Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side holidays
Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side holidays at a glance
The Argentinian side is where you get closest to Iguazú. It holds around 80% of the falls, and its network of walkways and trails takes you over, under and alongside the cascades in a way the far bank can’t match. This is a place to spend a full day or two, moving between viewpoints as the light and the crowds shift, with the roar of the water never far away.
Everything sits within Iguazú National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and a swathe of subtropical rainforest that’s a destination in itself. An open-sided ecological train carries visitors between the trailheads, and from the far station a long walkway runs out across the river to the edge of the Devil’s Throat, the vast horseshoe where the greatest volume of water pours over. The Upper and Lower Circuits loop past dozens more cataracts, and quieter trails lead into the forest.
Your base is Puerto Iguazú, an easy-going town in the far north-east of Misiones province, around 18km from the park with its own airport and direct flights from Buenos Aires. For how the Argentinian and Brazilian sides compare, and how to combine them, see our main Iguazú Falls page.
The falls may be the headline, but the forest around them is full of life. Coatis patrol the walkways and picnic areas, capuchin monkeys move through the canopy, and the trees flicker with toucans and butterflies. The park is also home to tapirs and the rarely seen jaguar and puma.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
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.
Get to the park gates for opening and walk out to the Devil’s Throat first, before the tour groups arrive and while the morning light is on the water. Then work the circuits back through the day.
When to visit Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
The Argentinian side is rewarding year-round, and the falls are spectacular in every season. The main things to weigh are heat, humidity and water levels, all of which shift the experience through the year. Seasons run opposite to the UK.
Summer in Iguazú Falls is hot and humid, particularly in January. Due to plentiful rainfall, the falls are bursting full as they thunder dramatically through the rainforest, soaking onlookers with a refreshing spray. Some trails may be inaccessible and January – February are especially busy as it’s Latin American holiday time.
There are fewer visitors during these months, with the exception of Easter week. From April onwards is the best time to spot a kaleidoscope of colourful butterflies and rainbows. Early mornings can be a little cold, creating good conditions for hiking or cycle rides in the area.
Temperatures are at their coolest, particularly in the crisp early mornings. The climate is dry and the skies are often clear and sunny. The cooler temperatures make this a good time to hike or cycle through the subtropical rainforest.
Following the dry winter season, water levels are reduced in the falls. Individual cataracts become visible as they plunge over granite cliffs. Weather conditions are pleasant, neither too hot and humid nor especially wet, though rainfall is always possible.
Top Things to do in Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
The Argentinian side is made for exploring on foot and on the water, with a full day’s worth of trails, viewpoints and adventures inside the park. Here’s what we recommend.
After dark, peer over the Devil’s Throat at Iguazú Falls by moonlight when silvery rays illuminate the thundering cascades.
Explore the walkways of Argentina’s Iguazú National Park to see the falls from a multitude of angles, including the chance to stand on the precipice and watch the water plummet down to earth right beneath your feet.
Accommodation in Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
Accommodation on the Argentinian side runs from town hotels in Puerto Iguazú to one special property inside the park, and we hand-pick every option for location and character. Staying at the Gran Meliá Iguazú, the only hotel within the Argentinian park, buys you the falls before the gates open and after they close, with the Devil’s Throat almost on your doorstep. In and around Puerto Iguazú, hotels from the comfortable to the boutique, some in their own patch of rainforest, put you a short drive from the park.
Awasi Iguazú is a first class superior lodge offering exclusive, personalised guided adventures from luxury accommodation.
Welcoming, modern little hotel that offers a good value base for exploring Iguazú Falls.
First-class property of understated elegance on the jungle-lined road to Iguazú Falls with excellent facilities and sophisticated design.
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.
Sleek, contemporary property in a spectacular location overlooking the subtropical jungle and the Iguazú and Paraná rivers.
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 Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
Group Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side 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 Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side 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 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
FAQs about visiting Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side
Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit the Iguazu Falls?
Iguazú Falls is a year-round destination, but water levels and weather conditions vary with the rainy (Dec-Feb) and dry (Jun-Jul) seasons. The water supply to the falls also varies according to the local control of the dams upstream. It can be busy with tourists in local holiday seasons, for example in Feb and at Easter.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in Iguazu?
The main language spoken in Iguazu is Spanish.
- How do I get to Argentinian Iguazú?
The easiest way is to fly. Cataratas del Iguazú airport (IGR) sits a short drive from Puerto Iguazú and the park, with frequent direct flights from Buenos Aires taking under two hours. From the town it’s around 18km to the park entrance, with no border crossing needed. We arrange all flights and transfers.
- What is the time difference between Iguazu and the UK?
The time difference between Iguazu and the UK is GMT -3 hours. There is daylight saving from October to the end of February (approximately) when clocks are put forward one hour.
- What other places does Iguazu Falls combine well with?
Continue over the border and fly to Rio de Janeiro and visit Brazil’s Costa Verde. The Brazilian Pantanal, Amazon and Salvador are also within reach by air. Salta and north-west Argentina combine very well with Iguazú Falls, and the bird-filled Ibera wetlands are within a day’s drive of Puerto Iguazú.
- How long do I need on the Argentinian side of Iguazu?
A full day lets you cover the Devil’s Throat, both circuits and the boat ride at a steady pace. With a second day you can add the quieter Macuco jungle trail, take your time over the wildlife, or return to the falls in different light. We’d suggest at least two nights in Puerto Iguazú to fit it in without rushing.
- What is the Devil’s Throat?
La Garganta del Diablo is the largest and most dramatic of Iguazú’s cataracts, a horseshoe-shaped chasm where the greatest volume of the river plunges some 80m in a constant roar of spray. On the Argentinian side you reach it by ecological train and a long walkway out across the river, ending at a platform right at its edge.
- Is the Argentinian side better than the Brazilian side?
They offer different experiences rather than better or worse. The Argentinian side, covered here, puts you right among the falls on its walkways and trails and needs a full day or more. The Brazilian side gives a single sweeping panorama in a couple of hours. Ideally you’d see both, and our main Iguazú Falls page explains how to combine them.
- Can I see wildlife at Iguazu?
Yes. Iguazú National Park is thick with rainforest wildlife, and even on the busy trails you’ll see coatis, capuchin monkeys, toucans and clouds of butterflies. Quieter paths like the Macuco trail improve your chances, and the park is home to more elusive animals including tapirs and, very rarely seen, jaguars and pumas. Don’t feed the coatis, however bold they get.
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