Iguazu Falls Helicopter Tour with a Toddler - All You Need To Know

Igauzu Falls is a majestic waterfall system made of 275 individual cascades which spans across both Brazil and Argentina and we simply couldn't pass up on this opportunity of a lifetime to see it from above in a helicopter with Helisul and Visit Iguassu! The highlight of the ride is seeing the Devil's Throat which is an enormous U-shaped chasm. It won't surprise you that the views from above are unrivalled and the ride itself was an exhilarating experience that our 2 year old daughter absolutely loved!

Planning and Preparing For Take Off:

Helisul are located in Foz Do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side of the falls and they are a well-established company with a strong safety record. Importantly they also permit children in the Helicopters so our 2 year old was able to join us and because she was able to sit on our lap we didn't need to pay for her seat!

I would highly recommend booking your tour in advance, especially during peak season, to secure your spot. This is an extremely popular experience and often a highlight of many peoples trips to the Iguazu Falls so make sure you don't miss out!

Your ticket allows you to ride anytime between 9-5pm however it important to remember that the tours are weather-dependent, so there's a chance of cancellation if conditions are unfavourable. We found during our stay that the weather would shift in the afternoon so an advantage of going early is that the conditions were generally clearer. To maximise your chances of flying and having the best weather conditions I would recommend arriving early on the day of your tour. The office officially opens at 9am however the queues are often long and people will arrive from around 8.45am.

After you have your allocated time slot you will be given a ticket and you will be expected to report to the staff once your number is displayed on the screen to check in and provide your weight. Make sure you are waiting nearby to the screen about 15 minutes before your allocated departure time. Whilst we waited we were able to entertain Malva by watching the helicopters take off and land. Each ride lasts about 10 minutes and they have several helicopters doing flying loops so that's plenty of entertainment!

Time to Fly - What You Need To Know

You aren’t allowed to take larger items onboard the helicopter with you so you will need to store your bags and belongings in one of the free lockers provided. As you can imagine it's a very loud and windy experience so I would recommend putting any hats in the lockers and remembering to bring some toddler headphones or ear defenders to protect your little one's ears from the noise.

There are 6 seats in the Helicopter, 5 in the back and 1 in the front next to the pilot. The seat in the front undoubtedly will be the best but you are offered amazing views from all the seats. We sat in the back opposite each other and we each had a window seat - this is the configuration I would recommend for couples travelling with a toddler because it was special being able to experience this together as a family and to see how much fun Malva was having!

This was my first time in a Helicopter and although I was excited I was apprehensive because I'm afraid of heights! But I didn't need to fear as take off was smooth, and any nervousness was replaced with pure excitement from this exhilarating experience. As we ascended we saw the vast jungle underneath us and quickly knew where the falls were from the cloud plumes overhead.

As we approached the cloud plumes we were met with the dramatic sight of the Devil's Throat below. Looking out of the window you could water crashing down into the basin and beautiful rainbows forming within the spray adding to the magical feeling of seeing this from above. The pilot then circled for a few minutes so everyone in the helicopter could experience the stunning views below. The whole experience lasted 10 minutes which sounds short but it was truly an experience that we will always remember!

Our Verdict:

The Helisul helicopter tour was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our trip to Iguazu Falls. Malva loved the whole experience from the start to end - from watching the helicopters take-off, feeling the wind from the helicopter as we waited to board and of course flying in the helicopter itself! She loved watching the scenery below and the looking at the waterfalls from the sky. It's a unique and unforgettable way to experience the beauty of this natural wonder so if you're looking for a family friendly adventure that will leave you speechless, I highly recommend it!

Our Top Toddler Tips for the Helisul Helicopter Experience

This was an incredible experience and one I would highly recommend for you to experience as a family. Here are our top tips to make the most out of this experience for your toddler:

• Book your tickets in advance so you secure your spot

• Your tickets are valid for a helicopter ride between 9-5pm so I would advise arriving at the office early so you spend less time queuing

• There is a cafe and gift shop on the site so you and you can also easily entertain your toddler by watching the helicopters take-off and land

• For the best view possible ask to go at the front, but failing that make sure you get a window seat

• Bring headphones for your child to protect their ears from the noise