Best-known as the entry point to Iguazú Falls, laid-back Puerto Iguazú is set at the meeting point between Paraná and Iguazú rivers, and is surrounded by thick rainforest and nature. Poised at the edge of Argentina, the city looks towards Paraguay to the west and Brazil to the east, and you can see all three countries from the Three Frontiers Landmark. As well as offering plenty of opportunities for relaxation in the city itself, Puerto Iguazú makes an ideal base for activities such as rafting and canoeing, or hiking along island trails.
Puerto Iguazu hostels make the most of their natural surroundings – leafy trees shade gently swaying poolside hammocks, and a number of hostels use eco-friendly construction techniques to minimise their impact on the environment. You can stay in a 1950s townhouse, a tranquil hostel filled with tropical palm trees or a lively hostel with two swimming pools and a nightclub. Most Iguazu hostels have a barbecue grill where guests can cook their own asados (Argentinian grilled meat), and many have an on-site bar. Hostel staff will happily help you to arrange day trips if you're keen to explore.
There's one main neighbourhood in Puerto Iguazú. The city's downtown heart is where you'll find hostels, bars and restaurants, all clustered together within easy walking distance of each other. Easy to navigate and quiet, it's the perfect place for a day or two of relaxation. Outside the city, Iguazú National Park is home to spectacular waterfalls and lush rainforests teeming with wildlife.
Many travellers head to Puerto Iguazú just to see Iguazú Falls, a natural wonder made up of hundreds of waterfalls pouring thunderously down into the Iguazú River. A spectacular sight here is the Garganta del Diablo waterfall, which plunges down a steep U-shaped gorge, hitting the water below with a roar and sending dramatic plumes of mist up into the air. As you trek to the falls, you might catch a glimpse of animals such as toucans, tropical butterflies and monkeys.
Two airports serve Puerto Iguazú. Aeropuerto Internacional Cataratas Del Iguazú is 20km away from the city, while Foz do Iguaçu International Airport is a little closer (14km) but requires you to cross the Brazil-Argentina border. From Aeropuerto Internacional Cataratas Del Iguazú, you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus, with a journey time of around 30 minutes. Direct buses travel to Puerto Iguazú from a number of cities in Argentina and Brazil, such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
