Argentina: Border Crossing From Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguazú in Brazil

A simple, safe and hassle free border crossing, the main bus companies that run between Argentina and Brazil are Rio Uruguay, Crucero del Norte and Itaipu. Both companies have busses leaving at least every half hour from from Terminal de Omni bus station in Puerto Iguazu.

You can also catch a bus along the Avenida Victoria Aguirre. For the Itaipu bus, simply look out for a green and yellow bus with “Brazil” digitally displayed or the yellow Crucero del Norte which always has Brazil displayed. The Rio Uruguay is heavily branded so no fear missing that one!

Any of the above busses are $25 (€1.25) each way and takes roughly two hours, including two immigration stops.

Leaving Puerto Iguazú, after 10 minutes or so the bus will stop at Argentinian immigration for a simple “stamp out” process that is extremely efficient. Quicker than any supermarket queue.

The bus will wait to bring you to Brazilian immigration. As you board, the driver should hand you a receipt so that when you stop at immigration in Brazil you will not have to pay for another bus as here the bus will not wait for you. If the driver doesn’t approach you, be sure to ask for this.

Another 5 minutes and you will arrive at immigration. Grab a visa entry form, complete it and proceed into the office. Again, it is quick and painless. Once finished head back to the bus stop and wait for the next bus, with your bus receipt in hand. Note that you can only take the bus that you originally booked with.

There is a money exchange building about a 10 minute walk from immigration. It is a large green building and is open every day. There are also places to exchange money in Foz do Iguazú but they do close at weekends.

The bus terminates at the Terminal de Tansporte Urbano on Avenida Juscelino Kubitscheck. If you plan to catch busses onwards to Rio, Sao Paulo or Florianopolis you will need to catch the local bus to the International Bus Terminal of Foz do Iguaçu Avenida Costa e Silva. The local busses will have ‘terminal’ displayed on the front.

Also, don’t forget that Brazil is an hour ahead of Argentina.

Finally, and this is the most important, do not enter Brazil without a yellow fever vaccine.

Not only is yellow fever on a rampage but if you plan to travel onwards after Brazil other countries (such as Colombia) will request proof that you have had the vaccine.

It’s not worth the hassle or the health risk, go get shot.

Welcome to Brazil!