How to spend 2-nights in Iguazú Falls, Argentina

In the northeast corner of Argentina, nestled among lush rainforests, you’ll find a jaw-dropping natural marvel: Iguazú Falls. This waterfall system is made up of 275 separate waterfalls, making it the largest broken waterfall system in the world.

One of its most famous features is called Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat, made up of 14 falls plunging down over 260 feet. Surrounding the water system, you’ll find a haven for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants.

In 2012, Iguazú Falls was named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and also holds a spot as a UNESCO Heritage Site. 

Words can never do it justice; visiting Iguazú Falls in person, hearing the roaring of the water, feeling the mist on your skin, and standing under the dense rainforest is unlike any other experience. 

In short: you have to plan a trip to Iguazú Falls. And to help, I’m sharing my recent 2-night Iguazú Falls itinerary. 

Day 1

🏨 Hotel: Hotel Saint George

🏃🏻‍♀️ Activity: Merienda & shopping @ Yabuticaba: Mercadito de la Selva

🥙 Meal: Dinner @ Patagonia Iguazú 

I landed in Iguazú around 3 p.m. and took a taxi straight to my hotel, Saint George. The recently renovated hotel is very contemporary and comfortable. My room even came with a retro mini fridge and a big flat-screen TV. If I wasn’t so excited to explore the national park, I could’ve spent the whole weekend relaxing in my room or lounging by the pool. Not to mention, Hotel Saint George is just a half block from downtown, making it super convenient for shopping and dining out. 

After checking in, I headed over to one of the newest gastronomic experiences downtown, Yabuticaba: Mercadito de la Selva. If a greenhouse, brewery, and local market had a baby, this would be it. The open-air glass building was built around the natural habitat, with multiple spaces connected by suspension bridges. At night, it lights up with fairy string lights and is absolutely magical. 

Inside, you’ll find a restaurant, brewery, wine-tasting space, and market selling local products. I recommend trying the chipa guazú, a local favorite made from corn, onions, and cheese. 

For dinner, you’ll find a myriad of options around downtown Iguazú, and it’s easy to walk around the area on foot (just make sure you’re wearing breathable clothing — it gets hot). Some local favorites include Pizza Color, Patagonia Iguazú, Patanegra, and Jungle Restaurant. To cool off, picking up an ice cream cone on your way home is a must. 

Day 2

🏨 Hotel: Hotel Saint George

🏃🏻‍♀️ Activity: Exploring Parque Nacional Iguazú and the Tres Fronteras

🥙 Meal: Lunch @ Fortin Cataratas, dinner @ El Hito Gourmet

Day two called for an early start with a full day of national park adventuring on the agenda. I headed to the Parque Nacional Iguazú, home to Iguazú Falls, around 7:30 a.m. and was able to beat most of the crowds.

It’s helpful to note that Iguazú Falls straddles two countries: Argentina and Brazil. While most of the falls are located on the Argentine side, it’s worth checking out the views from both angles if you have time. This requires crossing the border to Brazil, so you’ll want to save an entire day for the Brazilian national park, Iguaçu National Park. If you don’t have time, I recommend just visiting the Argentine side as it’s home to around two-thirds of the waterfalls and many kilometers of walking trails.  

Parque Nacional Iguazú is also designed to be safe and accessible for all types of travelers. You’ll find everything from dirt hiking trails to paved walkways that are wheelchair and baby-stroller-accessible to trains that cross the jungle. Even when the region gets high amounts of rain (which it did right before my trip!), it’s still very safe to explore the park. Plus, the higher water levels made the waterfalls look that much more magical. 

But beyond just the waterfalls, the national park is home to an incredibly diverse ecoregion thanks to its humid micro-climate with dense, sub-tropical vegetation. You’ll find everything from coatis to monkeys to lizards and beyond. 

Back to the schedule of events! I started the morning by hiking Sendero Macuco, an eight-kilometer trail that took me to a gorgeous waterfall. Thanks to my early start, I was one of the only people on the dirt trail that winded through lush rainforest — and got to snag a selfie alone at the waterfall. Perks of waking up early. 

After lunch at Fortin Cataratas, a great buffet serving typical regional dishes, I boarded a boat with Iguazú Jungle to ride down the Iguazú River and under the waterfalls. Yes, under. (I know, the sound of it made my toes curl too, but I lived to tell the tale!)

Alright, I’m being dramatic. The experience is very safe but equally very exhilarating. We started by riding on an open-air bus down to the riverfront, learning about the local flora, fauna, and animal species on the way down. Once we’d boarded the speed boat, we cruised past a few “mini” waterfalls before reaching the grand finale — a towering waterfall that we cruised under. The shower of water felt amazing with the hot temperatures, but I’m warning you now: it’s a literal shower. 

After making it back to the hotel and changing into some dry clothes, I walked over to the Tres Fronteras, or Triple Frontier. It’s the lookout point connecting Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. As the sun set, I enjoyed a glass of wine and delicious meal at El Hito Gourmet. The views were fantastic and picture-worthy. 

Day 3

🏃🏻‍♀️ Activity: Relaxing @ Hotel Saint George 

On my final morning, I took advantage of the hotel’s pool to relax and soak up some vitamin C before catching my flight back to Buenos Aires. The Hotel Saint George also has a spa offering massages, a sauna, a jacuzzi, and manicure services. 

While you can definitely squeeze Iguazú Falls into a weekend itinerary, a couple of extra days would give you time to explore the neighboring Brazilian Iguaçu National Park and enjoy some more relaxation by the pool. Either way, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with the mesmerizing power of nature. Destiny’s Child might tell us not to “go chasing waterfalls,” but when it comes to Iguazú Falls, I beg to differ.