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5 BEST Iguazu Falls Tours from Buenos Aires

5 BEST Iguazu Falls Tours from Buenos Aires

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Iguazu Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world! It’s certainly the most amazing one that we’ve ever seen – and one of the most incredible natural sights in the whole of South America

If you’re traveling to Argentina, you really can’t miss seeing Iguazu Falls. When planning to visit Iguazu, we recommend staying in Buenos Aires. It’s just a 2-hour flight from the city to Puerto Iguazu, the town on the Argentinian side of the falls. And since Buenos Aires is the capital and a super famous city, you’ll probably want to go there anyway! 

Best of all, if you don’t want the hassle of planning and organizing your trip to Iguazu Falls, there are some fantastic tours from Buenos Aires. To help you out, we’ve selected the best Iguazu Falls tours from Buenos Aires, including single and multi-day options.

These tours can really help you make the most of your visit. So keep reading to find one that calls your name!

Our Top Choice for an Iguazu Falls Tour from Buenos Aires

The river and Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls is a true natural wonder of the world!

If you don’t have a ton of time to read this entire article and just want to know what the best tour is to book right this minute, then here’s the answer: this 3-day tour! All your flights and hotels are handled for you and what we really love is that you get a whole day on both sides of the falls. It’s a totally different experience in Argentina and Brazil and getting the chance to see both perspectives is absolutely worth it! While one-day trips are possible, the extra time to see (and savor!) this incredible place is what makes this tour stand out for us.

You can purchase tickets for this 3-day tour online here for $890 USD which includes flights, two nights in 4-star hotels, breakfasts, entrance fees, and a professional guide.

About Iguazu Falls

Beautiful waterfalls on the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls
Argentinian side!
Birds fly above Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side
Brazil side!

Iguazu Falls is located on the border between Argentina (in the north) and Brazil (in the south). Around 80% of the falls are on the Argentinian side, while the remaining 20% are on the Brazilian side.

On the Argentine side, the falls are in the Misiones province, and on the Brazilian side, it’s in the state of Paraná. You can visit the falls from either side. It’s also pretty easy to cross between sides, and many tours take you to both. Just remember to bring your passport since you will technically be entering a whole new country!

The falls are 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) wide and consist of 275 individual waterfalls. In terms of height, the falls range between 196-270 feet (60-82 meters) tall. Basically, they’re pretty huge! In fact, in the Guarani/Tupi language, Iguazu means “big water.”

The falls are also famous, having appeared in several Hollywood movies, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Miami Vice

And, of course, like any great natural feature, there’s an interesting legend behind Iguazu Falls. 

The Guarani-Tupi people lived around Iguazu Falls long before the Spanish arrived in South America. They believed in many gods, and one of their most important deities was M’Boi (or the Serpent God). In one of the villages that surrounded the falls, a young couple was destined to be married. Naipi, the bride-to-be, was very beautiful, and the Serpent God fell in love with her. He demanded that instead of marrying her fiancé, Taruba, she be sacrificed to him. 

Terrified, Naipi and Taruba decided to run away together. However, M’Boi chased them and made new curves and chasms in the falls as he did so. Eventually, he transformed Naipi into a giant stone and Taruba into a tree on the other side of the falls so that the lovers would forever be separated. A rainbow often forms from Taruba’s tree on the Brazilian side to Naipa’s rock on the Argentine side, which is said to symbolize their love. Aww.

However, the Serpent God is believed to still jealously watch the lovers from one of the deepest parts of the river, which is also known as the Devil’s Throat – one of the best waterfalls to visit at Iguazu Falls, in our opinion.

Why book a tour to Iguazu Falls from Buenos Aires?

Line of waterfalls at Iguazu Falls Argentina
Line of waterfalls at Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Trust me when I say that booking a tour to Iguazu Falls from Buenos Aires will make your life so much easier! 

The first time I traveled to Iguazu Falls, I went by myself, and the trip was quite stressful. Although I did love the falls, I really wish I had booked a tour. Having a guide would have helped me avoid a lot of the problems I faced. 

For example, I missed the boat ride I had booked because I didn’t realize I needed to exchange my e-ticket for a paper ticket. My taxi from the falls to the airport was also really late, and I nearly missed my flight back to Buenos Aires! 

Although I did enjoy exploring the park by myself, it would have been nice to have had some fellow travelers for company and not have to stress over the details of my trip!

Plus, Iguazu Falls is in a pretty remote area. Traveling there and managing all the logistics once you arrive isn’t the easiest task. Guided tours do most of the heavy lifting for you. You can show up and just enjoy the experience!

Best Iguazu Falls Tours from Buenos Aires

1. Private Day at Iguazu Falls from Buenos Aires with Airfare

Iguazu Falls in Argentina
Iguazu Falls in Argentina

Iguazu Falls truly is astonishing, and it really would be a shame to miss it. If you’re traveling to Buenos Aires and don’t have much time, it’s possible to visit the falls on a day trip from the city. However, it’s pretty tiring and stressful to do it alone (as I found out!). So, if you’ve only got one day to spare, this private day tour is the perfect solution.

What we love about this tour is that everything is arranged for you from start to finish – which is just what you need when you’ve got a really long day. You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Buenos Aires in the morning (around 5:30 am) and dropped off in the evening, and you also get private transfers in Puerto Iguazu. 

This tour only takes you to the Argentinian side of the falls, but nearly 80% of the falls are on this side of the border. If you’ve only got time to see one side, we definitely think the Argentinian one is the best! 

After visiting the Nature Interpretation Center, you’ll hop on the park’s train, weaving through the different areas. You’ll disembark to see the top sights and walk through trails. One of my favorite stops was the Devil’s Throat, which is a section of powerful waterfalls shaped like a giant U. It’s where many people snap that classic Iguazu Falls photo!

You’ll have a private guide to help you explore the park and make sure that you get the most out of your day there. I also think this is a big bonus! I saw so many fascinating plants and wildlife along the park’s walking trails, and I wished I had a guide to help me identify everything. 

It’s a fantastic way to experience the park in a single day. And again, joining a tour really takes the stress out of it, so you can just enjoy the Iguazu Falls’ incredible beauty. You won’t need to worry about missing flights either (like I almost did!).

The tour costs $730 USD a person (when booking for 2 or more) and $890 USD if traveling solo. This includes airfare, admission to the park, transfers, and a private guided tour.

Food isn’t included in the price of the tour. However, I don’t think that’s too much of a problem because food is pretty cheap inside the park. You may want to bring some of your own snacks, though, because there’s not a ton of variety – it’s mostly just empanadas! 

Even if you’re short on time, don’t let this opportunity slip by. Visit Iguazu by booking this one-day tour!

Related Read: If you can’t get enough of Argentina’s nature, read all about visiting Patagonia. It’s a completely different landscape to Iguazu, but equally impressive.

2. 2-Day Iguazu Falls Trip with Airfare from Buenos Aires

Bailey at Iguazu Falls, Argentina
We loved Iguazu!
Just one of the hundreds of individual waterfalls at Iguazu Falls
It’s memorizing!

If you’ve got a little more time and can stay overnight, then we recommend this 2-day, 1-night tour. This way, you get to explore both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls – and see what makes each so special. You also get to stay one night in a 4-star hotel, so you can fully relax in between.

This tour is a fantastic way to see both sides of the falls when you’re short on time. The tour includes hotel pickup and dropoff in Buenos Aires, so you don’t have to worry about getting to and from the airport. This is such a big bonus because there are two airports in the city, and it can get confusing! 

On the first day, you’ll visit the Brazilian side of the falls, which I discovered had many beautiful butterflies the day I went. The next day, you’ll see the Argentinian side, which is our personal favorite. You can get much closer to the falls themselves from this side.

You’ll also have the option to add the Great Adventure boat ride, and your guide will help you book it (so you won’t mess it up like I did!). When we were there, the cost was about $150 USD. You really can’t get closer to the falls than this boat ride, which takes you right up next to one – you’ll even feel the spray (or potentially get drenched!).

You’ll be in a small group of up to 15 travelers, so I think this is a nice tour to join if you’re traveling alone. I felt a bit self-conscious going out for dinner by myself in Puerto Iguazu. It’s nice to have the chance to make friends with other travelers and have people to embrace this experience with.

This tour will start around 5:30 am on day one, returning to Buenos Aires late the following night. It costs $790 USD per person when booking for 2 or more. For solo travelers, it’s $950 USD (this is mostly because you get your own room). Prices include flights, national park fees, accommodation, a hotel breakfast, transfers, and a guided tour of both sides of the falls.

For a quick sampling of all Iguazu offers, reserve your 2-day trip online here

3. 3-Day Iguazu Falls Trip with Airfare from Buenos Aires

Birds fly above Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side
Brazil side!
Boat tour heads to the bottom of Iguazu falls
The boat ride!

We think that this 3-day, 2-night tour is the best Iguazu Falls trip from Buenos Aires! Two nights and three days is the PERFECT amount of time to explore both sides of Iguazu Falls. You really see everything while still being pretty time-efficient.

Having an extra night’s accommodation means that you never feel rushed. You don’t have to fly back late at night or have a really long day, which is definitely a bonus if you’re traveling with kids!

Your day will begin around 7 am with a 2-hour flight to Iguazu. You’ll need to make your own way to and from Jorge Newbury Airport in Buenos Aires (which is luckily pretty centrally located). But once in Iguazu, all the transport is taken care of.

First, you’ll enjoy a tour of the Brazilian side of the falls in the afternoon. This side has awesome photo-ops, so bring that camera! Then, you’ll stay the night in a 4-star hotel so you can fully recharge for your day ahead.

On your second day, you’ll spend a full day exploring the spectacular Argentinian side of the falls. The guides do a great job of showing you the best sights and sharing interesting info along the way. We also love the Argentine side because you can get much closer to the water … you can even add a boat ride close to the falls if you wish.

Then, you’ll stay another night in 4-star accommodation and fly back to Buenos Aires the following day. Being able to stay both nights means no rushing around – you can fully relax and be energized every day!

This tour costs $890 USD per person for bookings of two or more. Solo travelers get their own room and pay $1,150 USD. It includes the flight, hotel, two hotel breakfasts, transportation in Iguazu, and entrance fees. The price doesn’t include airport transfers in Buenos Aires, but Uber and taxis are cheap and easy to come by in the capital, so we don’t think it’s too much of an issue.

All in all, this is our top choice for Iguazu Falls tours – and it can be booked right here!

Why We Book Tours with Viator

Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:

  • Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
  • Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
  • Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
  • Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
  • Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.

Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.

4. Private Iguazu Falls Tour with Gran Aventura from Buenos Aires

Daniel smiles at the camera at Iguazu Falls
Getting here is a challenge but as you can see, it’s worth it!

This private tour of Iguazu Falls promises an awesome day out in the park. As a private tour, you get more flexibility, personalized attention from your guide, and skip-the-line entry.

You can choose to add airfare or to organize your own flights – so if you already booked airfare, this is a great add-on to your trip! Either way, a driver will be waiting to pick you up at the Iguazu airport and take you on a comprehensive, full-day tour of the park.

We also love that this full-day tour includes the Grand Adventure boat ride. The boat ride was a real highlight of the falls for us, but be prepared to get very wet! This boat gets right up to the falls and takes a little dip underneath.

Your guide will also help you explore the park’s three best walking trails, which give you insane views of the waterfalls from differing perspectives. You also see a ton of beautiful birds along the way (like toucans!), as well as monkeys and coatis, who will definitely try to steal any snacks you might have (keep them safe and out of sight!).

This private tour is a fantastic way to see Iguazu Falls in a single day. Plus, you get to see some of the Brazilian side of the falls when you do the boat ride. I also saw a capybara swimming in the water, which was really cool! 

This tour costs $400 USD per person without flights or $890 with flights, but you need to have at least two people to make a booking. If you choose the option that includes airfare, you also get complimentary airport transfers in Buenos Aires. Either way, it covers transport in Iguazu, admission fees, and all activities mentioned (including the Great Adventure boat ride).

You can secure your spot on this flexible, private tour of Iguazu here.

Related Read: If you have extra time in the city, check out these other amazing tours in Buenos Aires.

5. 5-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls from Buenos Aires

Two tour boats at Iguazu Falls
The boat rides to the falls!
Slow shutter of Iguazu Falls, Argentina
The more time you have, the better!

This 4-night, 5-day tour is a good option if you want a round-trip guided tour from Buenos Aires but are budget-conscious. It’s also great if you don’t like flying – or just prefer to take the scenic route by land. 

Your first night will be spent on an overnight coach to Iguazu. This is awesome because you really don’t lose much time, and the seats recline a full 160 degrees. When you wake up, you can enjoy driving through the beautiful Missiones region before arriving at Iguazu Falls around noon.

Your guides will drop you off at your hotel, where you can spend the day as you wish. You can explore the town of Puerto Iguazu, enjoy some local restaurants, or just chill at your hotel. But rest up because the next two days are all about exploring the falls!

Day one of this tour takes you on a guided tour of the Argentine side (our favorite!). You’ll get to visit the Devil’s Throat and then choose between the upper or lower walkways. The upper circuit has impressive panoramic views and is a bit more relaxing. The lower circuit feels like a more immersive experience as you walk through the jungle and right up close to the falls.

On the Argentine side, you also have the option to add the Great Adventure boat ride. This is the one we keep mentioning that gets you super close to the water – and also quite wet! When we were here, the cost was about $150 USD. Honestly, we’d highly recommend it!

Day two includes a half-day tour of the Brazilian side. It’s awesome to experience both sides and see why each one is so unique. What we love most about the Brazilian side is you get a view of the waterfalls in their entirety. This makes for very Instagram-worthy pictures!

Afterward, you’ll head back to Buenos Aires the same way you arrived – on a comfy sleeper bus. Argentina is known for having nice long-distance buses. Honestly, it’s not a bad way to travel while still saving some money!

This 5-day tour includes all transport, two nights in a hotel in Puerto Iguazu, two hotel breakfasts, and a private tour of both sides of the falls. However, it costs just $730 USD per person because you take an overnight sleeper bus to the falls instead of flying there. If you’re traveling solo, you’ll have a room to yourself, with prices starting at $859 USD. There are also options to upgrade to a more luxurious hotel if you prefer.

The price doesn’t include admission to either side of the National Park, but you do get free transfers between your Buenos Aires hotel and Retiro bus station. You also get some free time to explore the town of Puerto Iguazu. 

If you’re on a budget or just like the scenic route, check availability and book this tour online!

Is visiting Iguazu Falls worth it?

A platform on the Brazil side of Iguazu Falls leads into the middle of the waterfalls
A platform on the Brazil side of Iguazu Falls leads into the middle of the waterfalls

Yes, absolutely.

It’s the most beautiful waterfall that we’ve ever seen anywhere in the world. The park is really well designed, creating an overall enjoyable experience. We loved exploring the walking trails, and seeing the Devil’s Throat is especially spectacular. It truly is a natural wonder! 

Related Read: Another experience that’s well worth it is visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate! This epic glacier is stunning and provides opportunities for kayaking and ice trekking!

Other Activities to do While You’re in Buenos Aires

Bailey sits on the colorful streets of La Boca, Buenos Aires
Even the streets are colorful in La Boca!
Trying mate for the first time during the Argentine Experience in Buenos Aires
Sampling mate at The Argentine Experience

Iguazu is awesome, but once you’re back in the city, there are plenty of things you can do in Buenos Aires. Whether you’re visiting Buenos Aires for a couple of days or more, you’ll have no issues filling that itinerary. So if you’re looking for even more activities, check out some of my favorites below!

  • Wander around La Boca – This is our favorite neighborhood in Buenos Aires! La Boca is famous for being so colorful, and you’ll often hear tango music while you’re walking around here. There are some great bars and art museums, or just walk around on a sightseeing tour or on your own and see what you find!
  • Gran Café Tortoni – Gran Café Tortoni is an iconic Buenos Aires coffeehouse. It’s one of the oldest cafes in the city and has even been named one of the most beautiful cafes in the world! This is the perfect place to grab a late-morning coffee or medialunas (Argentina’s mini croissants).
  • Shop at the San Telmo Market – Located in one of the most historic and atmospheric neighborhoods, the San Telmo Market is a huge indoor market with fresh produce, amazing street food stalls, and antique stores. The market is open daily from roughly 9 am to 8 pm, although some restaurants close around 4 pm, and other stalls and shops are only open on weekends.
  • Try an interactive dining experience – Food is incredible in Buenos Aires, and The Argentine Experience takes it to the next level. When you book this immersive dining experience, you get to make (and eat) your own empanadas, taste world-renowned wine and steak, and mingle with other guests. It’s a night to remember and the perfect way to sample all the local treats!

Where to Stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina

spacious room at Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photo credit: Hilton Buenos Aires

If you’re heading to Buenos Aires soon, you might want to figure out where you’re staying! Luckily, there are many great options in the city. As you’re narrowing it down, you can take a peek at our guide to the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires.

You don’t need to break the bank to stay here, but if you are searching for a luxurious getaway, you can find that too. Here are my top picks for various price ranges!

Hilton Buenos Aires – $$$

You can’t beat the location with the riverside Hilton Buenos Aires. You’ll be within walking distance of downtown and about a 30-minute drive from Palermo. There’s a rooftop pool to relax in or sit down for a meal or drink at the hotel’s restaurant or bar.

The service is exceptional, and the rooms are spacious. It’s a more expensive place to stay at $250-350 USD per night, but worth it if you’re looking for a five-star experience. So for the ultimate luxury in Buenos Aires, book your stay at the Hilton online here.

Broadway Hotel & Suites – $$

Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, the Broadway Hotel & Suites offers really spacious rooms at a great price. The swimming pool on the roof has amazing panoramic city views and a sun deck to soak up some rays. The rooms feature large windows, minimalistic art deco-type décor, and bathrooms with marble fittings. You’ll also have plenty of choices for shopping and restaurants nearby.

Plus, a junior suite here can be under $70 USD! To snag this awesome deal, I highly recommend you check availability and book online in advance.

Selina Palermo – $

Stay in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires on a budget! Selina Palermo puts you close to the best bars and nightclubs – in the heart of Palermo. The place feels really modern, and there are nice extras like a rooftop bar, hostel events, breakfast, and bike rentals available.

Shared dorm rooms with bunk beds are around $20 USD per night. If sharing isn’t your style, there are affordable private rooms with nice balconies overlooking the city starting at around $90 USD. You can book your stay on Booking.com or HostelWorld.com to secure your room!

Planning your Trip to Argentina

Glacier Trekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate, Argentina
The glacier trekking is so much fun!

Accommodation in Argentina

Booking accommodation is one of the biggest aspects of your trip, and we should know as we stay in a new hotel up to 40 times per year! Funny enough, we make 99% of these bookings on one website and that’s Booking.com – and there are a few reasons why we use this site!

Number one is the website is easy to use and sorts accommodation options. That takes the stress out of planning which honestly still affects us and we do it more than not.

Second, is the price guarantee. We have literally booked a hotel months before and then 1 week out found it cheaper (we always do a quick search), and they’ll match that price from anyone’s website including the hotels!

And third, is the Genius loyalty program. If you make a certain amount of bookings per year you get a Genius discount. We are level-two geniuses because we make more than 5 a year. At participating hotels, we get things like free breakfast included, early check-in, and up to 15% off.

You can check out all their accommodation options throughout Argentina!

Renting a car in Argentina

renting a car in patagonia
We rented a car in Southern Argentina and found that it was a very convenient and enjoyable way to travel!

We enjoyed a rental car for our second trip to Argentina when we traveled in Patagonia – and wow, what a way to travel! But the best part was that we only paid $40 USD per day for a 5-person sedan!

But how? Well, if you’re renting a car in Argentina, the cheapest company is Discover Cars. We often get questions from readers asking us if the website is fake because it seems too cheap! It’s a great website and the one we used for our rental.

If you do want to compare prices (and you should), do a quick search on Airport Car Rentals too. They’re another big competitor and each company often has its own deals to offer!

Tours in Argentina

drinking glacier water from perito moreno glacier
Drinking pure glacier water on our glacier tour!

We love booking online because we can check reviews of the tour and know exactly what to expect on the tour, such as the itinerary and inclusions. Sometimes the tours are pricier online than booking directly in person, but this is why we always book with Viator. If we happen to find the exact same tour for a lower price once we’re at the destination, Viator will actually refund the price difference!

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.

SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.

SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.

Book your travel insurance with SafetyWing here!

Thanks for reading!

Daniel and Bailey at Iguazu Falls, Brazil
Thanks for reading!

Iguazu Falls is a top destination in Argentina for good reason. The waterfall and wildlife here are absolutely stunning. And if you’re in Buenos Aires, there are several tour options, from one-day trips to overnight excursions. If you’ve been toying with the idea of visiting Iguazu, we hope this guide has made that decision easier!

To us, visiting Iguazu Falls is a no-brainer! If you want to learn about more incredible destinations within the country, read our blog all about Argentina. We also cover many other locations in South America. For an idea of what we write about, I’ve linked to some articles below.

10 BEST Tours and Excursions in El Calafate, Argentina!

How to Get to the Marble Caves, Patagonia

20 BEST Things to do in Mendoza, Argentina