Puerto Iguazu to Rio de Janeiro
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Jan 28, 2013 2:01 PM Last Post By: polyglot25
jump to
Puerto Iguazu to Rio de Janeiro
Hi There,Heading to Iguazu Falls via flight from B.A. due to arrive at approx 3pm.
Our plan is to stay the first night on the Argentinian side. The next day to visit the falls on the Argentian side and then cross the border and stay on the Brazilian side for the night. The next day visit the Brazilian side falls then fly out to rio late in the afternoon or evening to Rio.
Is this all possible? It seems rushed but from what I have read you need one day for the Argentinian side and a couple of hours or half a day for the Brazilian side.
We are not really interested in doing a tour so how do we cross th border? Bus? How far apart travel time are they?
Great to have the forum back.
Hope you can help me.
Many thanks Meekster
1
Hi,Yeah, I think your plan is doable, if your flight back to Rio is in the afternoon or evening. If your flight is to the Brazilian airport (IGU) you could always see that side first, but if you are flying to the Argentine airport (IGR) then your idea makes even more sense.
There are regular buses between the Brazilian entrance to the park and Puerto Iguazú bus station, from where there is further transport to the Argentine park entrance. I don't know if there is direct transport between the two actual park entrances on either side. The journey is very simple (the driver took care of passports and took them to be stamped, it was all very easy) and took, for us, about 40 minutes.
If you have time it is indeed definitely worth it to see both sides, they are surprisingly different. Argentina is fabulous for close-up views and wildlife, the Brazilian side gives the best wide-view panoramas.
I hope you're not from the US, Canada or Australia or you will have to pay something like a $100 reciprocity fee just to visit Argentina for the day...unless you're also travelling there of course!
Happy travels!
Will
3
Your plan sounds doable, 1 day for Argentinian side and half a day for the Brazilian side is enough.Just some additional info on #1's post: when i visited Iguazu (May 2012), there were no direct buses from Puerto Iguazu to the Brazilian side of the falls. There are buses from Puerto Iguazu to the Argentinian side of the park, from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguazu, and from Foz do Iguazu to the Brazilian side of the park.
To get from the Argentinian side of the falls to Foz do Iguazu to spend the night, you take the bus from the park back to Puerto Iguazu, and then get on the bus that goes to Foz.
The Brazilian side of the park has lockers that are big enough for a large backpack (convenient if you're going straight to your next destination after visiting the park), not sure if the Argentinian side has the same. Might be worth checking out.
With regards to reciprocity fee for Argentina, i think that only applies if you fly into Argentina via a major international airport, not for land border crossings. And it looks like OP is flying from BA in the first place, so would have had to deal with that already before getting to Iguazu.
4
You don't need to pay a fee to enter Argentina by land - I think that's only for international arrivals at Ezeiza in BsAs.6
Careful! #3 and #4, you now DO have to pay the reciprocity fee - if you are liable for it (US, Australia etc.) - at ANY entry point into Argentina. There are many thread about this on TT. People are being asked for the receipt at minor border crossings in the Andes. Argentina IS enforcing this new rules - air, sea, land, it matters not.
