Iguazu Falls in December
 

December is usually the best time of the year for my husband to travel because of a lighter work load at that time. I had initially thought that South American would be an ideal place to visit in December since it is summer in the southern hemisphere then. However, I also recently read that it is not the best time to visit the falls at that time because, for want of a better term, the water flow is lower. Would you Argentinian experts offer some advice on this? Is it still worth the trip to the falls in December? Should I also try to go to see the Brazilian side as well?

We were there in mid November last year and the water flow was fine. I can't imagine a few weeks will make that much difference. We saw both sides and were really glad we did. the Argentine side gets you really close to the falls whereas the the Brazilian side provides more of a panoramic view. I am a UK citizen so there were no visa fees to pay. However if you are from teh US or Australia I believe the fee is v. expensive. Having said that, many people, on the advice of the bus drivers, did not bother with the Brazilian immigration if only staying for a day.

If you are wondering if it's worth visiting both sides...
I was there in April, it was very hot...about 35 deg. Anyway, I just went to the Argentinean side which was spectacular. A cool thing I must recommend though, there is a river delta where you can take a picture which shows 3 countries in the same photo, Paraguay, Brazil and of sourse Argentina.

We were at the Falls 2 years ago in early February - it was fantastic. We did spend the money for the visa to the Brazilian side - and we thought it was money very well spent.

I would not recommend taking a chance entering a foreign country without a visa - better to just enjoy the Argentinean Falls.

Enjoy your visit. ~Marnie

We're going to Iguazu in early March and I'd love to see both sides - but I don't want to spend the extra money to go to Brazil for just a few hours. I really don't think it's a good idea to take chances like that!

We were in IF a few years back in December and they were fabulous -- can't imagine that it was during "low flow." We only visited the Arg side.

Thanks for your responses. I had heard that I would need a visa to go to the Brazilian side, so I may pass on that since it will be a short trip, and I would only be there a few hours.

SavvyTom: how does one get to the delta? I hope it does require going over to the Brazilian side.

I guess what savvyTom means is the 'Hito de las 3 Fronteras' (the three borders landmark). You can just ask the concierge at your hotel how to get there, or take a taxi. If you are taking a guided tour you will certainly visit this place, however it is nothing out of the blue. There you will see 3 obelisks with the Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay's flag painted on it. Each obelisk is in the corresponding territory. In the surroundings there are artcrafts for you to buy

Regarding visiting Brazil, US citizens are required a visa, but many taxi drivers can take you from your hotel in Argentina to the Brazilian National Park, they will wait for you and then they will bring you back. I don't know how much this costs but I know many people who have done this. It's true, it's quite risky you just have to take the chance...

I went to the falls by the end of November and they were at their best! I saw pictures of the falls with low flow and it was nothing compared to what I experienced...

I highly recommend you visit Iguazú, it will be an unforgettable holiday!

Have a great time!

Thanks again for your replies. I know I read somewhere that the flow was lower at this time of year (December), but I just checked the Fodor's guidebook on Argentina and the indication there is that the flow of the falls is normal then.

I'm not one to take chances, so I don't believe I would risk taking a ride over to the Brazilian side without a visa. And I don't want to spend that much for a visa for just a few hours. Maybe next time when I can spend a night in each place.

SusanInToronto, presuming you are a Canadian citizen, you can get a 10-day visa for $36 CAD - at least that was the cost for me a few months ago from the local Brazilian consulate in Vancouver.

As it turned out, no one was interested in seeing my visa when I did the daytrip by public bus.

However, if you pay the $36, it is totally worth it just for a few hours. The views on the Brazilian side are spectacular and much different than on the Argentinian side.

Thanks WillTravel. I didn't realize that. I'm Canadian but my husband is not (he's American). But I'll definitely check into it.

You said you took the public bus - is that from Iguazu? We'll be flying from BA into Igauzu and I'm hoping to book an earlier flight. That would give us the afternoon and all the next day in the area. Then we'll fly back to BA and go to Uruguay.

I checked the Brazilian embassy website and they are quoting $91 for a Canadian and $182 for an American. But I'm going to check with the consulate here in Toronto.

I didn't get quoted the $36 price until I went into the consulate office. I didn't see it on the website.

I heard back from the consulate here in Toronto - they're saying $91 for me and $182 for my husband. (That's not a visa fee - it's a "reciprocity" fee!) So I'm thinking we'll just see the Argentina side of the falls on this trip. The flight up there is pricey enough for a 2 night trip. Maybe some other time!