Solo Female Travel at Iguazu Falls!
I traveled to Iguazu Falls by myself in March 2018, staying at a cute little place in the jungle called Palo Rosa Lodge. When you fly into Iguazu, you’ll see that the entire surrounding area is straight-up JUNGLE!! Green as far as the eye can see. And then, somewhere in the midst of that dense, green jungle, is one of the most massive waterfalls in the world: Iguazu Falls. If you’re traveling to Argentina, you MUST visit ~ whether you’re with friends, or by yourself. I think it’s a fantastic & safe destination for solo travel. So on that note, let’s talk solo female travel at Iguazu Falls!
On my second day at Iguazu, I saw sooo many rainbows ~ it was incredible!
How to Get to Iguazu Falls
Relaxing in the jungle was just what I needed after endless 24-hour bus rides in Patagonia. Argentina is a MASSIVE country ~ a 24-hour bus ride doesn’t even cover 1/3 of the country!! I HIGHLY recommend flying to Iguazu Falls (IGR is the airport on the Argentina side, IGU on the Brazil side). Because every bus ride to Iguazu is sooo, sooo long! And flights are often cheaper. I caught an $80 flight from Mendoza on Fly Bondi, a low-cost Argentina airline.
The bus ride from Mendoza would have cost at least TRIPLE, & taken….35+ hours?!??? Forget that!
Another good low-cost Argentina airline that flies to Iguazu: Andes Lineas.
How Safe is Iguazu Falls?
Iguazu Falls is a great place for solo travel, as both towns (Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, & Foz de Iguazu in Brazil) are pretty small, & always filled with tourists ~ as the Falls are a year-round attraction. And once you’re at the Falls themselves, you’ll never be alone: Iguazu is a magnet for tourists from all over the world. The local bus to Iguazu was an easy, 5-minute walk from my hotel, making the solo journey nice & easy. If you don’t want to take the bus, you can also take a taxi right into the park.
All my taxi drivers in Iguazu were friendly, personable, & offered me rides to & from.
As for bringing a nice camera into the Falls, I’d say: go for it. During the 8+ hours I spent inside the park, there was no point where I felt unsafe. There are so many people around, & everyone is so mesmerized by the Falls: it really didn’t strike me as a place with much theft. Not to mention, most thieves probably won’t want to pay the 500 peso entrance fee ($25 US). The most danger you’re likely to encounter at Iguazu Falls is from “coaties” ~ small, raccoon-like creatures that will literally steal food right out of your hands!
At no point during my time at Iguazu Falls did I feel unsafe. Except ~ when a coati (small, raccoon-like animal) climbed onto a table & stole my sandwich right out of my hands!
But, if you’re really worried about going to Iguazu Falls by yourself, or would prefer to share the experience with others: all you need to do is join a tour! There are boat & jungle tours inside the park, & you can also book a tour directly from your hotel ~ so you won’t need to go in to the park alone.
I opted to go solo because I wanted plenty of time to explore on my own & find the best photo spots.
Solo Female Travel at Iguazu Falls ~ Video!
For a better look at the Falls themselves….check out the video below, set to “Elysium,” by Hans Zimmer, from one of my favorites: the “Gladiator Soundtrack.”
What You Need at Iguazu Falls
When I visited Iguazu Falls (in March), it was about 95 degrees & 90% humidity. Translation: it’s HOT AS HECK!!! And you’ll find many bugs in the jungle ~ so bringing chemical-free bug repellent is a great idea. Other musts: sunscreen, light clothing that will look cute in photos, wide-brimmed hat, & a bikini (they have showers throughout the park to cool off in). And if you plan to solo female travel at Iguazu Falls ~ I HIGHLY recommend bringing a GoPro, as you’ll be able to get great shots of the falls without help! My GoPro shots are my favorites, because of the high angles you can create.
My absolute favorite shots of me + the Falls came from my GoPro. The birds-eye angles you get can’t be beat.
Wide-Brimmed Hat
Face Sunscreen SPF 50
What’s the Difference Between Sides?
The Argentina side of the park is much larger than the Brazil side, & you’re able to get closer to the Falls. You need at least FIVE hours on the Argentina side to see it all. Especially if you take the 20-minute train ride to Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat). As for the Brazil side, it can be done in about TWO hours. In Brazil, you’ll see more of a panoramic view of the Falls.
On the Argentina side, you are INCHES away from hundreds of waterfalls…on the Brazil side, you’ll get more of a panorama view.
If you only have time to go to one side of Iguazu Falls: go to the Argentina side.
Where I Stayed at Iguazu Falls
- Under $50/night: For solo female travel at Iguazu Falls, I highly recommend Palo Rosa Lodge in Puerto Iguazu. The Argentina side is more spectacular than the Brazil side, & you have just a 5-minute walk to the bus station from Palo Rosa to reach the Falls.
- Hotels Inside Iguazu Falls National Park: There are only 2 hotels inside the park ~ Melia Iguazu (right next to the “Lower Circuit,” on the Argentina side), & the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, in Foz de Iguazu, on the Brazil side. Both hotels are pricey (over $300+/night), but the Belmond is the nicer of the two, as it’s perched directly on the edge of the Falls, with STUNNING views.
Belmond Cataratas, on the Brazil side of the Falls, offers the most magnificent views of Iguazu ~ & is the only hotel inside the National Park on the Brazil side.
Solo Female Travel at Iguazu Falls
In case you’re wondering what some of my other favorite solo travel destinations are, they include Iceland, Austria, & Ireland ~ as well the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. If you’re new to travel & need some encouragement ~ leave a comment below or email me!
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So if you have very limited time at Iguazu, which side would you do: Brazil or Argentina? We have about one day in Puerto Iguazu, and are leaving the following morning early. Also, we are US citizens and concerned about the Visa issue for Brazil.
If you have only one day in Puerto Iguazu (city on the Argentina side of Falls), I would ABSOLUTELY do the Argentina side ONLY, & not worry about going to Brazil. To see the entire Argentina side, you need at least around 5 hours, & could easily spend more time there. I’d say, don’t stress yourselves out about going to both sides in one day ~ particularly as you will need to pay the $160 to enter Brazil, as well as dealing with customs at border. Hope that helps ~ enjoy your visit!
Hi! I am planning to solo travel to Iguazu Falls next month, and really appreciate this article as it gives me some more peace of mind! Question: I am planning to bring really nice camera gear, including a collapsible tripod. Can you foresee any issues I might have bringing it into the park? Thanks so much! Kelly
Hey Kelly Ann! Great question. I think the biggest issue you’ll have is getting tired from carrying around all your equipment! Ha ~ the park is REALLY big (think, like Disneyland big), & you’ll be doing a TON of walking. Keep that in mind when packing/organizing your gear. I wouldn’t worry about theft or safety (there are usually always lots of people around), but in some of the most popular photo spots, your gear may get wet. Other than that, I think you should be just fine! xoxo Noelia
I’ll be heading to Iguazu Falls solo as well, and am planning to do both the Brazil and Argentina sides. My question is, did you visit that town in Paraguay, Ciudad del Este? I’ve heard it’s a little crazy and I’m not sure if I’d feel comfortable visiting it on my own, but I hear it’s great for shopping!
Hey there! I did NOT visit Ciudad del Este. I heard about it as well, but chose not to visit: I don’t love shopping enough to deal with all those crazy crowds & madness! I’ve heard there are safety issues as well, & it can be especially dangerous at night ~ so as a solo traveler, I’d probably err on the side of caution & not visit. Hope that helps! xoxo Noelia