Starting at 13:50 — Iguazú National Park, Argentina. Play from the beginning
Key answers
- The Argentine side of Iguazu Falls has three circuits: Lower (about 2.5 km, steps, ~1 h), Upper (1,750 m, accessible, ~1 h) and Devil's Throat (1,100 m walkway each way, ~1 h, reached by the park train).
- Doing all three means 5 to 6 km of walking; plan a full day, 6 to 8 hours including the border crossing from Brazil.
- The park is in Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina, about 40 minutes from Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, crossing the Tancredo Neves bridge.
- Gran Aventura is an optional boat tour (about 2 hours, minimum age 12) that goes under the falls; book it in advance on the operator's website.
- Devil's Throat walkway: check the park's official channels for the current status before your visit; repairs have closed it for long periods.
Chapters
- 01Gran Aventura and the Argentine side: intro
- 02How the visit works
- 03Green Trail, train and stations
- 04Which circuit first?
- 05Lower Circuit: how to get in
- 06Lower Circuit: 2.5 km, about 1 hour
- 07275 falls and Álvar Núñez
- 08Do you need a guide?
- 09Brazil or Argentina side?
- 10Gran Aventura boat tour
- 11Water color and river flow
- 12Iguazú National Park, Argentina
- 13Two Sisters falls and monkeys
- 14Upper Circuit: 1,750 m, accessible
- 15Train to the Devil's Throat
- 16Devil's Throat: 82 m high
- 17Wrap-up
Full transcript
Imagine this: you're on a boat racing toward the thunderous roar of one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
The Gran Aventura tour takes you right into the heart of Iguazu Falls, where the water crashes down so hard it feels like the earth is shaking.
This is the beginning of your journey into the Argentine side of Iguazú: the Devil's Throat, the Lower Circuit and the Upper Circuit.
In this video we guide you through the must-see spots on the Argentine side, step by step.
Coatis, capuchin monkeys and other wildlife call this park home and are often spotted along the trails.
Unlike the Brazilian side, where you view the falls from panoramic viewpoints, the Argentine side is an immersive walk through the forest across several circuits.
If you do all three circuits, you'll walk between 5 and 6 km.
Right from the start you can take the Sendero Verde (Green Trail), a 700-meter trail through the forest to Cataratas station, or go to Central station and catch the ecological train.
Or you can go directly to the Garganta del Diablo station, where the main circuit begins.
At Cataratas station you'll find restrooms and snack bars. From there, the train takes you to Garganta del Diablo station, over 2.5 km away.
After the Devil's Throat, the train brings you back to Central station. For the Upper and Lower circuits you walk: the train only serves the Devil's Throat station.
You can start with the Upper Circuit, which comes before the Lower Circuit, or go straight to the Lower Circuit and do the Upper one afterwards.
Between the two circuits there is a rest stop with restrooms, a snack bar and a restaurant.
There are two ways into the Lower Circuit: through the meeting point where the restaurant is, or just past the lighthouse at the center of the park.
On the way you pass the Gran Meliá Iguazú hotel; after its entrance you reach the start of the Lower Circuit, which also has restrooms and a snack bar.
The Lower Circuit is about 2,500 m long and ends near the lighthouse. It is of moderate difficulty, with several steps, and not recommended for wheelchair users. Average time: about 1 hour.
A few meters in, you get your first view of the falls: the Devil's Throat seen from a distance.
Iguazu Falls consists of 275 individual waterfalls spread across approximately 2.7 km; the number of visible falls varies with the water flow.
Some falls are named, like the Álvar Núñez fall, after Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, the first European to reach the falls in 1542, who called them Saltos de Santa María.
Given the long path, hiring a park guide is highly recommended: the trail is well marked, but a guide saves time and adds context.
If you're staying in Brazil, a local agency with transport and an English-speaking guide makes the day easier and more informative.
The falls change with every season: rain or sun, low or high flow, they are always different.
So which side is more beautiful, Brazil or Argentina? They are complementary: Brazil gives the panoramic view; Argentina the intimate, immersive one.
The Gran Aventura is an optional tour on the Argentine side: a 5.5 km ride through the jungle in 4x4 vehicles, then 6 km by boat on the Iguazú River past the Three Musketeers and San Martín falls.
It lasts about 2 hours. Participants must be at least 12 years old and in good physical condition.
The color of the water varies with the river flow: during high flow it turns brown and muddy, carrying sediment, soil and foliage from the forest.
During low flow the river is clearer and greener, revealing the rocky riverbed.
Iguazú National Park was established in 1934 to protect the falls and the region's biodiversity. In the province of Misiones, it covers about 67,000 hectares of subtropical forest.
In 1984 the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2011 the falls were named one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
At the end of the Lower Circuit you find the Two Sisters falls (Dos Hermanas), two cascades side by side.
Capuchin monkeys often appear here. A staircase leads to the lighthouse and the Upper Circuit; the route past the Gran Meliá hotel avoids the stairs.
The Upper Circuit is 1,750 m long and accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users: easy paths with views from above, right where the water plunges over the cliff.
Average time for the Upper Circuit: about 1 hour.
After the Upper Circuit, take the train from Cataratas station to Garganta del Diablo station, where the main circuit begins.
The walkway to the Devil's Throat is 1,100 m long, so 2,200 m round trip, and accessible to all ages and abilities. Average time: about 1 hour.
The Devil's Throat is the largest fall in the system: 82 m high, 150 m wide and 700 m long, right on the border between Brazil and Argentina.
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This is what is said in the video, transcribed as spoken.
Questions this video answers
How many circuits are there on the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls?
Three: the Lower Circuit, the Upper Circuit and the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo). The train serves only the Devil's Throat station; the other two are on foot.
Is the Argentine side wheelchair accessible?
The Upper Circuit and the Devil's Throat walkway are accessible; the Lower Circuit has steps and is not recommended for wheelchairs.
Can I visit the Argentine side from Brazil in one day?
Yes. It is the most common plan: a private car with a guide crosses the border in the morning and returns in the afternoon. Bring your passport; the border check is done from the vehicle.
What is the Gran Aventura?
An optional boat tour on the Argentine side: 4x4 through the jungle, then a speedboat under the falls. About 2 hours, minimum age 12. Book directly on the operator's site.
Is the Devil's Throat open?
Its walkway has been closed for repairs for extended periods. Check the official park channels for the status on your date; the Upper and Lower circuits still show most of the falls.
More questions about planning the visit are answered on the Argentinian side guide.
Honest notes
footage from our own visits; conditions (water flow, weather, closures) change, so always check the official park channels for your date. We do not quote prices in videos, because they change; current prices are on our site.
Official sources
Plan this with us
Prices, opening hours and what is included are kept up to date on the Argentinian side guide — that is where the live numbers are. Tell us your dates and group size and we return a written itinerary and a fixed quote before you pay anything.
