Iguazú Falls: Monkeys, Mist & A Double-Nation Waterfall Adventure

Because one country’s waterfall wasn’t enough.

Checking In: Sleeping Inside a National Park

If your budget allows, Gran Meliá Iguazú is the jackpot — it's the only hotel located inside the national park, meaning the falls are practically your backyard.

The moment we stepped into the lobby and saw the waterfalls cascading beyond the windows, we briefly reconsidered every past hotel we’ve ever booked.

Note: Make sure that you purchase park tickets, you do need to pay for those separately in order to get to the hotel. Just one day pass is good, since you are staying inside the park.

Caption: The kind of lobby view that makes you forget where the front desk is.

The pool overlooks the falls, which turns swimming into a cinematic experience. There’s only one restaurant onsite — fortunately, the food was very good because there aren’t alternatives unless you brought a personal chef.

For a 2-night stay, it was perfect. Any longer and we would have memorized the menu. Breakfast was included and solid. The rooms themselves? Average. The bathrooms? Let’s call them “intimate." But you’re paying for the view, not the tile work.

The Monkey Clause

We had to sign waivers promising to keep our patio doors locked because monkeys break in and raid minibars. Yes, that’s real.

Every evening, we watched them attempt burglary like tiny furry professionals. Toucans also flew past our balcony like we lived inside a nature documentary.

Caption: Local wildlife running an unsupervised minibar audit.

Argentine Side: Waterfall Immersion + Jungle Whining

From the hotel, it was a five-minute walk to the national park trails. We did the lower trail first, which takes you to the base of the falls. It was well-maintained, enclosed, and manageable — even with a 7-year-old who passionately objected to humidity.

Caption: “It’s too hot!” — click — perfect family photo.

From there, we walked to the small train station that brings you to the top of the falls. And here’s what happens when you combine breathtaking scenery with a three-day national holiday weekend: crowds. Many, many crowds.

The top walkway views are still worth it — thunderous water everywhere — but Sienna lasted about 30 seconds before she was “done.”

For the Thrill-Seekers

We watched rafts shoot straight into the base of the falls — looked exhilarating, drenching, and ideal for adults or fearless teens, not tiny travelers. Definitely made my bucket list!

Brazilian Side: An Unplanned Detour That Stole the Show

We almost skipped the Brazilian side — until our driver suggested stopping there on the way to the airport.

We left the hotel at 10 AM for a 5 PM flight, crossed borders, visited the park, and still made it back comfortably. Best last-minute decision of the trip.

Caption: The Brazilian side — the view that makes cameras weep.

While both sides are spectacular, we found Brazil’s views more dramatic. From here, you see everything — the main cascades and dozens of smaller waterfalls surrounding them.

Logistics were simple: park bus to viewpoints, walk a trail, or continue to the last stop where there’s an elevator down to the falls walkway. We skipped the elevator on the way back up — very manageable, even for Sienna.

But Here’s the Catch

The bus line can take forever. Most of our three hours went toward waiting for it. If patience is not your greatest virtue, invest in VIP line-skip tickets.

Final Verdict: Just Go — Both Sides

Iguazú Falls was one of the top highlights of our entire trip. Both Argentina and Brazil do a fantastic job making the experience accessible — for families, casual walkers, and people who just want to sit somewhere scenic and dissolve into humidity. Also, fun fact, there is a THIRD country that borders the falls, Paraguay - we did not venture here so can't speak to it, but have heard from others that they are just as spectacular.

The falls themselves? Absolutely unforgettable.

Our recommendation: See both (or maybe even al three) sides if you can. One gives you immersion; the other gives you epic panorama. Together, they give you the full “WOW.”