This step-by-step guide will help you cross the border from Puerto Iguazu in Argentina to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil. To cross the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu is easy. However, there a few mistakes you could make if you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Follow these steps and you will have a completely stress-free border crossing.
(A note on prices: any price listed here was true as of February 2024. Inflation is a huge issue in Argentina and therefore prices change sometimes daily. If you notice a change in prices, let me know in the comments. I will do my best to keep it updated).
Why visit both sides of Iguazu Falls?
To cross the border for day to visit the falls from the Brazilian side, is really simple. You can easily base yourself in Argentina or Brazil and take a day trip to the other side. If you have time to view the falls from both sides, it is definitely worth the effort! If you are short on time, consider doing an organised day trip to see Iguazu Falls from both sides like this one!
I’ve written another guide for how to do a day trip to the Brazilian side of the falls from Argentina, which you can read here.
This guide is for people that need to cross the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu to stay in Brazil. If you are looking for how to get to Foz do Iguacu airport or the international bus station to travel on to other parts of Brazil, this is the guide for you.
Where to buy a bus ticket for Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu
To travel from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu, buy your ticket at the main bus terminal in Puerto Iguazu. It is marked on Google maps as Terminal de Buses de Puerto Iguazu (linked here).
There are two bus companies that cross the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu: Crucero del Norte and Rio Uruguay. Both companies have ticket offices at the bus station. You can buy your tickets in advance or you can purchase them on the day.
We went with Crucero del Norte. They have buses that leave every hour from 7am. The tickets cost 2000 pesos (February 2024).
How to cross the border: step by step guide
When you board the bus, be sure to keep hold of your ticket. You will need to show it again to board the second bus from the Brazilian immigration into Foz do Iguacu.
All buses that cross the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu are regular commuter buses. They don’t have luggage holds so prepare to bring your luggage onto the bus with you.
Crossing the border step one: Argentina immigration
After about 15 minutes on the bus, it will stop at the Argentina side of the border. Everyone gets off the bus here. Bring your bags with you and just follow the crowd. There will be a lot of locals that do this trip regularly so will know what to do. Line up for immigration with your passport. This part is generally pretty fast.
When you finish, get back on the same bus. It will be waiting at the exit to immigration.
Crossing the border step two: Brazilian immigration
The bus will then carry on for another few minutes until it arrives at the Brazilian immigration office. The bus will stop and you need to get off.
Most people will stay on the bus here. If you intend to stay in Brazil, you need to get your passport stamped at this point or you may encounter problems down the line. If you don’t go through Brazilian immigration, you are technically in the country illegally. However, if for some reason your bus doesn’t stop or you forget to get off, don’t stress. I’ve heard anecdotally that this is not uncommon. You will just need to return to the border as soon as possible to rectify the situation.
The line for the Brazilian side takes longer. We were waiting for around 25 minutes to get our stamps. When you have your stamp, go outside to the same bus stop that you were dropped off at and wait for the next bus.
Crucero del Norte buses leave on the hour so we had to wait until about 20 minutes past the hour for it to pass through the border. Show your original bus ticket to the driver to board the bus.
Step three: Getting to your next destination
If you’re going to the International bus terminal (Rodoviaria internacional) you have two choices. You can stay on the bus until you reach the terminal. This is the most convenient way as you dropped off at the actual terminal, however it takes a bit longer as it weaves through town and then stops near the Paraguay border for a while first.
Your other option is to keep an eye on the map and jump off the bus on Av. Paraná. You can then walk through to the bus station in about 15 minutes.
To get to the airport, get off the bus at the intersection of Av. Paraná and Av. Jorge Schimmelpfeng. Local bus 120 runs down Av. Jorge Schimmelpfeng every 20 minutes. It takes about 25 minutes to arrive to the airport.
Foz do Iguacu rodoviaria international bus station
If you’ve crossed the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu to get a long distance bus to another destination in Brazil, you will be relieved to find that the international bus terminal is actually a decent place to wait. There are charging ports, free hot and cold drinking water, luggage storage, restaurants, free wifi and even a pharmacy.
Also, conveniently, there is an ATM and a place that sells tourist SIM cards right in the terminal.
I usually buy my tickets in advance on Busbud. It saves the stress of missing out on a ticket for the bus you want at the terminal. If you have purchased your ticket in advance online, make sure you go to the ticket office of the bus company you are travelling with when you arrive. For most buses in Brazil, you need to have a printed ticket, which they will give you at the terminal.
How long does it take to cross the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu?
From Puerto Iguazu bus terminal to Rodoviaria international bus terminal in Foz de Iguacu it took just under 2 hours. It could easily take less time, but equally could take more time. It is entirely dependent on how busy the border lines are when you arrive. You can also save time by jumping off the bus early and walking the rest of the way to Rodoviaria if you are in a hurry.
If you are crossing the border from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguacu to take another bus, my advice is leave early. Rodoviaria terminal is an okay place to wait. We’ve definitely had to wait around for a bus in worse places.
Looking for more information about visiting Iguazu Falls? Check out my other posts here!
