How to Get to Iguazu Falls: Airports, Flights and Border Crossing

Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) vs. Puerto Iguazú (IGR): The Two Airports

Either airport works for seeing both sides of the falls. The difference is what happens before you land. IGU receives about 50% more flights per month than IGR, and more than 90% of the flights into IGR come from Buenos Aires. That is why the choice usually comes down to your route: pick the airport in the country your trip already runs through.

How to Get to Iguazu Falls From Your Starting Point

From Buenos Aires

Nonstop flights from Buenos Aires land at IGR in about 2 hours. Aeroparque (AEP) has the most flights, and Ezeiza (EZE) has some as well. If you are arriving in Buenos Aires on an international flight, check for a direct flight from EZE before booking a connection to AEP. Moving between the two airports takes about an hour by taxi, so leave plenty of time if you have to.

From São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Nonstop flights to IGU take roughly 1.5 hours from São Paulo and 2 hours from Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo has flights from both Guarulhos (GRU) and Congonhas (CGH), and Rio flights leave from Galeão (GIG). Brasília and Curitiba also have nonstop flights to IGU.

From the United States, Canada and Europe

You will connect somewhere in South America. The two most natural routes are U.S. → São Paulo → IGU and U.S. → Buenos Aires → IGR. Both work well, but the São Paulo route gives you more flight options for the last leg. If you connect through Brazil, read the visa notes in the border section below first.

From Lima or Santiago

Two direct international routes exist: Flybondi flies Lima to Puerto Iguazú (IGR), and JetSMART flies Santiago to Foz do Iguaçu (IGU). Both run only a few days a week and schedules change by season, so check the airline before you plan around them.

Which Airline Should You Choose?

At IGR, we recommend Aerolíneas Argentinas, which operates most of the flights into the airport. At IGU, LATAM and Gol are both good options, with frequent flights from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities.

Other airlines, such as Azul, JetSMART and Flybondi, also serve the region and can be cheaper on some dates. Compare baggage rules and how easily you can rebook if a flight changes.

From the Airport to Your Hotel

Both airports are close to the falls: about 12 minutes from IGU to the Brazilian national park, and about 16 minutes from IGR to the Argentine national park. Most travelers take a taxi from the airport to their hotel. Taxis are available at both airports, and Uber is also an option in the area.

IguaGo works with verified, licensed taxi drivers and can arrange transfers from IGU or IGR to any hotel in Foz do Iguaçu or Puerto Iguazú. If you would like a driver waiting for you when you land, contact us and we will set it up.

Still choosing a base? See our guide on where to stay near Iguazu Falls.

Crossing the Border Between Argentina and Brazil

To see both sides of the falls you have to cross the border between Argentina and Brazil. Most visitors do it once, on the day they switch sides.

What You Need to Cross

Bring your passport. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa for Brazil, Argentina, or both, and each country has its own rules. Check both before you travel: the Brazilian visa requirements and the Argentine visa requirements.

Citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an eVisa to enter Brazil, and that includes a day trip from Puerto Iguazú. You apply online through Brazil’s official eVisa portal. Processing can take up to 10 business days, so apply well before your trip. If you connect through a Brazilian airport on the way, check whether the requirement also applies to your transit.

How Long the Crossing Takes

It depends on the season. Queues are a regular reality at this border, and they are longest in two periods: mid-year, during the school holidays of Argentines and Brazilians, and from November to March, when many travelers arrive from Europe and the United States. In those periods, the car queue can take 2 or 3 hours. Outside them, the crossing is much faster.

This is where a private tour earns its place. We use the lane reserved for tour operators, and in extreme cases we arrange transport on the other side and cross immigration on foot, which saves 1 to 2 hours of waiting. Most days it is not a problem, because we know the best crossing times for each specific day. See our private Iguazu Falls tours.

If you cross on your own, avoid school-holiday weekends when you can and build a buffer of a few hours into your plans.

Plan the Rest of Your Trip

Once your flights are sorted, three questions come next. To decide how much time to budget, see how many days you need at Iguazu Falls. To choose which side to prioritize, read Brazilian side vs. Argentine side: which is better?. And for a base, see where to stay near Iguazu Falls.