The South - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 569

9

Puerto Iguazú (Argentina)
In complete contrast to neighbouring Foz, PUERTO IGUAZÚ is sleepier, smaller (its
population is just 32,000) and visibly less developed than its big brother across the
Rio Iguaçu. If you're on a budget, staying here is a better idea: it's less crowded and
the cheap hotels are more pleasant on the Argentine side of the border. Note that with
the collapse in value of the Argentine peso in 2014, the prices quoted in this section
are likely to change considerably - where possible we've used US dollar equivalents.

ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND PUERTO IGUAZÚ ARGENTINA

By plane Aeropuerto Internacional de las Cataratas del
Iguazú lies 7km from the falls and 20km from Puerto
Iguazú. Aerolíneas Argentinas ( W aerolineas.com.ar)
operates regular flights to Buenos Aires (1hr 30min). Buses
(A$30) to town meet arriving flights and taxis are available.
By bus Puerto Iguazú's combined local and long-distance
Terminal de Ómnibus, at Av Córdoba and Av Misiones
( T [phone]), is in the town centre, with several
daily departures to Buenos Aires and Posadas, near the
Jesuit ruins of San Ignacio Miní (see p.628). Buses run across

to Foz do Iguaçu (A$8) every 30min until around 8pm.
By taxi Taxis charge fixed rates from the centre of town
and the bus station: A$120 (US$15) to the airport (A$160
or US$20 to the airport on the Brazilian side); A$120
(US$15) to the falls (A$160 or US$20 to the falls on the
Brazilian side); A$150 (US$19) to Foz; and A$250 (US$32)
to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay.
Services There's an ATM near the bus station in Puerto
Iguazú if you get stuck without A$; it's open 24hr and
should accept foreign cards.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
There's a good range of budget and medium-priced places to stay in Puerto Iguazú, as well as a number of more comfortable
options. Unless otherwise indicated, the following places are concentrated within a few blocks of the bus station . This
being Argentina, food means beef (although most restaurants also serve surubí , the local fish, and pasta), accompanied by
decent wine. What nightlife there is in Puerto Iguazú takes place in the “downtown” bars on Avenida Victoria Aguirre .

Boutique Hotel de la Fonte 1 de Mayo y Corrientes
T [phone], W bhfboutiquehotel.com. This
Italian-owned hotel offers six well-equipped a/c rooms (all
with cable TV and free wi-fi) - one of which boasts an
oversized Jacuzzi - and an attractive garden with a pool.
You can dine here too, with beautiful -looking and -tast ing
dishes that incorporate local flavours. A$961 (US$120)
★

bathroom. There's a communal kitchen, free wi-fi, TV room
and poo l, plus r eception is ope n 24hr. Dorms A$144
(US$18) ; doubles A$200 (US$25)
Jasy Hotel San Lorenzo 154 T [phone],
W jasyhotel.com. Fabulous accommodation in a series of
ten rustic lodges set on a slope, all simply furnished but
spacious and stylish (a/c and cable TV included). There's
free wi-fi in the common ar eas only. The res taurant is also
great ( W jasyrestobar.com). A$760 (US$95)
★

Casa Yaguarete Av Posadas and El Dorado, Zona de
Granjas T [phone], W casayaguarete.com.
Welcoming B&B with cosy doubles and triples, all with hot
showers, cable TV, free wi-fi and breakfast includ ed. The
friendly owners can help arrange trips and tickets. A$520
(US$65)
Garden Stone Hostel Av Córdoba 441 T +54 03757
420425, W gardenstonehostel.com. Overall the best
hostel in town, this is a friendly, spotless place with 4-bed
dorms (with a/c) and doubles, with or without private

Secret Garden B&B Los Lapachos 623 T +54 03757
423 099, W secretgardeniguazu.com. This marvellous
B&B has just three small but perfectly maintained rooms
set around a small, verdant garden. Simple but excellent
breakfasts are provided, while in the evenings caipirinhas
are offered. John Fernandes, a photojournalist originally
from India but long resident in Argentina, could not be a
better host. A$840 (US$105)

Parque Nacional de Iguazú (Argentina)
Ruta Nacional 101 • Daily 8am-6pm (last Tren de la Selva 4pm, return 5.30pm); Centro de Visitantes: daily 7am-8pm • A$170 (cash only);
US$21.50 equivalent at the time of research • T [phone], W iguazuargentina.com
For more detailed views of the falls, and greater opportunities to view the local flora
and fauna at close range, Parque Nacional de Iguazú in Argentina offers by far the best
vantage points. The falls on the Argentine side are much more numerous and the
viewing area more extensive, though these days both sides tend to be mobbed by
tourists in equal numbers.
Buses and taxis drop you at the main entrance, where you'll find the Centro de
Visitantes , a small exhibition hall focusing on the region's natural and human history