Puerto Iguazú Transportation

Just an overnight trip would not give you a good feeling of the Falls, even though in one day you can try to do both sides of the Falls. But the Brasilian side is much more spectacular. Technically, you can leave early morning from BA to Iguazu.perhaps go directly to the Brasilian side and spend until sunset there and come back to the argentine side. and spend the second day looking at the argentine side and then go back to BA that evening.
It is a rushed trip,but it would be much more wonderful if you could spare another day. but organizing it properly you could see both the brasilian and argentine side. I would recommend you to stay at the argentine side.
You might also consider a tour from BA including the aifare, hotel and tours..

We arranged everything with this loacltour companty to take us around the falls.They were referred by members on this this and I have to say they were wonderful and their rates were less than we could have arranged on our own and alot more convenient.They saved us lots of time!

This is a more 'luxurious' option (if not taking an escorted tour) to the Brazilian Falls. The bus leaves from Terminal de Omnibus 5 times a day, starting from 8:20 a.m. onward. I recommend taking the earliest one and get back on either 1p or 5p bus. Cost is $35 Pesos round-trip. The bus will drop you off at the borders on both sides and wait till you're done. So don't worry about being bumped like some people who took local buses had experienced.

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The cheapest way to get from Puerto Iguazu to the Parque is by this local bus. You can either catch one at Terminal de Omnibus or anywhere en-route (it says 'Cataratas'). The fare is $5 Pesos each way and it takes roughly about 20 minutes. The bus departs every 20-30 minutes from dawn till about 9 p.m. (but the park closes at 6 p.m. anyway). The busiest time would be from 9-10 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. when you might not be able to find a single seat!

Due to a strike of the pilots of Aerolineas Argentinas, we were almost forced to take the bus from Iguazù to Buenos Aires. But now I have a lot of information about these long distance buses in Argentina. I think it is an alternative for travelling by plane and one can reach ‘every corner’ of this enormous country by bus.

In Buenos Aires the bus to Iguazù leaves from the central situated Retiro Bus Station (next to the railway station); the central bus station in Iguazù is situated at Av Cordoba/Av Misiones. You can buy tickets at the offices of the bus companies in this stations or just do it on the internet. Following companies offer bus services between Bs As and Puerto Iguazù:
'Crucero del Norte', 'Via Bariloche', 'Expreso Singer SA' and 'Expreso Tigre iguazù'.

For long(er) distances, which are travelled overnight, there are two kinds of busses: semi-cama (with a reclining seat) and cama ejec or suite (more or less a bed). Most of them offer meals and drinks, do have a lavatory and will make some stops on their way. Be aware the distance from Bs As to Iguazù is more than 1200 km's.

Travelling by bus is much cheaper than by plane (2 or 3 times cheaper), but off course is much slower (10 times). Mostly buses will leave in the (late) afternoon and reach their destination in the (late) morning.
- Buenos Aires – Iguazu: between 215 and 310 pesos (2009) / 16 - 18 hours

For more information see the websites:
www.crucerodelnorte.com.ar
www.viabariloche.com.ar
www.omnilineas.com

Taxis (or remises) are often used in Puerto Iguazú. Especially to and from the National Park and to and from the airport. They are much more expensive than the local bus (about 10 times !!). For instance a taxi ride to the Falls will be around 40 pesos and by bus it is 4 pesos; the same for a ride to Brazil, by taxi 40 pesos, by bus 4 pesos !!
If you are lucky taxi drivers will offer you a discount, specially for longer trips.

We used the taxi a couple of times to go to town, staying in a hotel outside town (4 km’s along Ruta 12). Sometimes taxis are waiting in front of your hotel or driving along the main road (Ruta 12), otherwise you (or your hotel) will have to phone for a taxi. In Puerto Iguazù we saw ‘on every corner of the street’ taxis waiting and also some offices ('remiserias'). We never had any problem to get a taxi.

Most of the taxi drivers try to ‘sell’ a ‘next trip’ to one of the sights in or outside town.

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Local busses are the cheapest way of transportation to/from the town and the Iguazù Falls, or between the hotels outside the town and the town centre.

The yellow coloured busses of 'El Practico' run daily every half hour:
from Puerto Iguazù to the falls: from 7.10 am till 7.40 pm
from Nat. Park to the town: from 7.45 am till 8.15 pm
One way ticket: 4 pesos (2008/2009); you can buy your tickets from the driver.

In Puerto Iguazu are some bus stops, outside the town we just waited along the road and stopped the bus by raising our hands. On our way back from the falls somebody was playing a harp inside the bus; that makes travelling with local busses so special.

The bus to Brazil is also more or less a local bus and does leave from the central bus station (Av Cordoba - Av Misiones) and has also a couple of stops in town before heading to the border. One way ticket: 4 pesos or 4 reales.

(If travelling to Brazil see ‘General Tips’ for the border crossing.)

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There is a major bus station in the city where buses come often from all the major cities in the area and neighbouring countries.

Buses leave regularly from Puerto Iguazú to the Centro de Informes for tours of the Iguazú falls.