How to get from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls

Iguazú Falls is one of the natural world’s most breathtaking sights. The power and volume of the waterfall are truly awesome, with 450,000 cubic feet of water gushing over the sheer cliff face every second. Iguazú is, in fact, a chain of 275 separate falls, spanning across nearly two miles. The falls lie on the border between Argentina and Brazil, and a short distance from the Parana River, where both countries border with Paraguay. If you’re spending most of your South American adventure in Argentina, the falls are an unmissable natural wonder. In this article, we run you through how to get from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls.

Flying to from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls

If you want to maximize your time at Iguazú Falls, the fastest way to get there is to fly. Previously, the budget airline options in Argentina were a little few and far between. Now, more companies are offering routes, including:

• LATAM Airlines Argentina
• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Andes Lineas Aereas
• Norwegian Airlines Argentina

These operators offer direct flights from Buenos Aires to Cataratas del Iguazú, the airport on the Argentinian side of the national park. Prices can fluctuate a lot depending on the season, so make sure you book well in advance. Most of these flights leave from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, Buenos Aires’ domestic airport. This airport is located north of the capital, about a 15 to 20-minute taxi from the center. The flight itself is about an hour and thirty minutes and the airport is within five miles of the national park.

Getting the bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls

However, if you’ve got more time than cash, then getting the bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls is a great option. The journey is between 16 and 18 hours, but bus travel in Argentina is generally more comfortable than in the US or Europe. If you buy a cama or semicama seat, you’ll get a chair that reclines almost all the way back. Plus, you’ll also get meals and movies, so it’s more like being on a long haul flight. The following companies operate routes from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls:

• Expreso Tigre Iguazú
• Crucero del Norte
• Expreso Singer
• Via Bariloche
• Andesmar

You can either buy online, call and pay by credit card (most companies will have a staff member that speaks English) or in person at the bus station. Buenos Aires main bus station is Retiro, which is right by the railway station of the same name.

Once you’re there

Once you’ve arrived in the area, how you get to the falls will depend on where you’re staying. Only a couple of hotels are actually within the national park, so it’s likely you’ll stay in Puerto Iguazú, the nearest town on the Argentine side. From the town’s main bus terminal, you can catch a 20-minute bus to the national park. These leave every 20 minutes and only cost $6 USD. Once at the falls, you can hike through the rainforest to the base of the falls. Here, you can witness the power of Iguazú in all its glory.