Foz do Iguacu

Where to stay

Most budget hostels sit in the city center (Centro), within a few blocks of Avenida Brasil, which puts you close to the urban bus terminal and local lunch spots that charge local prices. A smaller cluster of guesthouses lines Avenida das Cataratas further south, the road heading directly toward the national park entrance, which cuts your daily commute to the falls considerably.

Getting around

• Take the public city bus from the urban bus terminal (TTU) to the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu entrance instead of booking a tour van. The fare is a few reais, the ride takes around 45 minutes, and buses run often enough to get you there before the midmorning crowds arrive.
• Buy your park entry ticket online through the official Cataratas do Iguaçu website before you travel. Entry is time-slotted and July dates sell out well in advance, leaving walk-up visitors stuck.
• If you plan to do the Macuco Safari boat tour, it will soak you from head to foot. Walk the Trilha das Cataratas first and save the boat for the end of your visit so you are not spending the rest of the day in wet clothes.

When to go

July, when Brazilian school holidays bring domestic tourists in large numbers, fills hostels fastest and pushes rates up sharply. April through June and late August through September are the quietest months, with noticeably lower prices and shorter queues at the park gate.