Two days in Iguazu Falls--lodging on Brazilian or Argentinian side?
June 18, 2017 1:05 PM Subscribe
I'm nailing down the details of a trip to Brazil and Argentina in July. We'll be flying from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu, have 2 nights/days, then flying out of Foz de Iguazu airport to Sao Paulo. I understand that you get a somewhat different experience from each side in terms of the falls themselves, and with two days we can certainly arrange to do both. I am wondering if there is any advantage to staying in the Brazilian or Argentinian side in terms of lodging?
Just looking on the map, the downtown area of Foz de Iguacu looks significantly larger/more developed but that may or may not be an advantage. I am much much more comfortable speaking/listening in Spanish than in Portuguese, but a small part of the purpose of the trip is to work on my oral/aural PT a bit so maybe I should force myself out of my comfort zone more. I'm looking at the usual travelers info sources but most of them seem focused on which side of the falls you should visit, not which side is better for lodging.
Just looking on the map, the downtown area of Foz de Iguacu looks significantly larger/more developed but that may or may not be an advantage. I am much much more comfortable speaking/listening in Spanish than in Portuguese, but a small part of the purpose of the trip is to work on my oral/aural PT a bit so maybe I should force myself out of my comfort zone more. I'm looking at the usual travelers info sources but most of them seem focused on which side of the falls you should visit, not which side is better for lodging.
I would recommend Patricia at www.brol.com, a travel service specializing in Brazil. She advised us on which parts of Foz do Iguazu to avoid, and found us good lodging (on the Brazil side).
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure there's a lot of lodging on the Arg. side near the falls, mostly one or a few resorts.
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:46 PM on June 18, 2017
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure there's a lot of lodging on the Arg. side near the falls, mostly one or a few resorts.
posted by JimN2TAW at 2:46 PM on June 18, 2017
Do you have a Brazil visa yet? I ask because the wait time is crazy long.
As for the question, my parents have visited from both side and seemed to prefer the Argentine side more.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:20 PM on June 18, 2017
As for the question, my parents have visited from both side and seemed to prefer the Argentine side more.
posted by fiercekitten at 10:20 PM on June 18, 2017
I was at the falls a a couple months ago ago, and spent two nights in Foz do Iguacu (in a private room at Concept Design Hostel). Foz do Iguacu was fine -- we really didn't spend any time "out" in the cityother than eating at the surprisingly authentic Japanese restaurant a couple blocks away (recommend here on AskMefi!), and the only time I spent on the Argentinian side was the Puerto Iguazu airport/the falls themselves.
Crossing the border isn't hard necessarily (though I'd recommend doing it either in a taxi or as part of a guided tour), but does add in some extra time to the trip -- so depending on the timing of your flights, you may want to take into account when it will be the most convenient to do that.
posted by kylej at 10:26 PM on June 18, 2017
Crossing the border isn't hard necessarily (though I'd recommend doing it either in a taxi or as part of a guided tour), but does add in some extra time to the trip -- so depending on the timing of your flights, you may want to take into account when it will be the most convenient to do that.
posted by kylej at 10:26 PM on June 18, 2017
I really enjoyed Jasy Hotel, then called Los Troncos, on the Argentine side. The guidebook consensus, at least several years ago, was that the Argentine side generally offered better pricing and variety in food and accomodations--and though we only stayed on one side, Pto. Iguazú had enough to keep us entertained for a couple nights.
posted by deeaytch at 6:17 AM on June 19, 2017
posted by deeaytch at 6:17 AM on June 19, 2017
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure there's a lot of lodging on the Arg. side near the falls, mostly one or a few resorts.
This is correct - on the Argentina side you are basically stuck with the Sheraton if you want to stay near the falls. It is in the national park and therefore means you don't have to enter and exit the park all the time. It also means that the hotel is on the pricey end.
There are lots of hostel/budget/fancy hotels in Puerto Iguazú (the closest town), but it's not walkable into the park where the falls are. You will have to take a shuttle bus.
I stayed in the Sheraton when I went and it was really great - falls views from the hotel room and really good amenities. But you will be paying for it. We also went over to the Brazil side and the views were even better there. We went with a tour group the Sheraton front desk set up for us. We went right around the time of the Summer Olympics last year so the visa requirements were waived and it was super easy; this doesn't help you, though, as I have heard that otherwise getting a visa even for one day can be a pain.
posted by chainsofreedom at 7:52 AM on June 19, 2017
This is correct - on the Argentina side you are basically stuck with the Sheraton if you want to stay near the falls. It is in the national park and therefore means you don't have to enter and exit the park all the time. It also means that the hotel is on the pricey end.
There are lots of hostel/budget/fancy hotels in Puerto Iguazú (the closest town), but it's not walkable into the park where the falls are. You will have to take a shuttle bus.
I stayed in the Sheraton when I went and it was really great - falls views from the hotel room and really good amenities. But you will be paying for it. We also went over to the Brazil side and the views were even better there. We went with a tour group the Sheraton front desk set up for us. We went right around the time of the Summer Olympics last year so the visa requirements were waived and it was super easy; this doesn't help you, though, as I have heard that otherwise getting a visa even for one day can be a pain.
posted by chainsofreedom at 7:52 AM on June 19, 2017
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posted by drlith at 1:06 PM on June 18, 2017