The Iguassu Falls are the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. Not only because of the powerful waterfalls, which are impressive, but also because of the nature that surrounds it.
In order to plan my trip to Iguassu, I did all my research through Internet, specially through Trip Advisor. I decided to stay at Hotel del Rey in Foz de Iguacu because the reviews were very good regarding quality-price. I can't complain about the hotel, because it was clean, had all the basics, the buffet was wonderful and the price was great (R$80/night). The one thing that I would have found useful when planning the trip is the distances and how long it takes to do things. That's what I want to explain, and hopefully it will help you plan your trip. The first thing you should think about is where you are coming from and if you are staying in the Argentinian or Brazilian side. I flew from Sao Paulo, where I was working for the week, to Foz de Iguacu, which is the city closest to the falls on the Brazilian side. Once you arrive, you can get everywhere by bus, the only problem is that it takes quite a lot longer than a taxi, so you have to decide depending on how much time you have and how much money you want to spend. Eg. the bus from the airport to Foz costs 2R$ has a regularity every 15 min (depending on the day and time of day it could be every half an hour), and it takes over half an hour to get downtown. By taxi, it costs 35R$ and it takes 15min.
You must consider that apart from the hotels downtown, there are others that are closer to the Falls, where you would probably save time. What I don’t know is whether those hotels are a lot more expensive just because they are closer to the Falls.
I had two days in Iguaçu, so I decided to spend one in the brazilian side and one in the argentinian. Some people say it can be done in one day, but you would just do the very basics in one day.
On the Brazilian side: the bus or taxi leaves you at the entrance of the park, where you have to pay the ticket (aprox R$ 20) (get there early to avoid lines!) and you get to see a short interpretation museum and then you take an internal bus to the trails. There are different stops with 4 basic things to do inside the park:
- Last stop of the bus: Trail where you can see the falls (Trilha das Cataratas). This is the basic excursion and is not very long (it will take you aprox 1h of down hill including stops to take pictures). What I liked about this walk is that you get a general view of the waterfalls and it’s very beautiful. At the end there is an elevator that takes you to the resort where there are shops and restaurants. There’s also a boat that you can take on the top part of the waterfalls (I didn’t).
- Macuco Safari stop: at this stop you can do rafting and other adventure sports (aprox. 3h).
- Across the street there’s a 2km trail: Trilha das Bananeras (100 R$), that ends at the river where you can take a boat and do cayacking. I did this trail and I enjoyed it because it's a beautiful jungle. I was by myself with the guide and he explained the flora and fauna of the area. At the end of the trail you get to the river of Iguaçu, go for a motor boat ride, jump off, go to the bird observatory and do some cayaking. I got to see many birds, butterflies and a baby cayman. It was great!
- Trilha Poço Preto: the activities are similar to Trilha das Bananeras but the trail is longer 7km and you have a greater chance to see even more animals according to what they told me. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to do this trail.

After I finished visiting the park there are two main attractions right at the door:
- Take a 10 min. helicopter ride to the waterfalls for around 100 R$. Or a longer one that takes you all the way to the dam. But I didn’t do any cause they close at 6pm.
- Go to the Bird Park (last ticket at 6pm). Aprox 20 R$. There’s all kinds of parrots and birds. Some of them are in small cages but others are walk in cages where you get really close to them. I think it’s really worth going. It takes at least an hour to see it.

I’ll describe my plan for the following day in case it may help plan your trip:
I got up at 6.30, had breakfast at 7, did the check out at my hotel and caught a taxi with all my luggage to the airport where I had to be at 7pm later on that day. I left my luggage at a locker and continued with the taxi to the argentinian side (all for 80 R$). I got to the park at around 9.00 (tickets cost aprox 40 PArg – By the way there’s an ATM at the casino right by the border and another one at the park). Right in time to take a quick look at the interpretation park and ride the 9.30 train to the falls (trains every 30 min). It took around 20 min to get to the most important stop (2nd stop): the catwalk that takes you to see the devil’s throat. It’s a 2km walk, and the views at the end are the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen in my life. There’s so much water coming down with such strength!!
Then I took the train back and got out at the 1st stop where you can do the trails:
- upper trails, where you see the waterfalls from the top
- lower trails, where you see the waterfalls from the bottom
- there’s an optional trail at the lower part to the island San Martin. It has tough stairs but it’s nice and not crowded.
- After doing all that, I did the Macuco trail, which starts at the entrance of the park. It’s a 7 km trail that takes you to a “small” waterfall (compared with what you have just seen), but what’s nice about it is that is really wild and you get to see a lot of animals (I saw huge birds, a tucano, a capariva and some big paws on the trail, apart from the biggest ants I’ve seen in my life).


Packing Recommendations:
- rain coat and umbrella
- transparent plastic bag for your camara (so it doesn’t get soaked when you get close to the waterfalls)
- comfortable flip-flaps
- swimming suit
- insect repellent
- sun block
- binoculars