Discover Authentic Iguazú: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure

What would a local actually tell you to do in Iguazú? Recommended by the team at Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru. This page is built from exactly that kind of advice — the restaurants, markets and corners our own hotel teams recommend to guests, not a generic top-ten list. Find our picks below, an interactive map, and the questions we hear most often.

Top 5 Things to Do in Iguazú

Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat)

The most powerful of Iguazu Falls' 275-odd cascades, where a horseshoe of water drops in a wall of spray you can feel from the walkway. Wear something you don't mind getting soaked — you will.

Hito Tres Fronteras

A viewpoint marking where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, with a small fountain and views over the Iguazú and Paraná rivers where the three countries' colours mark each bank.

Iguazú National Park's Upper and Lower Circuits

Two separate walking trails through the park, one giving you the view from above the falls, the other bringing you almost level with the water at the base. Do both if you have the time — they're completely different perspectives on the same falls.

Gran Aventura boat safari

A speedboat ride that takes you directly under the falls' spray. Life jackets and dry bags are provided, but pack a spare set of clothes for after.

Duty Free shopping

A short trip from town, useful for last-minute souvenirs or picking up items typically imported and pricier elsewhere in Argentina.

Explore Iguazú's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map

Where to eat
This is Argentine grilled meat country — expect asado-style barbecue with cuts like bife de chorizo and morcilla, often paired with regional touches like yerba mate and chimichurri. The hotel's own Jakarú Resto blends international dishes with local flavour if you want to stay close after a long day at the falls.
Rainforest and waterfalls
Puerto Iguazú sits inside the Iryapú Forest Reserve, so the jungle isn't a day trip — it's the backdrop to your whole stay. Guided walks through the Iryapú Jungle, including visits to local native communities, are worth building into your itinerary alongside the falls themselves.
Right outside your hotel
Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru sits inside the Iryapú Forest Reserve itself. Hito Tres Fronteras is about a 10-minute walk or 5-minute drive, the Duty Free Shop is roughly 15 minutes on foot, and Iguazu Falls are around 20 minutes away by car.
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FAQ

A full day covers the Upper and Lower Circuits and the Garganta del Diablo walkway comfortably; two days lets you add a boat safari and explore both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the falls.

Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru is about a 20-minute drive from Iguazu National Park and the falls themselves, set within the surrounding Iryapú Forest Reserve.

Something quick-drying — the spray from Garganta del Diablo reaches the viewing walkway, and most visitors end up at least partly soaked. A rain poncho helps but doesn't fully solve it.

Where to Sleep in Iguazú

See Mercure hotels in Iguazú, all within reach of these picks.

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Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Iguazú, all within reach of these picks

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