Foz do Iguaçu
The Brazilian bank of the Iguaçu, where a single trail through Atlantic Forest gives the whole sweep of the falls, and one hotel has the park to itself after closing time.
- Arrival
- Foz do Iguaçu International · IGU
- To the city
- About 13 km to the centre
- Private jets
- At IGU, an airport of entry
- Best time
- September to October
The city
The panorama from Brazil.
Iguaçu National Park was created in 1939 and listed by UNESCO in 1986; on this side it protects 185,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest. The river's Tupi-Guarani name means "big water", and from the Brazilian bank it is seen whole, a wall of cascades opposite, before the path brings you down to face the Garganta do Diabo.
September and October are the months to aim for: warm, with the river running high. The water can surge well beyond its usual volume: in mid-October 2026 it was flowing at ten times the historical average. The park opens every day of the year.
- Trilha das Cataratas About a kilometre and a half of path from the visitor centre, included in the park ticket.
- Garganta do Diabo The end of the trail, where a platform brings you face to face with the Devil's Throat.
- Porto Canoas The stop after the trail, with the Canoas Mirim restaurant and the shuttle back.
Arriving
Brazil's door to the falls.
Foz do Iguaçu International lies about 13 kilometres from the city centre. Since the end of August 2026 it has been run by the Mexican group ASUR.
- São Paulo 1 h 25
- Buenos Aires 1 h 45
- Santiago 2 h 40
- Nairobi 13 h 20 long-range jet
- Rome 13 h 25 long-range jet
When to go
September to October.
Warm and wet all year: only July falls below 100 mm of rain. From December to February the afternoons reach 32 °C; in June and July they ease to 22 or 23 °C. In spring the heat is comfortable and the river strong.
- 32° J 171
- 32° F 153
- 31° M 157
- 27° A 145
- 24° M 146
- 22° J 140
- 23° J 94
- 24° A 105
- 26° S 149
- 29° O 201
- 31° N 142
- 32° D 162
Where to stay
The one hotel by the falls.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
The best tables on both sides of the falls.
The MICHELIN Guide does not cover this part of Brazil or Argentina. Four of these tables, across the border in Puerto Iguazú, were picked by La Nación in August 2026; the fifth is the restaurant of Hotel das Cataratas.
- Merkado La Nación Contemporary, tasting menu Gran Meliá Iguazú, Argentine side of the falls, about 23 km
- El Jardín La Nación Misiones produce Iguazú Grand, Puerto Iguazú, about 10 km
- Perobal La Nación Contemporary Puerto Iguazú, about 12 km
- La Rueda 1975 La Nación Argentine grill Puerto Iguazú, about 9 km
- Restaurant Y Signature restaurant, Hotel das Cataratas Regional Brazilian $$$$ Hotel das Cataratas, Iguaçu National Park, about 24 km
Elsewhere in Brazil
More reasons to come.
- Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, the Sugarloaf, and Christ the Redeemer above the bay.
- São Paulo The largest city of the southern hemisphere, and its restaurants.
- Búzios A peninsula of small beaches along the coast east of Rio.
- Trancoso Painted houses around the Quadrado, and beaches below the cliff.
- Fernando de Noronha A protected archipelago far out in the Atlantic, with a cap on visitors.
- Manaus An opera house in the forest, and the meeting of the waters on the Amazon.
Flying to Foz do Iguaçu?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.