-6 hours to explore thoroughly, including the unmissable Devil’s Throat. The Brazilian side, though more compact, deserves a full morning or afternoon to appreciate the panoramic views. If you’re short on time, prioritise the Argentine side for its variety of perspectives and walkways.
- Is Iguazú Falls one of the Seven Wonders of the World?
Yes, Iguazu Falls was officially recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2011. The falls were chosen for their exceptional natural beauty, ecological significance and cultural importance. Both Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil) are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Is Iguazú Falls in Argentina or Brazil?
Iguazu Falls straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil. The majority of the individual waterfalls (around 80%) are located on the Argentine side, while the Brazilian side offers the best panoramic views of the entire waterfall. The Iguazu River forms the natural border between the two countries at this point, creating the spectacular horseshoe-shaped cascade. We recommend visiting both sides to fully appreciate the falls – the Argentine side for close-up encounters with individual cascades, and the Brazilian side for breathtaking wide-angle vistas.
- Can you take helicopter rides?
Yes, from the Brazilian side. An aerial perspective reveals the true magnitude of Iguazú Falls. From high above, the 275 individual cascades appear as ribbons of white water threading through emerald jungle. The view encompasses the entire 2.7km crescent of falls, the winding Iguazu River, and the protected wilderness of the national parks stretching endlessly in every direction.
- Is Niagara Falls bigger than Iguazú Falls?
Iguazú Falls stretches nearly 2.7km across the Iguazú River, making it almost twice as wide as Niagara Falls. Now that’s big!
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