Iguazu Falls logistics

[RooFlyer]

I'm planning an itinerary for next year that includes Iguazu Falls. We'd be flying in from Lima and out to Buenos Aires, on LAN (OneWorld Airpass is terrific value).

That means entering on the Brazil side (Foz do Iguacu) and out from the Argentinian side (Iguazu) and that's fine, as we want to see the falls from both sides. We'd have 3 nights, 2 full days there. On the LAN network, you can ONLY fly into the Brazil side from Lima (or anywhere north) and ONLY fly to BA (or anywhere south) from the Argentine side.


Question to those who have been there: Is there a preferred side to be based (hotels, general organisation), and how easy is it to day trip back and forth?

For instance, should we choose a hotel on, say, the Argentine side which would mean landing, entering Brazil and then crossing the border by road to Argentina to the hotel, then a day trip back to Brazil on one of the following days. Or vice versa, landing in Brazil, stay there, then go across to the Argentinian side for the day trip and finally also to catch the plane out?

Guidebooks say that day tripping back and forth is pretty easy, but wondering from a practical point of view? For instance, can you catch a taxi from the Brazil airport to the Argentine hotel?

 

[opusman]

When mrsOpusman and I did it, we stayed on the Argentine side at the hotel in the national park (a Sheraton I think, from memory), and went to Brazil for a day trip.
It wasn't exactly difficult as such but it's time consuming - it's about an hour by road each way plus a stop at the border, which I seem to remember took about 15 minutes or so.
So I don't think you'd want to do it more than once as a day trip. We had no trouble getting a car to take us the whole way though.

I think generally the Argentine side is better for views and the Brazil side is better for access if you want to go on a boat etc.

The Brazil side also has a really good bird park which is worth a visit (only place in South America we saw a toucan).

 

[kpc]

I only stayed on the Argentinian side as I didn't have a visa to cross to the Brazillian side...apparently you could give a "cash donation" at the border but that was clamped down when we were there in 2010. On the Argentinian side, you must stay at the Sheraton Iguazu as it is the only hotel within the park, and viewing distance from the falls. Nothing beats wandering to the falls in the early morning or late pm when all the other tourists have gone back to Puerto Iguazu; all other hotels are at Puerto Iguazuz about a 20 minute drive away. I would suggest staying the first night on the Brazillian side, then crossing to the Argentinian side and stay 2 nights at the Sheraton.