Iguazu Falls - Brazil or Argentina, which is better with a Toddler?

Iguazu falls is a stunning waterfall system which borders both Brazil and Argentina and with 275 individual cascades it really is a magnificent sight. The waterfalls stretch over 2.7 km in length and range from between 64-82m high, the highest and most infamous point being the Devil's Throat, an enormous U-shaped chasm where half of the river flows down.

Most of the water from the river flows through Brazil however the majority of the falls are on the Argentinian side meaning the experience and views from each side are completely different! It would be my recommendation to allocate 2 days so you can explore both as together they give you a magical experience of the falls! However, in this guide we'll explore each side including how you can best maximise your visit and which side is better with a toddler.

Accessing Iguaçu Falls, Brazil

The Brazilian side, Iguaçu Falls, is located in Foz do Iguaçu and the closest airport is the Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU). The entrance to the Iguaçu national park is about 17km or a 45 minute drive away from the city. When we visited in March 2025 there were significant road works being undertaken to build a large dual carriageway to improve traffic flow for the ~1.5 million visitors they receive each year - this resulted in minor delays but I imagine once that is complete it will make the journey much faster and smoother.

You can get to the falls by public transport, taxi or private tour - however note that not all tour providers are the same. If you choose a certified tour provider they will have certain privileges such as using a side entrance to enter the Iguacu Falls national park meaning you won't be stuck in the main entrance queue. We chose a private tour and it meant that in one day we were able to do the helicopter tour, explore Iguaçu Falls by foot, do a waterfall boat tour and also visit the Parque das Aves (Bird Park). I've included a list of recommended tours at the bottom of this post!

Once inside the park there is a free internal shuttle bus system which ferries you between points allowing you to enjoy the jungle scenery as you get closer to the start of the trail.

The Brazilian trail

We started the trail nearby the Belmond Hotel and decided to leave the pram in the car, instead bringing our hip carrier which was a wise move. Whilst it is doable with a pram there are steps throughout the trail meaning there would be lots of carrying it up and down, using a carrier meant we could move quickly and easily through the crowds and navigate the steps easily.

When you first see the waterfalls it is stunning, the dense jungle trees and the cascades raining down in the distance, but at this stage what you don't realise is how much more special the view will become as you get closer and closer!

The path, steps and people make you forget that you are in fact in the jungle and so there is an abundance of wildlife if you look closely. Whilst we walked we encountered coatis which are raccoon-like mammals which are used to people walking around and may even try and steal your food so you do need to watch out! In the trees you can see native birds such as toucans and woodpeckers but we definitely had a bit of a surprise when we saw two tarantulas hanging around!

Two tarantulas

As you get lower down the trees begin to clear which opens up the view of the waterfalls and the river which runs from it. At this stage you can really start to hear the waterfalls roar and you can see how powerfully the water is in the current.

The ultimate views though are to come as you reach the viewing platform. This walkway takes you right to bottom of the Devil's Throat and here the crashing of water is deafening at this stage. If you have decided to bring your pram up to this point I would advise that you carry your child instead as the walkway is relatively narrow but extremely busy so it will take you a long time to navigate the traffic with a pram.

At the end of the platform you are greeted with the most stunning view of the waterfalls as you get too look right into the Devil's Throat and feel the power of the waterfall crashing in front of you. You will see rainbows bouncing off the waterfalls giving this a truly magical feeling here. Depending on the time of year you go it may also be extremely wet so be ready for a bit of a spray!

Once you leave the viewing platform there are glass window elevators which bring you from the bottom all the way back up to the top where you can enjoy the final view of the Iguaçu falls, taking it all in before leaving.

Overview: Iguaçu Falls, Brazil

The Brazilian trail has lots to offer and you can quickly experience the waterfalls from this side and see the impressive power it has to offer. The path is well surfaced however there are a few steps which means that using a pram would be difficult, especially alone, so I would recommend using a baby or toddler carrier to make this as easy as possible for you. There are places where they could easily walk by themselves but at the major viewpoints it gets quite busy and can be narrow meaning you'll want you child close by so they don't get lost in the crowds.

Accessing Iguazú Falls, Argentina

The closest city to Iguazú Falls on the Argentinian side is Puerto Iguazú and the Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport (IGR). We were in Foz do Iguaçu for our stay and so we made an early start (8am) to cross the border as our guide advised us the queues build up quickly. For the Brazilian side you must park up and present your documentation on foot in order to cross the border, whereas when crossing the Argentinian side you stay in the car and your documents are checked before you drive on.

Note, after our stay in Foz do Iguaçu we flew from IGR in Puerto Iguazú and got an early morning taxi from Brazil to Argentina. But as we approached the bridge over to Argentina we noticed the driver hadn't stopped at the Brazilian border so we had to ask him to turn around! This of course was essential so we could get out and hand our passports in to officially exit Brazil before continuing in the car to cross the Argentinian border.

The Argentinian Trail

The Argentinian side of Iguazu falls has multiple trail options so for this day we decided to bring our baby/toddler carrier (Ergobaby 360). Whilst we managed to get away with a hip carrier for the Brazilian side there are multiple trails you can choose from on the Argentinian side so we thought the carrier would give us greater flexibility.

I'll add here that the Argentinian side is very accessible and only the lower trail has steps (see map above). We also saw adapted wheelchairs which are free to use and can be ordered on arrival. They have really considered ease of accessibility here which was backed up by the presence of lots of families using their prams. The park is extremely large and to help you explore the different trails and sections your entrance fee includes free use of the Ecological Train to transport you between the trails.

When you initially arrive at the park I would recommend that instead of waiting for the train at central station you instead walk the short Green trail to Cataratas station. It's a short and easy walk which is well signposted and walking this route will be much faster than waiting for the train to take you there.

When you arrive at Cataratas station there are a number of facilities nearby including toilets and restaurants. We had lunch in a buffet restaurant where you are charged based on the weight of your plate - there were a range of salads, meats and vegetarian dishes with options that would cater for most dietary requirements. Handily there is also a playground outside the restaurant so after lunch we were able to let Malva run around and have a play before continuing.

The Upper Trail (Cataratas Station)

We started with this trail after our short walk from the entrance via the Green trail. The Upper trail is 100% accessible and is a circular loop around 90mins long. On the Upper Walk you can enjoy the Mbiguá, Adán y Eva or Bosetti Falls from the heights, as well as views from the second most impressive cascade: the San Martin Fall. It's an easy jungle walk with impressive views of the falls from the regular lookout points!

The Devil's Throat Trail (Garganta del Diablo Station)

You arrive here by getting the train to "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) station. It's an easy and comfortable journey through the jungle up towards the highlight of the Argentinian side. The Devil's Throat is a set of waterfalls 150m in length and 80m high which form a U-shaped chasm where the water crashes down.

The Devil's Throat Trail is 100% accessible and at 2000m long it takes about 30mins to complete (with benches en-route in case you do get tired). The walk leads up to the Devil's throat to offer unparalleled views of the waterfall up close. This is the closest point and from here you can really feel the enormous power of the waterfalls - its a full sensory experience as you are mesmerised by the crashing water, deafened by the roaring sound and tingled by the mist rising from underneath you. It's a truly special experience which leaves you in complete awe!

The Lower Trail (Cataratas Station)

The lower circuit is 1400m long taking about 90mins and the only one with steps - there is some ramp access meaning it is 70% accessible. However, please don't let that put you off as the views from here are incredible and in my opinion better than the upper circuit! We did this trail last and took a break after the Devil's Throat trail to sit down and have a lunch at one of the restaurants near to the Cataratas station. This was a much needed break and coincided nicely with Malva's naptime so we were able to continue and enjoy these views whilst she slept. One unique sight you can see from here is the boat tours entering the waterfalls and you might even be able to hear the shrieks of people going under the falls!

Overview: Iguazú Falls, Argentina

There is simply so much to explore on the Argentinian side. We spent a full day exploring here and managed to complete the Lower, Upper, Green and Devil's Throat trail with Malva happily sitting in the carrier for the majority of the time. I particularly liked how accessible this side was and how it was clearly signposted at the start of each trail if there were any steps. If you wanted to bring the pram here it would be easy as only the lower trail has steps. Equally it would be easy for your toddler to walk as the boardwalks are securely fenced off and the trail isn't very busy.

Final verdict: Brazil or Argentina, which is better and which is better for a toddler?

Honestly, I loved seeing and experiencing both sides as they are so different. We had the joy of experiencing the Brazilian side by helicopter, boat tour and by foot all in one day whereas for the Argentinian side we explored all the different trails by foot to give us a real jungle waterfall experience.

In Brazil you get to see the beautiful panoramic views of Iguazu falls and see rainbows bouncing magically off the waterfall in a fairytale scene whereas in Argentina you get to walk up close to the Devils Throat and feel the sheer power of it which exploring different views of the cascades!

Personally I preferred the Argentinian side and from an accessibility perspective this side would be better with a toddler - the trails are all completed board walked and fenced off so there is nowhere for kids to climb and because the route is much larger and more widespread it doesn't feel as busy as the Brazilian side. We were also able to have lunch here and make use of the playground so she could run around freely which made the experience more fun for her. That being said the Brazilian side is still toddler friendly and because it is much shorter you can visit this side very quickly, especially if you are staying in Foz do Iguaçu, but note that it will be harder (but not impossible) to do with a pram.

I genuinely believe that if you've made the trip over to Iguazu you have to see both sides as they offer completely unique and different experiences! I would highly recommend booking a private tour as you'll be able to travel as a family more comfortably and get to the main destinations faster, ultimately meaning you have more time to actually experience the falls. There are even 1 day tours which will take you over to both the Brazilian and Argentinian side of Iguazu falls to ensure that you don't miss out on seeing these majestic falls from both sides!

Recommended tours:

• Helicopter Ride Over the Iguazu Falls - Admission Ticket

  • This is a must do experience! It was so much fun and Malva's highlight of the waterfalls. You can read my full blog post with tips on the Helicopter tour here.

• Waterfalls, Bird Park and Macuco Safari: Complete Experience

  • The Macuco Safari was my personal highlight, it was an exhilarating experience where you get up close to the waterfalls. Combined with a tour of the falls from the Brazilian side and a special visit to Parque Des Aves to see the birds this tour gives you a real full experience of the falls and the surrounding wildlife! You can read my full blog post with tips on the Macuco Safari here.

• Foz do Iguaçu: Tour to Argentinian Falls

  • If you're staying in Foz do Iguaçu this is by far the easiest way to experience the Argentinian side. You'll be able to set off early and get to the falls with ease. The Argentinian side is a must see and gives you the opportunity to feel the power of the Iguazu falls!

• Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour

  • If you're short on time this tour will make sure you get to see both sides in 1 day. It will be fast but you'll get to to experience the wonder of Iguazu from Brazil and the power of Iguazu from Argentina.