The Perfect 3 Day Iguazu Falls Itinerary
👉 Jump to: Iguazu Itinerary | Day 1 – Arrival & Catamaran | Day 2 – Brazil Side | Day 3 – Argentina Side | Get Printable Version
After visiting Iguazu Falls, I’ve pulled together this epic 3 day itinerary to help you see the best of the Iguazu area in just a few days.
Why 3 days? Well, in my mind 3 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Iguazu Falls. It gives you a day to see each side of the falls (Brazil and Argentina) without getting too bored in the otherwise somewhat lackluster Puerto Iguazú.
In this guide, I’ll handle all the planning for you, breaking down exactly what you should do day-by-day in Iguazu. Just follow along.
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Iguazu Falls 3 Day Itinerary
The first choice you have to make is whether to stay in Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazil side or the much smaller Puerto Iguazú on the Argentina side. Honestly, neither town is the most interesting in the world so I’d pick based on which country you are flying in/out from.
If these hotels still have availability for your dates, they are my top recommendations:
- 🏆 Best on Brazil Side – The Belmond Hotel: located within the Brazil national park and close to the main viewing platform
- 🏆 Best on Argentina Side – The Gran Melia Hotel: in the Argentina national park (some rooms have falls views!)
- 🏨 Where I Stayed – The O2 Hotel: Clean, reasonably priced, and I loved the rooftop pool!
- 👪 Best for Families – DoubleTree by Hilton – Resort – Foz do Iguaçu
- 🛏️ Best Budget – DoubleTree by Hilton – Resort – Foz do Iguaçu
Now that you’ve got your accommodations sorted, let’s get on with the itinerary. Note this assumes you’re arriving via the Argentina side as I did. If you are staying in Brazil, you can still follow this itinerary but may decide to slightly adapt it.
Day 1 Itinerary: Arrive in Puerto Iguazú, Tres Fronteras, Catamaran Tour
Visit Tres Fronteras Border and Take a Catamaran Tour
By the time you check into your hotel, it’s probably the mid-afternoon already. Unfortunately, that’s not the best time to visit the falls – so instead make use of this time by visiting the “Tres Fronteras” (Triple Frontier) area, where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina all meet across the river.
There’s not a lot to see in all honestly, but staring at the border of three countries in the jungle is pretty cool! There are viewing platforms on the border, but another exciting way to experience it is to take a river cruise.
Cruceros Iguazu leaves for a sunset sail every day at 5:30 from a small dock on the river (ask your hotel or taxi driver for directions). The cruise takes two hours and there is live music on board.
Dinner at Madero Tango Iguazu
There is not a lot to do in the evenings in Puerto Iguazu, so why not check out a tango show (and dinner!) at the top-rated Madero Tango Iguazu? Be sure to dress up for the show and reserve your tickets in advance.
Note if you are also planning to stay in Buenos Aires, you might consider attending the same company’s larger and genuinely excellent show in Buenos Aires instead (it’s one of my favorite things to do in Buenos Aires).
After dinner, get to bed – and be sure to set your alarm for tomorrow when we finally get to see the falls!
Day 2 Itinerary: Tour Brazil Side of Falls, Itaipu Dam
Rise and shine early for a jammed-packed day involving a trip to another country:
Cross the Border to Brazil
From Puerto Iguazu, the easiest way to cross to the Brazilian side is just to hire a taxi to take you. Talk to your hotel for prices.
Alternatively, there are public buses that go from the center of Puerto Iguazu.
Whatever route you take, you’ll want to make sure your Iguazu Falls itinerary gets to the entrance of Brazil’s national park before it opens at 8 AM.
Soak in the Best Single View of Iguazu Falls
The Brazilian side of the falls has the single best viewpoint of Iguazu Falls, on a platform that sits literally in the middle of all the cataracts.
It’s super cool, but as it’s really the whole show on the Brazilian side, it also gets SUPER crowded fast.
So here’s a pro tip to beat the crowds:
When you enter the park, the first thing you’ll do is get on a bus. Take it directly to the end, get off where the elevators are, and book it down the stairs to the platform. Do this right and you might just be able to score a few precious minutes on the viewing platform without hordes of tourists crowding out every photo opportunity!
After checking out the main viewing platform, you can walk around a bit (there’s a few short trails, though nothing like on the Argentinian side).
If you have extra time, book a kayaking tour to get out on the water in another way.
You can also book the Macuco Jet Boat Safari from here (or do it on Argentinian side, as we’ll cover later).
Tour the Itaipu Dam
Finish your time in the Brazilian National Park to give yourself enough time to make the journey to Itaipu Dam and make the final tour at 3 PM (a mistake I made, resulting in me missing the tour of the dam on my own Iguazu Falls itinerary!).
A shared project between Brazil and Paraguay, the Itaipu Dam rivals China’s Three Gorges Dam as the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.
Click here to reserve your tour in advance.
Dinner in Puerto Iguazu
After touring the dam, cross the border back to Puerto Iguazu and get some rest in your hotel before heading out to dinner.
For a unique interactive and social dinner that will educate you about Argentinian cuisine, plan ahead and reserve your spot at The Argentine Experience (Puerto Iguazu).
Day 3 Itinerary: Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls
Dedicate your last day to exploring Argentina’s Iguazú National Park. It’s much bigger than the Brazil side, so plan at least 5 hours to explore it (more if you’re doing the jet boat).
Get Soaked at Devil’s Throat
Right after the gates to the park open, find your way to the “Jungle Train” and catch the first ride to Devil’s Throat straight to the back of the park.
As soon as the train arrives, book it down the gangway to claim the best spot on the platform that looks out over the top of this incredible drop of water.
Just be prepared for the fact that you and any bags you bring are gonna get totally soaked by the spray from Devil’s Throat!
Oh, and be sure to bring a waterproof camera or GoPro.
Snap Your Photos on the Lower Circuit
My personal tip for the best places to take photos?
Definitely along the Lower Circuit trail on the Argentina side.
The Lower Circuit has some of the best vistas of the falls, and lots of places along the walkways to stop and take photos, so it’s one of the few places where you can actually take a photo without constantly having to push through the crowds.
So change your clothes after Devil’s Throat and get on the Lower Circuit while there is still some softer morning light.
Meander the Upper Circuit
After the Lower Circuit, it’s time to explore the Upper Circuit.
Though the photo opportunities aren’t quite as interesting as on the Lower Circuit, the vistas are from a higher vantage point.
Walk the circuit and the loop will take you back to the main central junction, where you can either take the train or hike 700 meters to the entrance.
Take the Gran Adventura Jet Boat (If You Didn’t Already in Brazil)
If you didn’t take the Macuco Jet Boat Safari while on the Brazilian side, be sure to take its Argentinian counterpart – called the “Gran Adventura” – for an opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the cataracts inside a boat.
You can pre-book your boat tickets here.
Leave Iguazu
Hard to believe, but you’re coming to the end of your Iguazu Falls itinerary!
After exploring Argentina’s Iguazú National Park, either head to the airport if you’ve pre-booked an evening flight (note: I wouldn’t book one before 4 PM to give yourself enough time to explore).
If you’re leaving the next day, head back to your hotel to chill at the pool and relax on your final night in Puerto Iguazu.
🖨️ Don’t miss our free, printable version of this itinerary!
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That’s it for this itinerary.
Before you go, make sure to check out my 24 Tips for Visiting Iguazu Falls – there are a few that will save you some serious time and money.
My sister and I love your itinerary. We haven’t booked anything in advance, do you think it’s okay to book as we go? Or should we reserve in advance? We will be there the beginning of March
Could you say about how much you paid for this 3-day trip? Or about how much money you would plan to save for this trip? Also how do you find out what is required to go between the borders? Like documentation. Or is that not required because you’re just visiting the park?
For visa requirements, just input your home country and destination (Argentina and Brazil, in this case) into the iVisa website and you’ll see what is required.
In terms of cost, this was part of a larger trip in South America. If we’re ignoring flights and just talking about day-to-day expenses, I typically budget about $100 USD per day. But it REALLY depends upon your travel style – you could spend a lot less staying in hostels, cooking your own food, and finding shared transport. You could spend a lot more if you want a hotel room with a view of the falls. It’s hard to say without knowing more.
we will gladly follow this but we also want to make a quick stop in paraguay.. a lunch or something . Can you suggest any tour guides perhaps or maybe hotels have such
I don’t have any suggestions for Paraguay, but maybe a reader will!
Ciao Nate,
consigli l’escursione in barca nel lato argentino o brasiliano?
(in termini di bellezza e non di costo)
Grazie mille!
I like the boats on the Brazil side because you can go under the water.
Hi Nate
Will Argentinian side be the same as Brazilian side on transport…..ie when u enter entrance of Iguazu park on Brazil side there’s a complimentary bus to shuttle around
So is there any free shuttle on Argentinian side pls?
Hi Nate,
Thanks for the blog information! Would you happen to know if visiting both sides of the falls (Brazil and Argentina) is still possible now due to the covid situation and border crossing? Thanks!
JY
Yes, the Iguazu Falls border crossing is open. You’ll of course still need to comply with Argentina’s entry requirements (for foreigners, that currently means – in addition to any required visas – proof of vaccination, a test, and insurance). Enjoy Iguazu!