Iguaçu Falls – Brazil Side Waterfall Guide 

The Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls is all about scale!! I am rarely speechless and seeing the falls for the first time on the brazil side had me exactly that, speechless! It’s not to be missed, so this is our Iguaçu Falls Guide for Brazil.

While the Argentina side puts you right on top of the waterfalls, Brazil steps back and lets you see the vastness at once. From the Brazil side, you really get the classic postcard views and it’s unforgettable. 

If you are visiting the Argentina side as well (or instead 👀) make sure to check out our complete guide: Iguazu Falls – Argentina Side Guide

Where to Stay

Foz do Iguaçu is where you will be based to see the Iguaçu Falls on the Brazil side. The town itself is a practical border city rather than a charming one, so it’s unlikely that you will go out exploring. 

Because of this, we recommend only 1 night in Foz (or if you can time it well, no nights at all!) 

We stayed for 2 nights, and it was actually a blessing because Connor hurt his back so needed a day in bed! But 2 nights for anyone else would probably be way too many. 

Puerto Iguazu on the Argentina side is a much nicer town to spend a couple of nights – so many prioritise that. Check out where to stay in Puerto Iguazu in our Iguazu Falls Guide for Argentina. 

We stayed at the CLH Suítes Foz do Iguaçu which is a basic hotel – no frills but perfect for a few nights stay. We had a private room and private bathroom, and made use of the TV (logged into Netflix of course) and stocked the fridge with nibbles and drinks. The staff here were also really helpful in letting us know how to get to the falls and the best way to cross the border i.e. the bus stop right across the road from the hotel entrance – so easy!

The hotel is also only a 10 min walk from a huge supermarket & 7 mins from the main bus terminal.

Another reasonably priced option in this area (near the bus station, supermarket, but not much of a vibe in the area) is Che Hermano Suítes – colourful apart-hotel in a great location at a great price. 

If you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, check out the JL Hotel by Bourbon which is in a great location, has a pool and near a mall with shops and restaurants. 

If you are looking for a dorm, The Lodge Iguassu offers capsule dorm pods for a really reasonable price.

How to Get to Foz do Iguaçu

We have gone into much more detail in our article: How to get to Igauçu Falls, Brazil, so for more information give this a read. You will get all our tips on how to reach Foz do Igauçu and how to do this as cheaply/efficiently as possible.

From Major Cities in Brazil

From São Paulo

✈️ Plane: 1h45, multiple daily direct flights

🚌 Bus: 18 hours, overnight buses are common

Check out the bus schedule from São Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu

Wondering what to do in São Paulo – find out here!

From Rio de Janeiro

✈️ Plane: 2 hours (usually with a connection in São Paulo – look into the prices of flights from São Pualo instead and consider a bus from Rio to São Paulo to save $$$)

🚌 Bus: 24–26 hours (long and tiring, would not recommend – or at least use the bus journey to break up your trip. Explore São Paulo for a few days on your way down)

Wondering what to do in Rio – check out all our articles on the best things to do in Rio, where to stay and how to stay safe!

From Curitiba

✈️ Plane: 1 hour (very cheap and well connected)

🚌 Bus: 10 hours, very popular route overnight 

Wondering what to do in Curitiba – find out here: The Best Things to do in Curitiba, Brazil!

From Florianópolis

✈️ Plane: 4 hours (usually requires a connection in São Paulo)

🚌 Bus: 14–16 hours, common backpacker option – this is what we did

Backpacker tips: 

1) If flights are affordable, take them. Brazil is huge, and buses can add up fast in time and money

2) Overnight buses are transport and accommodation rolled into one! Make sure to take an eyemask, earplugs and layers (the aircon is always so cold) to ensure a good nights sleep

From Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

Again this is covered fully in our article of how to get to the Iguaçu Falls, so for the full breakdown, including a step by step guide, check out our ‘How to get to Iguaçu Falls, Brazil‘ article.

To summarise you have 2 options:

1. Take a public bus across the border
2. Take a tour to the Brazil side which will return to Argentina after 

Bus

When taking the bus, if you are continuing your travels into Brazil (i.e. aren’t coming back to Argentina on the same day) you MUST tell the bus driver that you need to disembark the bus at immigration on BOTH sides (i.e. to exit Argentina and enter Brazil). 

It is common (but not officially correct) for the buses to pass through with day guests to see the falls. This means many of the people passing on the border will not complete immigration.  

The public buses depart from the Puerto Iguazu Bus Terminal where you can buy your tickets for the bus. 

Bus companies which do the border crossing are:

• Easybus (we took this one)
• Rio Uruguay 
• Crucero del Norte
• Or any bus which says ‘Foz do Iguaçu’ on the front

Tour / private driver

A tour or a private driver is probably the easiest (but not cheapest) way to see the Iguaçu Falls on the Brazilian side, if you are returning to Argentina on the same day.

There are loads of tours available online (check to see if your tour includes entrance tickets)

If you want to see both sides in one day, this looks good:

This tour goes from Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) to visit the Brazilian side & bird park – the bird park was really good!

And finally this is a 2 day combo tour which looks good. You get 1 day at the argentinian falls and ½ day at the brazil falls (which is the perfect amount of time for each!)

How Long to Spend in Foz do Iguaçu

For most people, 1 night/ 1 full day is plenty.

This allows for:

1. Morning visit to the falls
2. Afternoon at Parque das Aves
3. Staying either the night before or the night of the day you see the falls, and onward travel

There really isn’t much else to do in the town, apart from travel out to see the falls. 

How to Get to the Brazilian Side of the Falls

Bus from Foz do Igaucu 

Public buses leave the Terminal de Transportes Urbano regularly throughout the day to both the Iguaçu Falls and the airport. The correct bus to board is the Linha 120.

The bus goes all the way to the park entrance. 

As of January 2026 the bus costs R$ 5 which is paid directly to the driver. As of September 2025 this is the timetable (essentially every 30 minutes):

https://www.foztrans.pr.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/120-Parque-Nacional.pdf

Bus summary:

Bus Line: 120

Cost: R$ 5

Frequency: every 30 minutes 

Travel time: 45m – 1hr

Taxi

It is possible to get a taxi and this will be much faster if you are short on time, but it will be much more expensive. Uber is really easy and reliable in Brazil, so we would recommend using this. It will also tell you the price upfront. 

Tour

A tour is not necessary for the Brazil side of the falls however, if you want a hassle and stress free day, a tour could be just what you need.

This tour ‘From Foz do Iguaçu: Brazilian Side of the Falls with Ticket’ includes hotel pick up & drop off, the ticket entry to the falls and an english speaking guide.

A tour is also a good idea if you want to see sunrise at the falls (we wish we did this!!).

Or sunset (this looks amazing too!)

Iguaçu Falls (Brazilian Side) Visitor Info

For up to date information here is the official website: https://cataratasdoiguacu.com.br. You can change the language to Spanish or English. 

Ticket Prices (2026)

Adult: R$ 131 pp

The ticket price includes the bus from the ticket entrance to the falls. The bus is about 11km of driving through the trees to the falls. An alternative to the bus ride is to use the bike paths – more on that below.

Do I need to buy tickets online?

If you know exactly what time you will be arriving it is a good idea to book your tickets ahead of time. Each time slot (every 30 mins) has a maximum number of tickets (usually 350 or 450) and on popular days/times some of these slots can run out.

If you don’t buy in advance you can go to the ticket machines at the entrance but you may have to wait until a time slot with space.

When should I arrive at the falls?

You should aim to arrive 10 minutes before your ticketed time to board the bus to take you to the falls. At busy times there will be a queue for the buses, however they run very often (more than 3 per time slot – at least!).

If you are booking your tickets in advance the first time slot of the day is usually 8:30am with the last entry at 4pm. 

Once you are in the park you can stay until around 5:30pm. (If you have booked the sunset or sunrise tickets these times will be different)

What does my ticket include?

The Iguacu National Park admission ticket will include your transport to the falls and the following trails/paths:

Cataratas Trail

This is the main walk with epic views of the waterfalls. The Cataratas Trails is about 1.5km long and features amazing viewpoints along the way. The walk is not strenuous but includes some steps. 

The trail ends at the Falls Walkway where you can walk out into the falls (getting very wet from the spray!).

You can take the elevator up to the main road to catch the bus back to the visitors centre. 

The following is taken from the official website:

São João Circuit

With a total length of 1.9 km, this trail is surrounded by Atlantic Forest and offers specific spots for river and waterfall bathing, as well as historical and cultural points that tell the story of Iguaçu National Park.

Canafístula Trail

An immersive 2.2 km route through the Atlantic Forest, perfect for discovering the park’s rich biodiversity. Ideal for nature observation, walking, and cycling.

Poço Preto Trail

A 9.6 km trail for walking or cycling through the Atlantic Forest, ending at the Iguaçu River before it forms the waterfalls. This is a prime area for birdwatching and environmental interpretation activities.

Bananeiras Trail

This 1.3 km trail, suitable for walking or cycling, runs through the Atlantic Forest and leads to the Iguaçu River and the Taupá Area, a deck that offers a privileged view of the river.

Cataratas Bike Path

This bike-friendly route offers 11.6 km of paved path. Starting at the Iguaçu National Park Visitor Center, it winds through sections fully immersed in the Atlantic Forest, leading visitors to the beginning of the Cataratas Trail. 

Bikes can be rented through the Bike Iguaçu service.

What to Expect When Visiting Iguaçu Falls 

🕥Length of the visit: 2-3 hours total

Boardwalk walk length: 1.5km

You will get amazing panoramic views throughout

You can get close-up on the boardwalk into the falls – you might get very wet but it’s totally optional

Best Time to Visit Iguaçu Falls

Normally I would say going first thing is a good idea, but actually it seems like the first time slot of the day is always the most popular! For fewer crowds head there towards the end of the day. We went at 3pm and had a great time! This is especially true during peak season and weekends.

December – March: Wet Season, more water, more humidity, but maybe more chance of rain

May – August: Dry season, lower water flow but clearer views

We went in late November & it was a little humid but fine, we had lovely weather and the views were very clear. 

What to Wear & Bring

• Refillable water-bottle (they have a refill station at the visitors centre)
• Quick dry clothing
• A waterproof/poncho if you don’t want to get wet 
• Sun protection
• Camera / phone for those all important pics

Parque das Aves

We went to the Parque das Aves before heading to the falls and it was amazing! Usually we don’t go to zoos or similar but this bird park is more of a sanctuary and we love birds!

The range of birds they have here is amazing and seeing them so close is incredible. Although not in the wild, they have plenty of space and the people who work there take good care of them. It’s the largest aviary for rescued birds in Brazil!

The park is just across the road from the visitor centre (5min walk max).

• You will probably spend about 1-2 hours here (we spent 3!)
• You can walk through the aviaries with birds all around you
• It also has other animals like alligators, reptiles & butterflies 
• It’s the perfect addition to your day at the falls
• As of 2026 the tickets cost R$ 110 pp

We don’t want to spoil it too much, but expect toucans, macaws, parakeets, guans and so much more!

It’s the perfect way to spend a few more hours in the area after or before the falls. 

Getting your bearings – where everything is

Foz do Igaucu: This is the main town, and the closest large town to the falls. This is where all the accommodation is as well as the transport links to the falls, and a good range of restaurants and supermarkets. 

Falls entrance/Ticket office: The falls entrance is about 17km from Foz do Iguaçu, so best reached by car (30mins) or bus route 120 (45min-1hr).

Foz do Iguaçu International Airport: The airport is on the 120 bus route from Foz Do Iguaçu and only a 5 min drive from the Iguaçu Falls visitors centre.

Aduana Brazil Iguaçu: Brazil’s immigration & customs office

Border Control Argentina: Argentina’s immigration & customs office

Parque das Aves: The bird park, only a 5 min walk from the visitors centre to the falls. It’s a great additional activity to add onto your day at the falls on the Brazil side. 

Iguazu Falls: Brazil vs Argentina, what is the difference?

Each person is entitled to their own opinion on which side they prefer. I have a theory that the first side you visit will be your favourite… drop us a comment to let us know if that’s true once you visit!

For the full guide on how to visit the Argentina side, make sure to check out our post.

So, which side of falls is better?

That’s up to you, but you really should visit both sides if you have time, and then make up your own mind!