Iguazzu/Iguacu- 2 days. Is a guide necessary? Some special issues
 

Hi. Tried to read all the postings I could, but still could use some help.

We have decided on a fairly last minute trip to Rio and Iguassu. (began as a mileage run on Delta, and grew from there.
We are arriving in IGU on Gol airlines on Thursday, 25 November scheduled to land at 1530. This is NOT changeable (we are connecting straight through Rio from NYC) We currently have reservations at the Sheraton Iguacu for two nights, and leave on the 25th for Rio out of IGU at 1600.

I have SOME mobility issues (lots of stairs are difficult) and we will likely be somewhat tired on arrival (leaving NYC about 24 hours before arrival, in transit)I never know after flying how well I'll be able to walk (see below) and so might need a slower pace than some others.

Got a quote for basically 48 hours of tour guide- pickup from airport to hotel, usual Argentina side trips, and return to Brazil for flight. NOT including park entries, was for $370. DO we need this? Is it relatively easy to get from Sheraton hotel to the trails? Are there cabs to go into town to eat if the dinner restaurant is too much of a rip-off? Should we wait and book something on arrival? Would love to hear your thoughts about how we might arrange:
-pickup at airport
-tours on Argentinian side
-moonlight walk
-?boat
We usually do things on our own, but with limited time and torn medial menisci on both knees, wondered how much we'd need a driver (I never know if I'll poop out after one circuit and just watch the falls from a balcony, which is why we're splurging on the Sheraton.

Thanks

Hi, Steve!

I had written a rather more complete reply to your post, but it was lost in cyberspace.

The gist of it was that you seem to be aware of the fact that you are landing on the Brazilian side of Iguazú, while the Sheraton in on the Argentine side. This means customs and immigration.

My conclusion was that, if I were you, I would make sure you have someone meet you at the airport to take you to the Sheraton, but would arrange for the rest once you are there and can evaluate the situation. The park's trails are right in front of the Sheraton, I understand.

Have a great time in Iguazú.

Hello Steve,

I prefer independant travels, and enjoyed touring both sides of Iguazú very, very much - without a guide. It is easy to navigate.

HOWEVER, I agree with avrooster that, were I in your described situation, I would have a guide meet me at the airport and probably arrange to tour with him/her for my entire Iguazú stay. You WILL be tired, and a guide will be important, IMO.

Have a great time. The Falls are so thrilling.

~MarnieWDC

I'm always happy when Marnie agrees with me. LOL!!!

So am I reading it right? DO arrange for transportation IGU to the Sheraton, but hold off on hiring a GUIDE for the rest of the time, since falls will be accessible from the Sheraton? I assume hiring someone to take us from the Sheraton, then to the Brazillian view sights and from there to the airport on the 27th will be easy to do once there?

Or am i missing something?

You got it. That's the way I see it.

Have a great time.

Just make sure you have the visa for Brazil if you are on US passports.

Of course. I assumed you knew you need a visa for Brazil.

AV...for Steve: needed yellow fever shots last time in Brazil ('94)..is that still required, AV?
stu

I would suggest clicking on this link and using their search feature for "yellow fever":

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum...45-Brazil.html

I did so and my conclusion was that it depended on what part of Brazil you were going to.

To be on the safe side, check with your doctor.

When should we expect you in BA, Stu?

The Sheraton has excellent access to the trails to the falls. Only one of these has lots of stairs, the other two are flat. Meals there are no bargain compared to normal Argentine prices but eating there is more time efficient compared to going into town. At the hotel restaurant if you don't finish a bottle of wine at one meal you can take it back the next time. Keep the cork!

When I visited Foz do Iguacu, I flew from Rio de janeiro and stayed at the Hotel das Cataratas on the Brasilian side. I did the falls by myself while on this side, for it was easy for me to walk outside of the hotel, cross the street, and meander to these falls.

For the falls on the Argentine side, a guide met us at the hotel and traveled with three of us to the Argentine side. He took care of the paperwork at the border, and we arrived by train to the falls on that side. The main tour took about two hours, perhaps more. At one point we ventured to the lovely hotel where you will be staying and enjoyed the ambience and the beauty of the falls from a balcony. We did this without guide assistance.

But if you'd like to experience more than just walking to the falls, per se, I'd suggest a guide who can give you particulars, history, etc. This tour was not costly either. <...can't remember cost because I did this in 2005 or 2006.> But this travel experience was indeed phenomenal as well as forever memorable.

G'day Steve.

I visited Iguassu, also flying in GOL from Rio, earleir this year. My trip reports are blogged here:

http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2010...to-iguazu.html

http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2010...argentina.html

http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2010...ls-movies.html

You will find some of the answers to your questions there.

A few general tips.

Keep an eye on the screens at the airport. GOL have a habit of changing the departure gate at short notice without an announcement, just a change on the screen.

There are buses to the local town centre from both sides of the falls. If your mobility problems don't prevent bus travel, they are cheap and frequent. The bus on the Brazilian side also stops at the airport en-route. By that time you will be used to the turnstile in the centre of the bus. If catching a bus in Rio be careful of the stops and starts; some of the bus-drivers seem to have been trained by the late lamented Ayrton Senna.

As you are used to independent travel, I don't think you need that guide. You can walk to the Argentine side from the Sheraton; I remember walking past it on my way back at the end of the day. There were Japanese businessamen doing some sort of formal exercises on the back lawn at the time.

However, for your arrival, you might benefit from some assistance on travelling from the Brazil airport to the Sheraton via the border checks. I am sure that your hotel could advise on a suitable driver to help with that for much less than $370. The same driver might include a quote for the return trip.

Try to include a meal at the Bufalo Branco on the Brazilian side; that is quite an experience :)

Steve...I recall from a '94 visit tht we saw no need of a gide. Stayed at Das Catarats on the Brazilian side, had great and very close-uo fall views...close enough to feel the spray...we walked to catch a jeep tour and short hike through the rain forest which led to the boat dock for a motor launch, hairy and wet ride to the base of one of the cataracts. I don't recall too many stairs, certanly not at the hotel..but may have been a few at the boat dock. You will be overwhelmed by the falls...enjoy. As for planes, we were there when Varig was still flying and flew with them to Rio and on to Manaus. Don't know Gol. Enjoy!

AV...have no plans to return at the moment. Maybe Bob and Karen will return after they get the Asiatic kick out of their systems.
stu

That's Das Cataratas...Trav...thanks for the blog and pics...I noiced you mention Rotorua...enjoyed it when I was in NZ (north and south) about 40 years ago...can't remember the name of the cave where the fireflies buzzed around and a small boat took you through. Also on North Island and fairly close to Rotorua. Name began with a "W"...
stu

There are thousands of places beginning with W in NZ :) I think I know the one you are thinking about, roughly half-way between Rotorua and Taupo. But maybe that was another one. Another blog I've yet to write, from 2006.

Now I'm hijacking this thread, so I'll shut up and let it get back to Iguassu - which I found awe-inspiring on both sides of the falls.

Cheers, Alan
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/

I had a special interest in Yellow Fever shots - or the lack of them - and asked all the official sources before my trip. I also asked on several travel forums including Thorntree and TA. I have a stuffed immune system so I can't have live vaccines such as the YF vaccine.

In theory it is required for the Iguassu region, as it appears as an endemic region on some of the maps. I asked for a ruling from both the Brazil and Argentine authorities but received indefinite responses. Basically, it was up to the people on the border. In the end, I paid for a special "letter of exemption" from a doctor and carried it with me.

I was rather disappointed that nobody asked for it. Nor did I get YF or dengue; I am a firm believer in DEET when traveling through malarial, dengue, YF or other mosquito vector disease areas. So far, I've not caught any of those in my travels.

Cheers, Alan
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/