Things to do at Iguazu Falls Argentina

Discover what to do at Iguazu Falls, one of the green lungs of Argentina and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Iguazu Falls are a set of waterfalls located on the Iguazu River, on the border between the province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana.

Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, the attraction of the place is not only the spectacular waterfalls but also the impressive subtropical forest that surrounds them. The falls are located within ecological conservation zones, and the area is one of the most biodiverse in Argentina.

Iguazu National Park Argentina

Located in the province of Misiones, in the northeastern corner of Argentina, and bordering the Brazilian state of Paraná to the north, Iguazú National Park, along with its sister park of Iguazú in Brazil, is one of the most impressive natural sites in the world. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1984. With a width of almost three kilometres, the Iguazu River drops vertically some 80 metres into a series of waterfalls. The Falls are made up of 275 individual falls, 80% of which are located in Argentinean territory. 

The semi-circular waterfall at its heart is about 2,700 m in diameter and is made up of numerous cascades that produce large jets of water. The surrounding subtropical rainforest has more than 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and caimans.

1. Rainforest Ecological Train

Inside the park there is a train that takes you to the start of some of the trails. The train goes from Central Station (near the park entrance) to Garganta del Diablo Station and has a stop at Cataratas Station where the Lower and Upper Circuits start. The train leaves every 30 minutes. The last train leaves from Garganta del Diablo Station at 17:30. This train is included in the entrance fee and you can get on as many times as you want. It is an ecological train because it runs on gas, a fuel that has no impact on the environment.

Sendero Verde is a short 600-metre trail that goes from the park service area to the Cataratas Station and the start of the Upper and Lower Circuits. It is an alternative to the ecological train to start the day touring these circuits. 

• The three most important routes of the tour, the train to the Devil’s Throat, and the Upper and Lower footbridge circuits all start from the Cataratas Station.

2. Trails

• The lower circuit, which is about 1,400 metres and takes about 1.45 hours, gives you a close-up view of some of the most impressive falls. The lower circuit passes along walkways at the foot of the falls, allowing you to get closer to the them. The trail ends at the Bosetti Falls, which have spectacular views.
• The upper walk: this tour starts near the Falls Station and has panoramic views of the Falls from different footbridges. The total length of the walk is 1700 metres. It is an easy, flat trail, perfectly suitable for anyone. It offers a different perspective from the upper part of the falls, such as the San Martin Falls.
• The Macuco Trail is a 3.5km trail (7km round trip), in the middle of the jungle, leading to Salto Arrechea. It is not wheelchair or pram friendly. There is a sign very close to the Central Station indicating where the trail starts. It is open from 8am to 3pm. You must bring water and something to eat because it takes around 3 hours to go there and back.

3. Garganta del Diablo Trail

The Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) Tour begins on board the train, with open-air carriages to take in the rainforest environment. See the countless butterflies that fly over it, in a landscape made up of jungle and river.

The falls are more than 150 metres long with a drop of more than 80 metres. The falls converge in the shape of a horseshoe and have an average flow rate of 1500 cubic metres per second. This enormous body of water impresses visitors from all over the world. You will find a great variety of wildlife, from coatis, toucans, magpies, waterfall swifts, turtles, lizards and benteveos.

• This trail can be reached by taking the Rainforest Ecological Train.

4. Moonlight walk

The light of the moon means the tours can take place 5 nights a month, and are therefore organised according to the time the moon rises. The moonlight excursion can be booked at the Iguazú National Park offices or at different travel agencies in Puerto Iguazú.

On all moonlit excursions, visitors are accompanied by tourist guides and park rangers. The groups are small and to better enjoy the tour, please do not make noise, turn off mobile phones and avoid using flash cameras. The circuit is the Garganta de Diablo, which is reached by the ecological train. From the train you can see nocturnal animals such as corzuelas.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Iguazu Falls?

1. Guaraní Iguazú Fortín Mbororé Village

Aldea Guaraní Fortín Mbororé opens its doors to visitors and shows you all about Guaraní customs and their community.  The village is made up of 140 families and is one of the 74 communities in Misiones. It is a very interesting visit that will take you deeper into the customs and history of this part of Argentina.

In addition, in the Guaraní Village of Iguazú you can go on a unique excursion, first crossing the M’Boca-i stream, then following a path through the jungle where you can discover their hunting techniques, the traps used to catch animals and learn about the use of medicinal plants.

2. Where to eat in Iguazu Falls?

• The Argentine Experience is a steakhouse restaurant that offers a complete gastronomic experience, a journey through all the typical and traditional Argentinean recipes in a very well designed space. The price range is from 69 € – 104 €.
• Jungle Restaurant is a Latin and Argentinean cuisine restaurant offering excellent quality and service. With a price range of 40-50€ this restaurant is one of the most popular in Puerto Iguazu.
• Aqva Restaurant is an Argentinian and Latin cuisine restaurant with excellent value for money. With a price range of 5 € – 16 € this restaurant also offers vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Where to stay at Iguazu Falls in Argentina?

• The Gran Meliá Iguazú hotel, where you can see the waterfalls through the windows of the building. It is the only hotel inside the Argentinean national park. 
• Panoramic Grand Iguazú is a hotel located in front of the Iguazú River. It has a restaurant, casino, swimming pool and also a gym. It is close to the bus terminal and several restaurants.
• The Exe Hotel Cataratas is also located near the jungle of Misiones and offers direct contact with nature and fantastic swimming pools. The 5-star hotel also has a bar-restaurant serving regional and international specialities.

Tips for your visit to Iguazu Falls

• The site can be visited at any time of the year, but if possible, avoid the months of December to March.
• Be aware of the native flora and fauna around you and respect the environment.
• We recommend taking out travel insurance.
• Try to wear comfortable clothes when visiting Iguazu National Park.
• We recommend visiting the Iguazu Falls early in the morning, especially in summer because temperatures are high.
• It is important to bring insect repellent.
• In the areas with a lot of wildlife you should be as quiet as possible and strictly follow the recommendations given in the leaflet provided at the information centre.

How to organise what to see in Iguazu Falls?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can also read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Iguazu Falls