Iguassu Falls

Which Side of Iguazu Falls is Better?

Argentina vs. Brazil is the age old battle in South America.  They compete in regards to almost everything: who has the better barbecue, which football team is stronger, who has the most beautiful people, etc. etc.  And of, course, they compete over which side of Iguazu Falls is better.  

However, the two are strangely amicable in regards to Iguazu Falls.  In fact, most Argentinians and Brazilians I talked to agree that you should visit both sides of Iguazu Falls.  However, as an impartial visitor to Iguazu Falls, the first time I visited I had a favourite side.  This time, however, I think my opinion changed.  Or was at least less set in stone.  This is my discussion on which side of Iguazu Falls is better.

How to Get Your Ticket for the Falls

Before I get into talking about the falls themselves, I should mention that you can actually get your ticket online before you visit.  

Of course, it’s also possible to buy it upon arrival, but this will save you some struggle and allow you to focus on making some incredible photos of the waterfalls.

Benefits of the Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls

The Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls is an absolute wonder.  It really is. I’d be willing to bet that if you asked 100 people who visited both sides of the falls, 80 would say they preferred the Argentinean side.  But why?  These are some of the benefits.

  • Variety: The true beauty of the Argentinean side is the variety of views on this side.  Not only can you find a couple semi-panoramic views of Iguazu Falls, but you can also find some of the small adjoining falls, go above the falls, and get right inside the falls.  There are a lot of different areas on this side of the park that allow you to spend an entire day and still not feel like you’ve seen it all.
  • Nature Trails: One of the best parts of the Argentinean side is the variety of nature trails available.  It allows visitors to spread out a lot more and makes the park feel less crowded than the Brazilian side.
  • Get Right on Top of the Falls: On the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls, you can get right on top of the waterfall.  In places like the Devil’s Throat, you are literally hanging over the edge of the most powerful section of the falls.  It’s really a humbling experience.
Iguazu Falls

Negatives to the Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls

It’s hard to really talk too much in negative terms with the falls. They are spectacular.  But, there are downsides to each side of the falls.

  • Impossible to capture it all: It’s downright impossible to see just how vast Iguazu Falls is from the Argentinean side.  Sure, there are places you can see a lot of it, but you certainly can’t see much more than a fraction of it at a time.
  • The Train: I understand the need for the train.  Some people can’t handle the distances between certain parts of the falls, but the line ups for the train are insanely long.  To make matters worse, sometimes they don’t let you walk certain sections like to Devil’s Throat so you’re forced to wait.
Iguazu Falls

Benefits of the Brazilian Side Iguazu Falls

The first time I visited Iguazu Falls, the Brazilian side was my favourite by far.  In fact, I was quite bullish in my preference.  I think, part of it was because the Argentinean side was so crowded and I was fighting expectations a bit.  The other part of it was that the Brazilian side made me realize just how big it really is.  I was floored when I saw it from the Brazilian side for the first time.

  • Panoramic Views: If you want that classic panoramic view of the waterfalls, you get it on the Brazilian side and not the Argentinean side.  Because 70-80% of the falls are on the Argentinean side, you really can’t see the scale of them from the Argentinean side.  On the Brazilian side, you see everything.
  • Better Viewpoints: On the Brazilian side, the viewpoints are slightly better placed, and there are more of them.  They allow people to get out of the obstruction of the trees and see the falls a bit better.
  • Feel the Falls: Tourists always seem to say that you see the falls from the Brazilian side and feel them from the Argentinean side.  But, I don’t really buy that.  In fact, I feel like you get a better feel for the power of the falls from the Brazilian side.  I mean, the boardwalk that leads into the Devil’s Throat gives one a greater sense of the power of Iguazu Falls than anywhere else, I think.
  • Other Things to Do: On the Brazilian side, you also have the opportunity for a couple falls and non-falls related activities.  You can take the boat trip into the falls themselves, and it’s a bit cheaper than the other side. You can also do the helicopter ride from this side for about $200.  There’s also a really cool bird park just outside the gates of the Brazilian National Park entrance.
Iguassu Falls

Negatives to the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls

There are Negatives to the Brazilian side, but they are also fairly small and easy to get around.

  • Can feel crowded: Because there is only one trail along the canyon on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, it can feel a bit crowded.  Especially if you’re there on a weekend, or a holiday like I was.  Brazilians are “selfie” crazy and spend a lot of time trying to take photos of themselves in front of the falls. It can ruin the experience a bit.  And, unlike the Argentinean side, I think it’s a bit more difficult to find places to get around the crowds here.
  • Only a Few Views: There’s really only a couple different views of the falls here.  On the Argentinean side, the variety of the experience is far greater.
Iguassu Falls

Best Side of Iguazu Falls for Photography

This is, obviously, debatable.  I think last time I much preferred the Brazilian side for photography.  However, this time I got far better photos from Argentina and found that there was a far greater variety to the images I could get.  On the Brazilian side, I felt like I was taking the same photo over and over again and had to try to get really creative to get cool photos.  Of course, I had terrible light on the day I was in Brazil and phenomenal light when I was in Argentina, so that makes a difference.  Again, the moral of the story is that one side of the falls isn’t necessarily better, they are just different, and you will get different photos from one side of the falls to the other.

That said, from a photography stand point you’ll definitely need more time in Argentina that you do Brazil.

In fact, I would argue that you could spend 3 full days on the Argentinean side for photography.  There are so many different photos on this side.  You don’t really get that big hero photo of the entire falls on this side, but you will find a much wider variety of images.

Here are some thoughts on photography at the falls.

  • Tripods are fine: There’s no one stopping you from bringing in a tripod. However, chances are that you’ll get in the way a bit.  It might be smart to also pack a gorillapod to get set up in tighter spaces.
  • ND filters, too: You can’t be in the falls after sunset. So, if you want long exposure photos of the falls, you’re going to need some ND filters.
  • Bring a towel!: Even if it’s not raining, Iguazu Falls is so powerful that there’s just a constant mist about.  If you have one, bring a microfiber towel like you’d use for buffing a car.
  • Go early, stay late: It’s important to get to the falls pretty early as the crowds aren’t far behind. But, if you get in as soon as they open you’ll have an hour or so of peace. And, around closing time it quiets down again.  Also, it can get incredibly hot here. So, it’s best to sit out the middle of the day.

Images from the Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Dos Hermanos Falls
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Love the double tier to the fall here.
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
I had really high waters at the falls!
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Probably my favourite photo of Iguazu Falls. Taken at the Devil’s Throat.

Images from the Brazil Side of Iguazu Falls

Iguassu Falls, Brazil
The boardwalk into the Devil’s Throat.
Iguassu Falls, Brazil
Close up to the falls.
Iguassu Falls, Brazil
Great spot for rainbows.

To Stay in Puerto Iguazu or Foz do Iguassu?

I get asked this question a lot.  “If I’m visiting Iguazu Falls, and want to see both sides, which country should I stay in?”.  

Although it can depend on your travel situation, I think that you should stay on the Argentinean side.  The reason is that it can take an hour or more to get across the border from one side to the other.  And since you’ll need the whole day at the Argentina side and likely only 2-4 hours on the Brazil side, it makes more sense to “waste” your time travelling on the day you visit the Brazilian side.

That being said, I actually stayed on both sides of the falls, as for my plans it was much easier.

If you’re looking for an awesome hotel in on the Argentinean side, I absolutely loved this one.

Conclusions

So, you might think that the conclusion is that one side is not better than the other.  And, the truth is, you’re right.  One side of the falls is not better than the other.  They are different. Not equally, but neither is better than the other.  That being said, I’m a big fan of the hypothetical and if you were to ask me the question of “you can only visit one side of Iguazu Falls in your life, which do you visit?” I’d probably choose the Brazilian.  The reason is simple, for me.  On the Brazilian side you can see it all.  You can truly admire the sheer power, and scale of it.  And, you could also go up on the chopper ride and down on the boat trip.

But, if you don’t have to make a decision.  Just visit both sides.  You can really never get too much of Iguazu Falls.  I’ve been now a couple times, and I’m already looking forward to the next time I get to go.  It is an incredibly special place.

What’s Next on the Travel Photography Blog?

I’m really excited to be headed back into Brazil for 6 weeks of adventure.  I’ll be mixing it up with a couple new destinations and some that I’ll be revisiting.  Look for the next article to come from the coastal town of Paraty and then the island paradise of Ilha Grande!

——

Note: this post may contain affiliate links.