More Than the Iguazu Falls: 10 Toddler-Friendly Activities in Foz do Iguaçu

The Iguazu Falls is without a doubt one of those places you need to experience at least once in your life – straddling the border of Argentina and Brazil, it's the world's largest system of waterfalls and one of the Natural Wonders of the World, and it's nothing short of breathtaking.

We were thrilled to team up with Visit Iguassu for this trip and spent 5 full days here exploring the falls and the town of Foz do Iguaçu, each day offering something new and different, learning about the history and culture of this enchanted place.

Although the Iguazu Falls might not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking of family holidays, it was surprisingly toddler-friendly. And while most people flock here for the iconic waterfalls (and rightly so), the surrounding area is full of toddler-friendly adventures.

Below are my top 10 activities if you're visiting Foz do Iguaçu with young children.

How to get to the Iguazu Falls

Before we get into the actual itinerary, let's take a look at some practical information. To visit the Iguazu Falls, you can either stay in Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) with the nearest airport being Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU), or if you prefer to stay on the Argentinian side, you can stay in the town Puerto Iguazú, with the nearest airport being Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport (IGR). As we stayed in Foz do Iguaçu for the whole trip, we flew into Foz do Iguaçu International Airport, but when we left, we flew from Cataratas del Iguazú, which is only about a 40 minute drive, so you could fly to either one – just bear in mind that if you'll have to cross the border so make sure you account for possible queues!

Where to stay

We stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton Foz do Iguaçu and it was quite possibly the best Hilton hotel we have ever stayed in (and we do love a Hilton hotel when we travel!). The room was spacious, the breakfast buffet was great and the staff were so lovely. It had a great pool area with four different pools (one being a kids pool with slides and water play), a spa, tennis courts, a playground and an indoor play area with staff-led activities every day. My daughter absolutely loved it as there was so much for her to explore, and me and my husband took it in turns to enjoy the spa and the adults only pool. It was the perfect place to unwind and let our daughter play in between exploring the sights!

Where to stay: Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Foz do Iguaçu

Getting around

Foz do Iguaçu is quite small so getting around is easy. For things like restaurants and shops, we used mainly Uber, which was cheap and fast (we rode with our daughter on our lap, which was absolutely fine). For the attractions, we were very lucky to have the amazing tour guide Valmir taking us around, which was great as it meant we had someone who spoke Portuguese who could help us sort out tickets and we didn't have to look up how to get to different places. I would highly recommend getting a guide, especially if you are travelling with kids, as it will make your trip so much smoother. It will also make a big difference when visiting the falls as tour providers have certain privileges, such as using a side entrance to enter Iguaçu National Park meaning you won't be stuck in the main entrance queue.

1. Visit the Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side)

The first thing you will most likely want to do is visit the actual falls. The best way to see it, is walking the trail that goes along the falls, which offers gorgeous views of the waterfalls all along the way, with various lookout points for photo opportunities. 

The falls are located within the Iguaçu National Park, and if you are getting here by taxi/Uber you will first need to buy a ticket at the Iguaçu National Park ticket office, then get a bus to the actual trail. Alternatively, you can book a tour guide who can take you all the way to the trail.

The trail isn’t very long and walking time is probably only around 30 minutes, however you will want to take your time here as there are so many places to stop, take photos or simply just take in the views of the falls. We chose to keep our daughter in a hip carrier for the trail to be a bit more flexible, but we did see families doing the trail with a lightweight pram. There are some parts with steps taking you down to different viewing points, so I would bear this in mind if you are planning on taking a pram.

As the trail is set in the jungle, it is mostly shaded and we saw plenty of local wildlife like birds, coatis (racoon-like mammals) and even tarantulas. The highlight of the trail is definitely the Devil's Throat, an enormous U-shaped chasm where half of the river flows down. There's a ramp that goes out onto the river, right at the bottom of the Devil's Throat, offering a 360° view of the falls and the river and a the chance to really see them up close (though be prepared for a sprinkle!). As this is the main attraction, the ramp does get crowded so if you've chosen to bring a pram, I would leave the pram before going out onto the ramp.

As you finish the trail, there's a lift that takes you back up again where you get a final viewpoint of the falls from higher up, before you can use the free shuttle bus to get back to the start of the trail.

More information on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls via the official website.

Check out our detailed blog post comparing the Brazilian and Argentinian side here.

Recommended tours:

• Full-Day Tour of Brazil & Argentina Sides

• Brazil Iguazu Falls and Macuco Safarit Boat Ride

2. Iguazu Falls (Argentinian Side)  

Now that you’ve seen the Brazilian side, it's time to go across the border and see the falls from the Argentinian side! If you’ve got the time, I would recommend leaving a day in between the two sides, just to be able to properly take it all in. 

Although the Argentinian side of the falls is just a short (40 minutes) drive from Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), I would recommend leaving first thing in the morning to avoid the queues at border control. You will need to get a stamp in your passport first by the Brazilian border and then by the Argentinian (same on the way back) and these queues can be long, especially when the tour buses start arriving! It's also worth noting that weekends tend to be extra busy. We left before 8am on a Friday and the borders were nearly empty, so we got there in less than an hour.

Although you are just across the river, the two sides are actually very different! On the Argentinian side you have 3 main trails to choose from – the Upper Circuit, Lower Circuit and the Devil's Throat trail (accessed by a free train). The trails aren't very long (30-90 mins each) so you can easily do all three, even with a toddler in tow! As with the Brazilian side, we chose to have our daughter in a toddler carrier for this (taking breaks to let her have a run around every now and then), however the Upper Circuit and Devil's Throat trail were both ramped the whole way with no steps (only the Lower Circuit had stairs going up and down) so you could definitely take the pram if you preferred. Just be aware of the fact that, as with the Brazilian trail, some parts do get crowded so you might get a bit stuck.

We started with the Upper Circuit which is a 90 minute loop that takes you above some of the waterfalls, giving you an aerial view of the falls and the river. We then proceeded to do the Devil's Throat trail (30 mins roundtrip), which takes you out on a ramp across the water to the base of the famous Devil's Throat chasm. Being this close to the largest waterfall of the Iguazu Falls was quite possibly the highlight of our entire trip. It was a full sensory experience, hearing the deafening soar of the waterfall and watching as the water came crashing down was truly awe-inspiring and something we will remember for the rest of our lives.

As we spent a full day here, we took a break for lunch at one of the onsite restaurant, before continuing with the Lower Circuit. This trail was a lot less crowded as it has more steps, but it was probably my favourite out of the three trails as it takes you to some of the smaller waterfalls and you can walk more at your own pace. Once we finished the Lower Circuit we were ready to head back to our hotel and take it easy for the rest of the afternoon!

More information on the Argentinian side of the Iguazu Falls via the official website.

Check out our detailed blog post comparing the Brazilian and Argentinian side here.

Recommended tours:

• Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour

• Full-Day Tour of Brazil & Argentina Sides

3. Helisul Experience Helicopter Tour

If you can only do a helicopter ride once in your life, make it this one! This was the first time in a helicopter for all three of us, so it was a real bucket list moment. We actually did the helicopter ride before visiting the Iguazu Falls, so this was made even more special as it was our first introduction to the falls! And what an introduction it was! 

Helisul is located right before the entrance to Iguaçu National Park and the ride is about 10 minutes long. It's such a special way of experiencing the falls and cost us around £100 each, with our daughter going free of charge. We went early in the morning to avoid queues and ended up waiting about 30-40 minutes for our turn. While waiting, I took my daughter out back to the parking lot where you can see the helicopters taking off and landing at regular intervals, which my daughter really enjoyed.

Once it was our turn, we were taken to the helicopter and asked to put any large items in the lockers provided on the ground. I would recommend bringing some head phones/ear defenders for your child as it does get quite loud. The helicopter has space for 6 people – 1 person at the front and the other 5 at the back. We chose to sit across from each other at the back so we could all sit together, with my daughter on my lap. The ride itself was nothing short of incredible – viewing the enormous waterfalls from above was a surreal experience, and the pilot circled around the falls a couple of times to get the view on both sides, so you'll get great views no matter where you are sat.

This was quite possibly my daughter's highlight from the entire trip, and she will still talk about it every time we see a helicopter in the sky!

Recommended tour: Helicopter Ride Over the Iguazu Falls - Admission Ticket

Check out our detailed blog post on the Helisul experience here.

4. Macuco Safari Boat Ride

If you are looking for a unique and adrenaline-filled way to experience the waterfalls, then Macuco Safari boat ride is for you! This boat ride not only lets you get up and close to the waterfalls – you actually go in underneath them (spoiler alert: you will get wet). The experience lasts about 2 hours in total and includes a jungle walk and a boat ride.

Macuco Safari is located inside the national park, about 5-10 mins drive from the waterfalls trail. There are changing rooms and lockers at the reception where you can leave valuables (and a spare change of clothes!). I would recommend changing into swimwear and flip-flops as you will get absolutely soaked. Alternatively, you can leave your shoes at the dock when boarding the boat (this is what we did). The only things we brought with us were a few snacks for Malva and our cameras in a waterproof wet bag.

Once you're ready, a 4x4 will take you through the jungle, finishing in a 20-minute jungle walk at the end (you can skip this and ride all the way to the boats if you prefer). We left both pram and carrier in the car for this tour as you will mainly be sat down anyway, but you could bring a carrier if you've got younger kids. You then take a funicular down to the dock where you queue up and get your life jackets (they have kids life vests too).

The boat ride lasts for about 20 minutes and is essentially a speed boat tour on the Iguazu river, taking you to a few view points before going in underneath the actual waterfalls. This was so much fun and we got absolutely drenched! I will say though that my 2-year-old daughter was quite scared (though she now talks about it as being "scary but funny"), so it's up to you whether you think this experience will be suitable for your child or not. It is perfectly safe and I was able to hold her in my arms and reassure her throughout the boat ride, but it meant I couldn't enjoy the experience to the fullest as I was making sure she was ok. There is a dry option available too (though you might have to wait a little bit longer as they have to find others to join the tour), so this could be an alternative if you want to experience this with young kids!

Recommended tour: Brazil Iguazu Falls and Macuco Safari Boat Ride

Check out our detailed blog post on the Macucu Safari experience here (you can also watch the moment we go completely under the falls!).

5. Parque das Aves

Right across the road from Helisul helicopter tours, near the entrance to the Brazilian side of the waterfalls, is the Parque das Aves – Foz do Iguaçu bird park. If you are visiting with a toddler, then this bird park is an absolute must! Home to over 1,300 birds from around 150 species, this lush bird sanctuary is a little tropical paradise, and it’s the only institution in the world focused on the conservation of Atlantic Rainforest birds.

Unlike traditional bird exhibits, Parque das Aves features large walk-in enclosures where birds fly freely around visitors, making for a magical and interactive experience. Get up close to brightly coloured toucans, flamingos and macaws, and make sure to check the feeding schedule at the entrance to see the birds being fed!

The paths are very pram-friendly, and there are lots of quiet spots to sit, snack, and soak it all in. I let my daughter run around by herself for most of the visit as we had been to the falls all morning and she had spent quite a lot of time in the carrier. She really enjoyed seeing the birds up-close – especially the macaws and toucans!

Apart from birds, you'll also find butterflies, reptiles, and beautiful native plants throughout the park, offering a full rainforest experience (we even saw a wild monkey in one of the trees!).

Recommended tour: Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side & Bird Park Tour

6. Dreams Park Show

We weren’t sure what to expect here, but Dreams Park Show turned out to be an unexpected hit. It’s basically a cluster of small theme attractions, perfect for short attention spans and lots of photo ops.

We spent most of our time here in the Dinosaur Valley – an outdoor attraction featuring over 20 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, including towering T-Rexes and swift Velociraptors. As you stroll through the park, the realistic movements and sounds of the dinosaurs create an immersive experience that's fun for the whole family. The park also has many interactive areas allowing your little ones to play – a giant slide, a playground, towers to climb, and (my daughter's favourite!) mini-jeeps for the kids to drive, steered by a remote control. There are also professional photographers handy if you want to purchase photos from the park.

We were here on a very hot day, so after this, we decided to go next door to the ice bar to cool down. I had actually never been to an ice bar before (and didn't expect my first time to be in tropical Brazil), but it was a really cool experience! We weren't sure how fun it would be for our toddler but she actually loved it – there was an ice sculpture of Olaf from Frozen inside which she especially enjoyed.

The ticket includes a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) served in a cup made of ice, and there was music inside with a small dance floor so we had a dance around with our daughter which was really fun.

After this we were pretty tired and decided to head back to the hotel, but there were plenty more to explore, including a Madame Tussaud's-type wax museum, a motor show and an eco park, so you could easily spend more time here or maybe even make a whole day out of it if you have the time!

7. Itaipu Binacional Dam

Not something you’d think to put on a toddler-friendly list, but the Itaipu Dam surprised us in the best way. Located on the Paraná River on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, this is one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power plants, supplying 90% of Paraguay's electricity and 15% of Brazil's.

While the tour is geared towards older kids and adults, there’s still plenty here for little ones to take in – especially if they love “big trucks,” water, and cool machines. We opted for the panoramic tour, which meant staying on the bus while getting amazing views of the dam and reservoir. As it was a very hot day, it was nice sitting in the shade on the bus and enjoy the breeze from the open windows, and the tour guide told us interesting facts about the workings and history of the dam.

The tour first stops at a viewpoint of the dam, before continuing around and across it, crossing over to Paraguay, then back to Brazil again. You then stop at another viewpoint where there is also a kiosk and a small café, if you need any refreshments.

Our toddler loved the ride and pointing out the giant structures. It’s also a good spot for a slower-paced outing if you’ve had a few busy days. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see some capybaras from the bus – they enjoy swimming and playing in the dam!

Itaipu Dam is a bit further out than the rest of the activities, but well worth a visit if you have the time. Our tour guide took us to a great lunch spot on the way back which had an amazing Brazilian buffet for only £4! The restaurant is called Barracão, and was about a 10 minute drive from the dam.

Recommended tour: Itaipu Dam Tour with Admission Ticket from Foz do Iguaçu

8. Yup Star Ferris Wheel

   
   

For a slow-paced activity with a big wow factor, hop on the Yup Star Ferris Wheel. At an impressive height of 88 metres, this is the tallest Ferris wheel in Brazil and one of the tallest in all of Latin America. From up high, you get 360° views of the border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Each cabin is enclosed and air-conditioned, making it an easy and safe ride for little ones. The ride is gentle, and the bird’s eye view of Foz do Iguaçu is absolutely worth it – even our toddler was glued to the window, pointing out the tiny cars and trees below.

It’s a quick activity that doesn’t take much out of your day, but adds something fun and a little different. We did this late afternoon and it was the perfect calm-before-dinner moment. If you feel like one ride isn’t enough, they let you continue for free so you can spend as much time as you want here. There is also a souvenir shop and some food and drink stalls on site, so if you want to stay around for a bit longer, that is an option too.

Recommended tour: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket (Yup Star Optional)

9. Marco das Três Fonteiras

   
   

Another slower-paced activity which is full of charm is Marco das Três Fronteiras, where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay all meet. There’s something pretty magical about standing in a spot where three countries connect! This is only a stone's throw from the Yup Star Ferris wheel so you can easily do both in one afternoon/evening.

Marco das Três Fronteiras is beautifully landscaped, and while our toddler didn’t care much for the geography lesson, she loved the wide open space to run around, the fountains, and the colourful lights that came on once it started getting dark.

There's also a playground where we spent a good chunk of time, and plenty of family-friendly dining options – we ended up trying a few different Brazilian snacks and drinks from some of the food stalls and sat down at the picnic tables in the middle. If you can time your visit around sunset, the views are absolutely stunning and the whole place lights up in a way that feels festive and calm at the same time.

Around 6pm there was a dance performance acting out different parts of history from the three different countries. As our daughter loves music and dance, this was a real highlight for her! She even decided to do her own little show afterwards, dancing and jumping around whilst the audience clapped.  

We went here on our first day in Brazil, and it was the perfect first-day activity when you're still tired from your trip but don't want to spend the whole day at your hotel.

Recommended tour: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket (Yup Star Optional)

10. Blue Park

    
    

If you have the spare time, I would highly recommend coming to Blue Park! Is there anything better than a good water park on a hot day? We went here on our last day in Foz do Iguaçu it was the perfect way to round off an incredible (but intense!) few days. The water park was only a 15 min walk from our hotel, and we thought we would only spend an hour or two here, but we ended up staying the whole afternoon until they closed! 

The park has everything you need to entertain both adults and little ones - everything from large water play areas and an artificial beach with lots to explore for the youngest, to massive slides (including a 180° drop!), wake boarding and a giant zip line for braver hearts (me and my husband took turns proving we are still young enough to do these things...). There are also plenty of food stalls, bars and ice cream booths if you need some refreshments.

As it had been raining in the morning, the park was relatively empty, even though the afternoon was really hot and sunny, so there were no queues to anything, making it easy for me and my husband to take it in turns to explore things on our own and come back. My daughter had a lot of fun playing in the water, she especially enjoyed the artificial beach with the wave machine! Me and my husband both enjoyed the Super Maverick slide (though it nearly gave me a heart-attack) and the zip line offering stunning views of the park and surrounding green areas.

Conclusion – more than just the Iguazu Falls

I must admit that I was initially sceptical to spending five full days in Foz do Iguaçu, as most people I know who have been here only spent 1-2 days exploring the falls, but our trip was absolutely incredible throughout. My daughter had the best time exploring all the toddler-friendly activities, and I personally loved the opportunity to not only see the falls, but learn more about the history of the area. It is truly a magical place, and it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips that we will forever carry with us.

For more information about what to do at the Iguazu Falls and Foz do Iguaçu, check out the Visit Iguassu website.