Quick trip to Iguazu Falls from Sao Paolo

[Flashback]

As country #100 nears (Brazil), getting in before they start charging for Aussies to enter the country from April (Vistos.).

Having a look, there's flights between GRU and IGU (Brazilian side) on GOL and LATAM.

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Using cash, the cheapest I can find (using Jan 22-23 out/back as an example) is £156 (~$300 AUD) on LATAM.

That means in theory there's point options on AA, BA, QF etc.

AA: 30k + £17.20 doesn't feel like very good use of miles on GOL. Even though searching for IGU, it seems to bring up options (only) into CAC which is miles away.
BA: GRU - IGU return on LATAM - none of the options are even close to 1p/Avios, so seems like cash may be the better option here?
17000 Avios + £ 30.20
15100 Avios + £ 50.20
13600 Avios + £ 70.20
12500 Avios + £ 90.20
10600 Avios + £ 110.20
9400 Avios + £ 130.20
QF: Can't search online, might need a phone call?

Are there any other options I'm missing?

Once there, based on tips/comments from others on AFF such as @JohnM, @RooFlyer, @Mattg etc. it looks like the Brazilian side actually has the better views and has a good bird park, however it's still worth popping over to the Argentinian side (country #101 ) and spending the night there perhaps. Or would it be better to stay on the Brazilian side and just day trip over to the Argy side?

 

[RooFlyer]

Once there, based on tips/comments from others on AFF such as @JohnM, @RooFlyer, @Mattg etc. it looks like the Brazilian side actually has the better views and has a good bird park, however it's still worth popping over to the Argentinian side (country #101 ) and spending the night there perhaps. Or would it be better to stay on the Brazilian side and just day trip over to the Argy side?

I flew into Brazilian side & spent the night at the Belmond, right by the falls (24 hr access). Argi side has the best falls, best viewed from the Brazilian side. Can go down the walkways into the torrent. A viewing tower. Butterflies animals etc

I then got a car & driver from the hotel to drive me across to the Argi side - he did all the passport stuff (I just sat in the car!!), then drove me up the Argi side. Some good walks along there, but you are mostly 'above' the falls. However, at the end, there is a long walkway out into the river that ends right over the 'Devils Throat' where one of the bigger falls drops down. Def worth visiting both sides. I then flew out of the Argi airport.

Taking a vehicle is a very common way to do it - there will be lots of options.

 

[Flashback]

CGH looks to be an option too, another airport in Sao Paolo. Prices look to be much the same. If paying cash then CGH is likely better as it's closer to the city.

 

[JohnM]

I just reminded myself of what I did.

It's worth seeing both sides.

I stayed on the Brazil side and did a day trip to the Argy side, see post #141: A high and dry, wild and wet, majestic history medley – RTW 2018

 

[Flashback]

I just reminded myself of what I did.

It's worth seeing both sides.

I stayed on the Brazil side and did a day trip to the Argy side, see post #141: A high and dry, wild and wet, majestic history medley – RTW 2018

Interesting viewpoint from an American, saying the town on the Brazilian side isn't safe. Seems fine to me......

How to Go to Iguazu Falls (Brazil Side): A COMPLETE Guide

The Brazil side of Iguazu Falls boasts the best view of Devil's Throat—the region's main attraction—along with exotic wildlife and flora.

www.eva-darling.com

UA miles is an option also, 25k + $15.60. Seems like cash is the way to go here from a value perspective.

 

[Lynda2475]

When I went to Iguazu we flew in from San Paolo in afternoon; stayed 2 nights on the Brazilian side in a really nice hotel (certainly didn't feel unsafe), checking out some local night life on first night. Next day spent a full day on the Brazilian side which includes the boat trip. Next day drove over to the Argentinian side early morning and drove back into Brazil that afternoon going straight to airport to get early evening flight to Buenos Aires.

The views and activities are different on each side. It like going to Niagara you naturally want to do the US and Canadian sides.

Watch out for these guys on the Brazilian side, we saw them sneak up on an unsuspecting tourist who had his baguette lunch in a plastic bag, then use a finger nail to cut the bag, grab the baguette all in a couple of seconds before the guy even noticed. His lunch was devoured very quickly.

 

[p--and--t]

We stayed on Brazilian side inside the national park in a colonial style 2 story hotel.

It was fabulous all the tourists have to be out of the park from 5pm to 9am IIRC and only hotel guests on the paths and vantage points.

Quiet and lots of nice walks much better than multi story concrete and glass boxy Marriott style on the Argentine side. (And they had champagne breakfasts)

Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel | Hotel Beside Iguazu Falls

Embark on the ultimate jungle escape at Hotel das Cataratas, a luxury Brazilian retreat beside Iguazu Falls.

www.belmond.com

 

[Flashback]

So it looks like cash is the goer on getting there and back, a 1, maybe 2 nights. I'm thinking an early flight out first day then late flight back on the 2nd.

 

[p--and--t]

Oh and don't miss the bird Park. It is great. Was a real highlight.

 

[Mattg]

I flew GRU-IGU and return earlier this year. Outbound, I booked LATAM on a cash fare and it was a bit pricey. On the way back, I used AAdvantage miles to fly GOL. It was only 7,500 AA miles + minimal taxes, which was a good deal.

 

[Flashback]

I flew GRU-IGU and return earlier this year. Outbound, I booked LATAM on a cash fare and it was a bit pricey. On the way back, I used AAdvantage miles to fly GOL. It was only 7,500 AA miles + minimal taxes, which was a good deal.

I'm guessing that's before the redemption fees went up?

 

[Mattg]

I'm guessing that's before the redemption fees went up?

That’s still the price on the dates I just checked.

 

[Flashback]

That’s still the price on the dates I just checked.

Interesting, I'm not seeing 7.5k as a price point!

 

[Mattg]

It's not available every day (on the direct flight), but there are seats here and there.

 

[Flashback]

It's not available every day (on the direct flight), but there are seats here and there.

View attachment 413297

Weird, I only got the airport that was miiiiiiiiiiiles away. I wonder why I didn't get that pricing.

 

[Mattg]

Weird, I only got the airport that was miiiiiiiiiiiles away. I wonder why I didn't get that pricing.

Is it giving you seats in GOL’s “premium” cabin?

 

[Flashback]

Is it giving you seats in GOL’s “premium” cabin?

Nope, LATAM's Y cabin.

22/1 - 23/1 (24/1 too, I don't think there's anything back on the 23rd).

 

[Tiki]

Domestic flights in Brazil are cheap if you book in advance. While in Foz, check out the bird park near the entrance to the falls. You can get up close and personal with gorgeous toucans and parrots in a free flight walk through aviary.

 

[Flashback]

Domestic flights in Brazil are cheap if you book in advance. While in Foz, check out the bird park near the entrance to the falls. You can get up close and personal with gorgeous toucans and parrots in a free flight walk through aviary.

Define 'cheap'?

 

[Myrna]

I flew into Brazilian side & spent the night at the Belmond, right by the falls (24 hr access). Argi side has the best falls, best viewed from the Brazilian side. Can go down the walkways into the torrent. A viewing tower. Butterflies animals etc

I then got a car & driver from the hotel to drive me across to the Argi side - he did all the passport stuff (I just sat in the car!!), then drove me up the Argi side. Some good walks along there, but you are mostly 'above' the falls. However, at the end, there is a long walkway out into the river that ends right over the 'Devils Throat' where one of the bigger falls drops down. Def worth visiting both sides. I then flew out of the Argi airport.

Taking a vehicle is a very common way to do it - there will be lots of options.

We did a similar route when visit Iguazu Falls in Sep 2019. We flew from LHR to GRU, private road transport from Argentina to Brazil (likewise the driver took care of the paperwork for border crossing, no hassle), back to LHR from GIG.

On the Argentine side, we stayed at the Gran Melia hotel (it had just been renovated so room was very nice) for 2 nights. On the Brazilian side, we stayed at the Belmond (beautiful grounds and gardens) for one night.

For us, it was the best decision to stay at these hotels as we got up early in the morning, walked to the falls before the tourist buses arrived, magical experience as we were the first and only ones there! We saw birds and wildlife along the walks. We then had late breakfasts at the hotels, went for swims in the lovely hotel pools. Late afternoon we went back for more walks before dinner.

We booked these hotels via a virtuoso agent, so got upgraded to rooms with views of the falls plus other perks. At the hotel on the Argentine side we were warned of locking balcony door as monkeys might come in and raid the fridge. We saw a couple of monkeys sitting on the balcony rails early in the morning.

We could have stayed outside the parks, but we would not have experienced the early viewings of the falls - only for guests staying at these hotels. Go on Flashback, you will not regret it. I know you and Mrs Flashback love walking, and hiking - so these hotels are perfectly located for these activities.