20221122_125429Iguazu Falls, Brazilian side (November 2022)

Also known as cataratas do Iguaçu in Portuguese, Iguazu Falls also has parts of it in Brazil, at its southernmost point that borders the northeastern quadrant of Argentina. While the majority of the waterfalls are located on the Argentinian side (80%), the Brazilian side offers more of the expansive views to experience the sheer size of the falls themselves. After spending a day on the Argentinian side, I spent the next day on the Brazilian side, and it would also be my first time visiting Brazil, which was a plus.

My tour guide picked me up around 9h00 the following morning, and we actually drove into town, Puerto Iguazú, to pick up other passengers before heading to the Argentina-Brazil border. For most tourists who choose not to stay in the Gran Meliá (the only hotel located inside Iguazu National Park in Argentina), they stay in the small town of Puerto Iguazú, located about 20 kilometers/12 miles away. After picking up six other passengers, we were on our way to the country border.

It was an additional 12 kilometers/7 miles to the Argentinian-Brazilian border. Interestingly, the country of Paraguay is not too far away (28 kilometers/17 miles), and you could cross the border there to Ciudad del Este, its nearest town. Besides Iguazu Falls, this part of South America is unique in its “Triple Frontier,” with the three countries– Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay– coming together. Sadly, I didn’t have time to visit Paraguay, but hopefully another time!

We reached the Argentina-Brazil border, where we presented our passports and COVID vaccination cards; we also had to step out of the vehicle and physically walk to the other side of the border before we got our passports and COVID vaccination cards back and could go. Thankfully, we went early enough that the whole process took 45 minutes maximum, and we were finally in Brazil!

20221122_140319Crossing the border

After going through Foz do Iguaçu, the Brazilian city for Iguazu National Park, we reached the park entrance where we got our timed tickets and waited to take the shuttle to the trail for the waterfalls. There were a ton of people already there by 11h00, but we soon got our turn to climb on the double-decker bus and ride it into the park– from there, we began our walking tour with our guide to see all of the waterfalls.

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Just before starting, there was a bit of tension from the tour guide and one of the couples in our group: the couple wanted to explore the national park themselves and meet up with us later on. Despite the tour guide warning them that they could get lost and not be held responsible for it, the couple was insistent on their self-guided kind of tour. Eventually, the tour guide relented, and the couple set off on their own– mind you, the couple was fairly young and seemed to be the “Instagram influencer” types, so go figure…although we did meet up with them at the end of the tour, I found it a bit foolish for them to do it on their own, especially with the park being so crowded and easy to get lost.

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The rest of us opted to stay with our guide, and we set off on the boardwalk. We weaved through crowds of tourists, and it honestly felt even more packed than on the Argentinian side. Any case, the views of the waterfalls were stunning: as said, Argentina contains 80% of the waterfalls, so to see them from the Brazilian side was very impressive– if anything, I found the views even more awe-inspiring, as you could see more of the waterfalls from further away. Best way to compare the two sides is the Argentinian side offers close-ups of the individual waterfalls, whereas the Brazilian side zooms out as a panorama to show all of them as a collection.

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I didn’t see as much wildlife on the Brazilian side, but our group did come across an iguana, which was huge!

20221122_114414Iguana!

After stopping at a few viewing decks for photos, we reached the part of the trail where we could actually get close to the waterfalls at ground level, perhaps get soaked! Considering that I’d just taken a boat tour the previous day and got drenched, I opted to go just halfway through, so as not to get too wet! And just before we reached the trail exit, we also got to be on the viewing deck to be up close to the Devil’s Throat: as the one on the Argentinian side was temporarily closed due to floods (at least, during the time of my visit; it has since reopened in March 2023). The most powerful of the bunch, the Devil’s Throat is so mighty that it’s permanently misted due to its immense water flow. Truly a surreal and majestic end to my visit of Iguazu!

20221122_123813Up close…

We wrapped up our visit in Foz do Iguaçu and crossed the border back into Argentina. I was the last passenger to be dropped off at my hotel around 15h00; I had another lovely late lunch at the self-service restaurant (more chorizo!) and chilled out at the hotel before I was picked up and taken to the airport, thus concluding my time in Iguazu. It was two nights of exploring all that Iguazu had to offer, both in Argentina and Brazil, as one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

Stay tuned for the final post of my trip (this time, to another country– Uruguay). Until then!

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

75 thoughts on “Destination: Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side)”

  4. I only visited on this side and toured the falls on my own at break neck pace because I had an afternoon flight to Rio. i THINK Brasil is the best side to see the falls from. as for the couple, why book a tour then if you want to go off and do your own thing? strange!

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    1. I found the waterfalls on the Brazilian side to be more impressive, as you can see all of them at once, instead of individually up close. The couple who toured with us were a bit strange, but no harm done!

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  7. I think it’s best to see the falls from both sides, the angles and proximity are different. Once there it is easy to visit on your own, there are not many options, but crossing borders requires a little insight provided by the guides. I had mine from Ciudad del Este, and it was very useful for the four border crossings and the eight new stamps in one day.

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    1. I agree! I’m glad to have visited both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of Iguazu, to get different perspectives of the same network of waterfalls. I didn’t get the chance to visit Paraguay during my time in Iguazu, but I hope to return and see it some day!

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    1. It was fascinating to experience Iguazu in Argentina and Brazil! It’s a similar experience to that of Niagara Falls, which borders the US and Canada. Natural borders between countries are so cool, and I really enjoyed my time there. 🙂

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  11. The falls are amazing from both sides and offer unique perspectives, but I agree on the Brazilian side it looks like the views open up a bit more to appreciate the vastness. Shame about the couple on your tour – why book a tour if you don’t want a tour?!

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    1. I know! I didn’t quite understand why the couple didn’t just visit Iguazu on their own…maybe they just needed a ride to the national park, but then again, they could’ve just booked a transfer from their hotel. I have no idea why they did that, but thankfully, it didn’t ruin the visit for the rest of us!

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  12. Like you I preferred the views on the Brazilian side, and your photos illustrate just how great those views are! We stayed in the hotel there right by the falls so could easily take a walk by ourselves, but we used a guide for our visit to the Argentine side 🙂

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    1. Ah! Did you stay at the Hotel das Cataratas (Belmond)? That’s the pink hotel inside the national park on the Brazilian side. Looks like you did the inverse, visiting Brazil first, then Argentina. A fun experience nevertheless!

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    1. The couple were a bit strange, but they were harmless. I think they wanted to do their own thing, as the girl probably wanted multiple photoshoots (she was wearing a really nice, “Instagrammable” dress). We met up with them in the end, so it worked out!

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    1. I only visited Colonia in Uruguay, but I absolutely loved it. I didn’t get to try the Tanant wines, but I would’ve loved them. Post on Uruguay is coming up next!

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    1. Same here! The Brazilian side shows the entire cascade, while the Argentinian side shows them close up. Both are gorgeous, but I’m glad I saw the Brazilian side last to really appreciate the sheer size and beauty of Iguazu.

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  21. The falls are strikingly beautiful; you have some great photos too. It was quite selfish and irresponsible of the couple to go off on their own. They should have considered the guide and the rest of the people in your group before heading our on their own. C’est la vie.

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    1. I agree! The couple were young and the “Instagram-influencer” types, so it was kind of strange they wanted to go on their own, especially when they’d paid for the guided tour. Well, it’s their loss!

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  22. I can imagine the thundering sound you must have heard being that close to the waterfalls. The views from the Brazilian side do look rather different from your photos from the Argentinian side. Either way, it’s obvious why Iguazu/Iguaçu is such a popular site.

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    1. The waterfalls were loud, but they were more so wet than thundering, haha. The views from Brazil were expansive and certainly a treat, especially after seeing them from the Argentinian side from a different perspective. 🙂

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  29. Yep, I preferred the Brazilian side! Such beautiful photos. Appreciate that as I have no photos of the falls. (Bag was stolen after a night long bus-ride.) Still, the memories have come to the surface having enjoyed viewing your two posts.

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    1. The Brazilian side certainly shows the sheer size of the falls! Truly a beautiful sight. I’m sorry to hear your bag (and camera) got stolen so as to miss out on capturing photos of it, but you do have the memories to reflect back on! Thanks for reading.

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  36. This looks amazing, Rebecca! I think it would be worth it to see both sides, for sure. Though it sounds like the Argentina side was crazy with tourists – and then you’ve said the Brazil side was even busier! Which felt busier? I mean did you have more space to move around on one side, or were they both pretty packed? Either way, I’d love to go!

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    1. Both were really packed! It was difficult to move around with so many people and not get lost from my tour guide. Regardless, Iguazu is worth a visit to both sides to see and feel the power of the waterfalls!

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