Itinerary for 2 Days at Iguazu Falls (Brazil + Argentina)

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When Eleanor Roosevelt saw Iguazu Falls, she exclaimed “My poor Niagara”. My two previous posts covered how to visit Iguazu Falls from Brazil and from Argentina, individually. This post covers how to spend 2 days at Iguazu Falls, visiting each side and what you need to know and do to plan an epic trip to visit this Natural Wonder.

Quick Facts About Iguazu Falls

• The main town on the Argentinian side is called Puerto Iguazu and the main town on the Brazilian side is called Foz do Iguaçu.
• There are 275 falls!
• 80% of the falls lie on the Argentinian side while 20% are on the Brazilian side
  • The Brazilian side, however, provides a Panoramic view of the Argentinian side and therefore should not be missed!
• Iguazu Falls draw over a million visitors each year!
• Both National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the falls are a Natural Wonder of the World

Check out these posts for lots more information about the two individual parks.

How to Visit Iguazu Falls in Brazil

Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina

How to Get Around

You can take a bus from Puerto Iguazu to Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian side. You can also take a bus from Puerto Iguazu to the Brazilian side and back.

Buses are cost effective but a pre-organized taxi will be a time saver. I hired the taxi services of Guillermo when I was in Iguazu. He will do the airport pickup and drop off, take you to both parks (including navigate the border crossing) and drop/pick from the hotel. Guillermo does this everyday and the border agents know him well! He speaks great English and is very communicative and accommodating. You can WhatsApp him on +5493757673892.

If you decide to travel by bus, you will still have to hire a taxi to get to and from the airport.

Tips for a Successful Visit

• You need 2 days in Iguazu. If you are also factoring in travel within these 2 days then you need to take the earliest flight into Iguazu on day 1 and take a late evening or night flight out on day 2
• Have a plan at each park. Study the park map before you go. This will ensure you don’t waste time or energy
• Decide which side you want to do the boat trip (highly recommend that you do it). More on this below
• There really is no need to rent a car in Iguazu. The regular passenger line to cross the border can be long at times. Don’t waste previous vacation time!
• Bring your passport for the border crossing
• Wear comfortable clothes. You will walk a bit inside both parks

Can You Visit Both Sides in One Day?

Yes but I don’t recommend it. You will have to rush and you also won’t be able to do the boat trip which is something I absolutely recommend that you do!

How Many Days Do You Need?

Two days is the perfect amount of time to visit Iguazu Falls. With two days, you will spend each day on each side.

What is the Difference Between the Two Sides?

I covered this a little above. The Argentinian side has more falls but the Brazilian side provides a Panoramic view of this. On the Argentinian side, you feel like you are walking on top of the falls in the Upper Circuit, while the Devil’s Throat is perhaps the most impressive attraction.

Which Side Should You Visit First

In my opinion, this depends on two things. 1. Is the Devil’s Throat on the Argentinian side open and 2. Which side do you want to do the boat trip.

If the Devil’s Throat is open and if you do the boat trip on the Argentinian side, then you need a full day here. Pick the day where you have the longest hours after factoring in flights. If Devil’s Throat is closed and you do the boat trip on the Brazilian side, you don’t need as much time on the Argentinian side.

If you have 2 full days in Iguazu that does not include flying or transit time (meaning you won’t be traveling on those 2 days), then it really doesn’t matter which day you pick as you will have the same number of hours on both days.

Park Hours

The Argentina side opens at 8 AM and the Brazilian side opens at 9 AM. They both close at 6 PM with last admission at 4:30 PM.

Which Side Should You Do the Boat Ride?

The experience it self is not that much different! and by experience I mean the sheer volume of water that will come crashing down on you as you go right under the fall! The Argentina side however, does cost less. Regardless of side, add 2-2.5 hours extra for the boat trip.

One thing to note is that on the Brazilian side, your entry ticket to the park is timed but on the Argentinian side, your boat trip is timed. So once inside the park in Brazil, it doesn’t matter what time you do the ride, whereas on the Argentinian side, you will have to plan your activities around what time your boat trip is.

Honestly, if you have the budget, do it on both sides! You won’t regret it!

Itinerary for 2 Days at Iguazu Falls

I will tell you what I did so that you can get an idea of how to spend 2 days at Iguazu Falls.

Day 1

I took an early morning flight from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu and landed at around 8:30 AM. I was picked up by Guillermo at the airport and then taken to my hotel to drop my bag. From there, we headed to the border. After a few minutes, we got to the Argentinian border and then subsequently to the Brazilian side. You have to get down from your vehicle and go to get your passport stamped on the Brazilian side but this process is very quick.

Note – See my post on the upcoming visa requirement for US, Canadian and Australian citizens.

After a very short distance, we were at the park! Guillermo parked and escorted me into the park. He was with me until I bought my ticket for the boat (I had already bought my ticket for the park online the night before). Once I had my boat ticket, I entered the park and hopped on the bus. The bus takes you to the boat and the falls. The first stop is the boat. After a thrilling boat experience (I cover this in length in my Brazil post), I got back on the bus to experience the falls.

I messaged Guillermo when I was done (there is free wifi at the park, at the end of the falls where the bus stop is) and he promotly picked me up. We crossed the boder around 3 pm. There was a massive line but Guillermo was able to skip most of it. After clearing immigration again on both sides, he dropped me at the hotel. I had a couple of hours to relax at the hotel before I headed for dinner. The restaurant was walking distance from the hotel.

Day 2

On day 2 of this 2 days in Iguazu itinerary, I hopped over to see the Argentinian side. This day, I had a delayed start which was nice! The reason for this was because Devil’s Throat was under repairs due to recent flooding. This attraction takes about 2 hours to complete. Also because I did the boat ride in Brazil, all I had to do today were the Upper and Lower Circuits.

I left by packed bags at the hotel and Guillermo picked me up. He was going to come back to the hotel later that afternoon to pick my bags up. I was dropped off at the entrance to the park. After buying my ticket in-person, I proceeded to the entrance and spent time visiting the Upper and Lower Circuits. In fact, I did the Lower Circuit twice!

There are a few more things you can do on the Argentinian side that I have included in my Argentina post, so please do check it out!

After picking me back up from the park, I was dropped off at the airport where I took my flight back to Buenos Aires. Because I had got done a little early, I was able to call Aerolineas Argentinas and get my flight changed to an earlier flight.

Note that if you are doing the boat trip in Argentina (even without Devil’s Throat), you still need about 5 hours at the park.

Where I Ate

I had dinner at Restaurante La Rueda and had a great experience. The food was very good and the portions were huge. They are known for their fish and steak dishes but I had some appetizers as I like to sample food.

For lunch, you can easily buy food inside both parks at the cafes.

Where I Stayed

Since I flew into Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, I stayed in Argentina. I really loved my accommodation spot. It was quiet but not far from everything! This small bed and breakfast had a boutique hotel feel to it. They had a pool and the room was super comfortable. I really enjoyed the breakfast! But the best part was the gracious host, Pablo! See HERE for more.

If you have the budget, check out this hotel that is right inside the park on the Argentinian side! You have direct access to the park and the falls and can beat the crowds or go in and out all day.

If you would like to stay on the Brazilian side, check out options HERE.

You also have the option of staying inside the park on the Brazilian side if you stay in this hotel!

What to Packed for 2 days in Iguazu Falls

• Water and snacks – You can also purchase food at the falls
• Sunscreen
• A cap or hat
• A raincoat – If you don’t want to get wet. You could wear a poncho like this one, but people were getting wet even with these
• Waterproof sandals – I recommend a brand like Teva, where it’s study enough to walk but also water proof and has a great grip
• A waterproof/dry bag – Even if you ignore all my tips, this is one that I cannot recommend enough.
• A phone case (if your phone is not waterproof)
• A go-pro – If you want to record some amazing action shots on the boat
• A quick dry towel
• Bug and mosquito repellant
• A change of clothes if you want to, but it’s so hot that you will dry fast regardless of what you wear

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