Iguazu logistics and rental car?
Jul 21st, 2015, 05:26 AM
#21
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"You might try telling us why anyone would want to go to Foz. What's the attraction?"
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Here is a quote from an outside source:
"Foz do Iguacu has been noted by various national and international media:
The Rolling Stone magazine labeled it as “Foz do Iguacu is a fantastic city. For tourists, it comes down to the falls and shopping and for the keen observers, it is our Babel, with an ethnic diversity worthy of the world’s greatest cities."
Guia Quatro Rodas (Brazilian guidebook) mentions it as one of the best of Brazil. Foz also was mentioned by the Guardian Journal/England as a top destination for the UK. The World Network (CNN USA) classifies it as one of the 14 most romantic destinations. TourFilm Brazil Art&Tur from Barcelos/Portugal also rate it highly.
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What did these major media outlets have to say in praise of Puerto Iguazu? Anything at all?
-----------------------------
Here is a quote from an outside source:
"Foz do Iguacu has been noted by various national and international media:
The Rolling Stone magazine labeled it as “Foz do Iguacu is a fantastic city. For tourists, it comes down to the falls and shopping and for the keen observers, it is our Babel, with an ethnic diversity worthy of the world’s greatest cities."
Guia Quatro Rodas (Brazilian guidebook) mentions it as one of the best of Brazil. Foz also was mentioned by the Guardian Journal/England as a top destination for the UK. The World Network (CNN USA) classifies it as one of the 14 most romantic destinations. TourFilm Brazil Art&Tur from Barcelos/Portugal also rate it highly.
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What did these major media outlets have to say in praise of Puerto Iguazu? Anything at all?
Jul 21st, 2015, 06:58 AM
#22
I can see the falls just as easily, probably more easily, from the Argentinian side.
I don't shop and I'm not looking for a romantic destination - and if I were it wouldn't be a city, aside perhaps for Venice and Paris. Nor did I go to the falls in search of ethnic diversity, which I can find in a lot of places. So I'm not sold. The OP's opinion may be different.
I don't shop and I'm not looking for a romantic destination - and if I were it wouldn't be a city, aside perhaps for Venice and Paris. Nor did I go to the falls in search of ethnic diversity, which I can find in a lot of places. So I'm not sold. The OP's opinion may be different.
Jul 21st, 2015, 09:20 AM
#23
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As I said, you were moving on into Argentina, so it made some sense for you thursdaysd to base in Puerto Iguazu, and move your luggage with you, but really not for someone flying in and out of IGU.
An early afternoon flight means losing half a day of sightseeing in the morning trying to get your luggage back across the border, or losing the time the afternoon before. I prefer to maximize my time doing something interesting, not moving bags to and fro in extreme heat and humidity. But the OP can and will do as s/he prefers.
"Not sold" is quite different from your previous third-hand arguments of Foz being dangerous or less attractive.
And much of a moot point after the fact of your own trip, fraught as it seemed to be in the tr with mis-steps.
An early afternoon flight means losing half a day of sightseeing in the morning trying to get your luggage back across the border, or losing the time the afternoon before. I prefer to maximize my time doing something interesting, not moving bags to and fro in extreme heat and humidity. But the OP can and will do as s/he prefers.
"Not sold" is quite different from your previous third-hand arguments of Foz being dangerous or less attractive.
And much of a moot point after the fact of your own trip, fraught as it seemed to be in the tr with mis-steps.
Jul 21st, 2015, 09:34 AM
#24
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And you have yet to make an argument for the attraction of the village of Puerto Iguazu---- not anything but another dusty tropical roadside collection of nondescript structures from my memory of its center---- an attraction strong enough of course to cause someone to shlep luggage across a border they could be crossing hands free and not sweating from the discomfort in the heat/humidity.
Jul 21st, 2015, 11:14 AM
#25
"Fraught as it seemed to be in the tr with mis-steps"
You must be confusing my TR with some one elses.
"Not sold" means I asked you to convince me the town was worth visiting, and you failed.
I know that rkkwan is perfectly capable of making the right decision for himself, and since I am currently traveling I have better things to do than argue about a place I will never visit.
You must be confusing my TR with some one elses.
"Not sold" means I asked you to convince me the town was worth visiting, and you failed.
I know that rkkwan is perfectly capable of making the right decision for himself, and since I am currently traveling I have better things to do than argue about a place I will never visit.
Jul 21st, 2015, 12:06 PM
#26
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Why would one have to convince you of anything---particularly to eschew spreading misleading negative information garnered from third parties about a place you never visited?
And you did "visit" Foz. Did you not fly into IGU?
And yes, mis-steps, since I read the Brazilian part of your tr thinking "Gee if she had only known." many multiple times. (Few contributors on this forum appear to have the depth of knowledge about Brazil to have picked up on those instances, which perhaps accounts for the lack of other comments to that effect.)
And the reality is that neither place, Foz nor Puerto, is anything but a minor stop over for a visit to the falls, without which no one besides perhaps 'moambistos' would ever have reason to choose to visit either remote city/town.
The most comfortable accomodations in the area in fact might be some of the pleasant resort hotels between the town center of Foz and the Brazilian park (which have full size pools to relax after a sweaty day of hiking, and lush, expansive tropical grounds), or the expensive Belmond Cataratas (whose value mainly stems from being inside the Brazilian park).
And you did "visit" Foz. Did you not fly into IGU?
And yes, mis-steps, since I read the Brazilian part of your tr thinking "Gee if she had only known." many multiple times. (Few contributors on this forum appear to have the depth of knowledge about Brazil to have picked up on those instances, which perhaps accounts for the lack of other comments to that effect.)
And the reality is that neither place, Foz nor Puerto, is anything but a minor stop over for a visit to the falls, without which no one besides perhaps 'moambistos' would ever have reason to choose to visit either remote city/town.
The most comfortable accomodations in the area in fact might be some of the pleasant resort hotels between the town center of Foz and the Brazilian park (which have full size pools to relax after a sweaty day of hiking, and lush, expansive tropical grounds), or the expensive Belmond Cataratas (whose value mainly stems from being inside the Brazilian park).
Jul 23rd, 2015, 12:09 PM
#27
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We stayed on the Brazilian side (at the Belmond) and didn't even visit the Argentinian side. We LOVED our trip. From what we heard from others the views are much better from the Brazilian side, since it faces majority of the falls.
Jul 28th, 2015, 08:48 PM
#28
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Foz is uninteresting. Puerto is only marginally better. The fact of the matter is that both places leave plenty to be desired. Nevertheless, you're in the region to see the falls NOT Foz or Puerto.
If your budget allows I'd return to Foz on the last night and stay at the Hotel das Cataratas. By doing so, you'll be able to enjoy sunset at the falls and be one of the first people in the Park before it opens to the general public. Take the hotel's shuttle to the lift, head down to the platform and enjoy the falls from a different perspective than that on the Argentine side. Prepare to be soaked from the spray of the falls. After the crowds started to arrive, we headed back to the room and relaxed on hotel grounds before heading to the airport.
We travelled from Hotel das Cataratas to IGR airport on the Argentine side and had no issues with border crossing. Just allow enough time for the airport transfer. IGU is must closer to the hotel.
If you're super lucky you'll get a view of the falls when landing or taking off.
If your budget allows I'd return to Foz on the last night and stay at the Hotel das Cataratas. By doing so, you'll be able to enjoy sunset at the falls and be one of the first people in the Park before it opens to the general public. Take the hotel's shuttle to the lift, head down to the platform and enjoy the falls from a different perspective than that on the Argentine side. Prepare to be soaked from the spray of the falls. After the crowds started to arrive, we headed back to the room and relaxed on hotel grounds before heading to the airport.
We travelled from Hotel das Cataratas to IGR airport on the Argentine side and had no issues with border crossing. Just allow enough time for the airport transfer. IGU is must closer to the hotel.
If you're super lucky you'll get a view of the falls when landing or taking off.
Aug 12th, 2015, 12:31 PM
#30
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personable experience, I would book Hotel Das Cataratas
if I should ever return to the falls. Good base and "wow" scenery. It is a distance from the crowded cities which did not appeal to me anyway...to wife, even less.
We did everything from the Brazilian side. Then went on to Rio and the Amazon. See pics below,
if I should ever return to the falls. Good base and "wow" scenery. It is a distance from the crowded cities which did not appeal to me anyway...to wife, even less.
We did everything from the Brazilian side. Then went on to Rio and the Amazon. See pics below,
Aug 12th, 2015, 12:36 PM
#32
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Here are the pics...scroll down for the falls,
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...ESIguacuFalls#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...ESIguacuFalls#
Sep 27th, 2015, 11:30 PM
#34
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Just to report back. We decided to spend all three nights in Puerto, at the fairly inexpensive and totally adequate Jardin de Iguazu close to the bus terminal and restaurants. We took it easy after exhausting excursions in Peru, so decided to spend both of our days at the Argentinian park, which offers enough for us to spend time there.
I wouldn't argue with those who says the view of the main Devil's Throat is better on the Brazilian side, but from what I figure and observe, there's more trails and more of the falls behind Isle San Martin to see on the Argentinian side. So, the two sides offer different experience (and not just different views of Devil's Throat) - and we did the boat ride as well.
Traveling from IGU to Puerto was by taxi. Return was hotel arranged car. No issue with either.
Interesting things about using and exchanging money in Argentina. I can elaborate if anyone's interested to know.
I wouldn't argue with those who says the view of the main Devil's Throat is better on the Brazilian side, but from what I figure and observe, there's more trails and more of the falls behind Isle San Martin to see on the Argentinian side. So, the two sides offer different experience (and not just different views of Devil's Throat) - and we did the boat ride as well.
Traveling from IGU to Puerto was by taxi. Return was hotel arranged car. No issue with either.
Interesting things about using and exchanging money in Argentina. I can elaborate if anyone's interested to know.
Oct 3rd, 2015, 02:24 AM
#37
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Because the short visit to Iguazu was a tag on to our much longer stay in Peru, we didn't do any homework about money beforehand. And as a result, we "wasted" a lot of money in the <72 hours we were there. Things we learned:
1. Do not use credit cards or ATM (not that my BofA ATM works at the big Banco Marco machines anyways). As the rate with the card is the official one at 9.3. And the big Banco Marco near the centre of Puerto Iguazu won't do money exchange anyways, even if for 9.3.
2. We ended up walking two long blocks to Western Union agent (Pago Facil) and they gave us 14. There were people on the streets offering to exchange USD. I am sure they'll offer better than 14, but we decided to skip the risk.
3. In fact, the only place that will only take pesos is at the Iguazu National Park ticket counter. Anywhere else, everywhere else, you can pay with USD, Euro, Brazilian Reais. All at better than 9.3. Often 12-14. Including restaurants, or the licensed artist INSIDE the national park selling hand-drawn magnets and other souvenirs.
4. Lastly, where we "lost" the most money is at our hotel. I made the reservations on booking.com and all the rates were in USD. I falsely presumed that they would want USD (cash or credit card), so we spent all our remaining pesos before checking out and head back to Brazil. But turned out the bill is in pesos and at 9.3. But by paying in USD, they offered to only give us a 10% discount off the USD rate, so in effect at around 10.2. If I had known ahead and have the time, I would go back out to Pago Facil and get pesos and pay the hotel.
So, we should have asked before and not assume anything.
1. Do not use credit cards or ATM (not that my BofA ATM works at the big Banco Marco machines anyways). As the rate with the card is the official one at 9.3. And the big Banco Marco near the centre of Puerto Iguazu won't do money exchange anyways, even if for 9.3.
2. We ended up walking two long blocks to Western Union agent (Pago Facil) and they gave us 14. There were people on the streets offering to exchange USD. I am sure they'll offer better than 14, but we decided to skip the risk.
3. In fact, the only place that will only take pesos is at the Iguazu National Park ticket counter. Anywhere else, everywhere else, you can pay with USD, Euro, Brazilian Reais. All at better than 9.3. Often 12-14. Including restaurants, or the licensed artist INSIDE the national park selling hand-drawn magnets and other souvenirs.
4. Lastly, where we "lost" the most money is at our hotel. I made the reservations on booking.com and all the rates were in USD. I falsely presumed that they would want USD (cash or credit card), so we spent all our remaining pesos before checking out and head back to Brazil. But turned out the bill is in pesos and at 9.3. But by paying in USD, they offered to only give us a 10% discount off the USD rate, so in effect at around 10.2. If I had known ahead and have the time, I would go back out to Pago Facil and get pesos and pay the hotel.
So, we should have asked before and not assume anything.
Oct 3rd, 2015, 08:06 AM
#38
avrooster, our resident Argentina expert, has posted several times on this issue. If you don't want to change money on the street, or carry a lot of USD around, you might look at xoom.com - I considered it for my SA trip, but haven't actually used it.
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