Iguazu Falls national park, is one of the world’s most incredible spots. It’s the kind of place that leaves you speechless due to its sheer size and volume. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know when visiting Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side.
Iguazu Falls are one of the largest waterfall and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. They stretch as far as for 2.7 kilometres along the border of Brazil and Argentina perched at the northern tip of the country. The site consist of approximately 270 individual waterfalls which reach heights of a crazy 60 and 82 meters. Iguazu Falls has not only been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it’s also named one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World! Pretty incredible, right?
A lot of people, pre-covid, opt to visit the falls from both the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side, however, due to new restrictions, this isn’t quite as easy as it used to be. We opted to visit from the Brazilian side.
Below, we’re sharing our best tips and practical advice to help you plan your ideal visit to Iguazu Falls, the Brazilian side.
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How much is the entrance?
Once you’re at Iguazu waterfalls Visitor Center, you need to buy an entrance ticket which costs 107 Reais or £16 per adult. (This can also be brought beforehand here.)
How to get to here
Iguazu waterfalls are 20 km from the main town. So, unless you plan on staying in a nearby hotel you need to figure out how to get here. There are plenty of options, some of which include:
A public bus – bus number 120 departs frequently from the main bus terminal in Foz do Iguaçu and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
Take an Uber or taxi – For ease, we opted to take an Uber to Iguazu waterfalls, it cost us around £10 and was very easy to organise
Take a shuttle – there are many shuttle options available and your hotel will be able to assist you with that
Join an organized tour – there are many Iguazu Falls tours available that include transport
Rent a car – you can rent a car either at the airport or in the town
Visiting Iguazu Falls, the Brazilian side
Once you have purchased your entrance ticket you will take a shuttle bus to get to the waterfalls, about 10 km away. The bus ride is included in your ticket and runs every 30 minutes. You’ll select an allocated time when you purchase your ticket for your bus.
When on the bus you’ll be given three options of where to get off within Iguazu national park. The first is the earliest spot and if you want to do additional activities such as a boat ride or helicopter tour then this is where you’ll get off.
The second option is the trail which takes you along a trail alongside the waterfalls and eventually to the devil’s throat, the most impressive part of Iguazu.
The third option is to be dropped directly at the Devils’ throat. If you are physically able and aren’t rushed for time then we recommend getting off at the second option.
As soon as you get off the bus in Iguazu national park to the trail, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the waterfalls in the distance, but remember, this is just the beginning, they only get better!
As you walk along the 1.5 km-long route through, you’ll see several jaw-dropping panoramic views of the falls, each more impressive than the previous one. Seriously, we couldn’t stop taking photos every couple of minutes exclaiming how much better the view was getting!
There is also a range of animals on this trail and several viewpoints.
Near the end of the trail, you’ll reach a footbridge that allows you to walk across the water and to witness the Devil’s Throat up close and personal. This is the busiest part of the Iguazu national park, but for very good reason. The unbelievable view of the Devil’s Throat is the most awe-inspiring part of Iguazu Falls and one not to be missed!
Being surrounded by these spectacular waters and feeling the sheer power of nature is truly an experience to remember.
At the end of the trail, there’s an elevated viewing platform which you can get in the panoramic lift up to. (This is included in your ticket price). Which gives you yet another incredible view of the waterfalls and the surrounding nature from above.
How long should you spend at Iguazu Falls?
We spent approximately 4 hours here which included walking the trail, with lots of photo stops, admiring the Devil’s Throat and having lunch at the onsite buffet restaurant (which costs approximately £16 per person, but was well worth it for the quality of the food, the options – including lots of vegetarian and vegan and the view, of course!).
You could easily spend a whole day here, especially if you opted to include any of the additional extras. Or, if you are strapped for time you could get off the bus at the Devil’s Nose and spend around 2 hours here. We wouldn’t recommend trying to visit Iguazu Falls in any less time than that, as you really wouldn’t have enough time to see the falls.
Where did we stay in Foz Do Iguazu?
We opted for a budget-friendly hotel room whilst here. It was nice and central, the staff were friendly and the room was clean. A good option for one night in the small border city.
You can book to stay in Hotel Rhema here.
Another good option, especially if you’re a solo traveller looking to meet others would be to stay in Concept Design Hostel.
