Iquazu Falls pre-cruise tours- any ideas?

[dg33]

We are joining the Buenos Aries-Santiago cruise next March and are looking for tour advice to Iquazu Falls. Anyone plan one lately? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[bigbenboys]

It has been awhile. I looked at booking the tour through RCL. It was $2000 USD pp. I do regret not spending the money. It just looks so fantastic.

 

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Forums mobile app

[travlr21]

We were on the Infinity for a B2B, Ft Lauderdale to Valparaiso to Buenos Aires in Dec 2015. We booked our own post cruise Iguazu Falls trip through 01 Argentina Travel Agency and they arranged everything. We were there 2 nights and opted to stay at the Sheraton right in the park, for convenience. We were happy with our arrangements, they provided transfers to and from the hotel and we had a excellent, personal tour through the park. We had a falls view room, worth the up-charge. We did not go to the Brazil side of the falls as it would have required an expensive visa.

[SFO-F/A]

We were on Celebritys Infinity last year and spent time in Buenos Aires before the sailing.

We booked Iguazu on our own. Booked the airfare and hotel Sheraton in the Park. Took a taxi to the Sheraton and back to the airport 4 days later. 3 days in the park was wonderful.

There are upper and lower trails. You an do them on different days, taking your time, not rushing to see it all in 1 day. The day we arrived we took a short walk to the falls, the second day we hiked the lower falls, the third day we hiked the upper falls.

We booked a Falls view room. It was worth it, book a high floor level to see the falls.

I'm very happy we took the time and spent the money to do this side trip.

[GottaKnowWhen]

We did a 2-week Millennium cruise to Antarctica, Falklands etc 2 years ago. Our time before and after the cruise was a mix of self-arranged walking and shopping tours plus tours, lodging, and travel arranged through Say Hueque, an Argentine Travel Agency. Post-cruise on debarkation we were taken to the local airport, caught a plane to Iguazu. Stayed in a wonderful hotel in the rain forest on the edge of town. Monday we spent the day in a small group tour of the Argentine side of the falls, Tuesday we were on our own, Wednesday we were with a different small group over to the Brazilian side, 4-5 hours there, then back to the airport, back to BA for a few more days before heading home. This was a 2nd visit to the falls for me, had spent some time there in 1969 while visiting my parents who lived in BA for many years. The Argentine side is amazing,

 

but the view from the Brazilian side is worth the time and the cost of the visa.

 

[MVPinBoynton]

We did our SA cruise six years ago. Iguazu was, by far, the highlight of the cruise and probably one of the most amazing natural wonders we have seen. It was very easy to arrange the flights, hotels and transfers necessary on our own. Just make sure you leave enough time to get to the airport to fly to Iguazu. You can see what we did and many photos of the falls on our website that is linked to in our signature. The cost to do it on our own was about half the price of what Celebrity wanted.

[ECCruise]

Definitely recommended but doing the $2000 pp cruise tour is just nuts.

You can do a completely escorted tour for about half that, and if you want to do it on your own (not a big deal at all) do it for about 1/3 the price.

It is magical.

[MVPinBoynton]

Definitely recommended but doing the $2000 pp cruise tour is just nuts.

You can do a completely escorted tour for about half that, and if you want to do it on your own (not a big deal at all) do it for about 1/3 the price.

It is magical.

 

You are correct. I went back to see how much we paid 6 years ago and it was about $1,200 for both of us for air and 2 nights at the Sheraton. They had a very good senior rate at that time at the hotel. Paying $2,000 pp ridiculous. I never looked at an escorted tour, since it did seem easy enough to do on our own.

[ceba]

We were there last April and stayed at the Belmond on the Brazilian side. The hotel picked us up at the airport around noon and since the hotel is at the falls on the Brazilian side we were able to wander the view trails for several hours before it got dark. Then the Belmond arranged a great driver/guide to take us to the Argentinian side the next day. We were 2 couples so we paid $150 each couple for the driver/guide + park admission for a full day. There are no park fees when you stay at the Belmond. It's a beautiful hotel and grounds and we felt our guide was excellent. And the falls were spectacular. If you have time take the speed boat ride to the falls. Really good fun!

[dabear]

We also did Igusau falls on our own precruise. We arranged air and private guide to pick us up at the airport guide us though the park (he used of some time saving tricks) and at the end of the day took us back to the airport. This was all at less than 1/2 of the cost of the trip through the cruise line.

[merlin5353]

I'm taking notes, thanks. We'll be on the Eclipse TA in November 2018, which ends in Buenos Aires. The falls are on my list, certainly. John

[Doctor G]

I was there in 2015 and booked a tour to Iguazu Falls with 01Argentina Pablo Polito. Everything was exactly as advertised--car and driver to the airport in Buenos Aires, round trip airfare, transportation to hotel at Iguazu, private tour of falls, one night at the Sheraton Hotel, transportation back to the airport, transportation back to the apartment from the airport in Buenos Aires. We had an early morning flight from BA and then a late afternoon flight from Iguazu, so we really had two days there. The cost per person was $510.

 

My one caution is about taking the boat that goes under the falls. It a great experience, but you need to be in fairly good shape to do it. At one end there are steps going down to the water (very far down to the bottom). At the other end the climb back up is a rocky cliff with no rails. And it is very steep. It was a very scary climb, and I was wiped out for the remainder of the day.

 

Carolyn

[NorbertsNiece]

Please don't hate me. I jumped ship and took a cruise to SA (BA - Valparaiso) with Princess in Feb.

Big mistake. HUGE. You'll see in my sig I'm back to X next year.

Having said that the itinerary itself was amazing. My TA put together pre and post cruise tours using Wendy Wu (who I don't recommend) so if you can do Iguassu on your own, and certainly others on the cruise did, then go and do it.

 

Be aware, on the internal flights, you can be charged for overweight baggage.....one case at 23kg is included.... it's quite random if and who is charged.....

 

My whole adventure is in my blog in my sig below.

The highlight was taking the helicopter over the falls. $130pp from the Brazil side.

Phenomenal.

 

[MVPinBoynton]

Please don't hate me. I jumped ship and took a cruise to SA (BA - Valparaiso) with Princess in Feb.

Big mistake. HUGE. You'll see in my sig I'm back to X next year.

Having said that the itinerary itself was amazing. My TA put together pre and post cruise tours using Wendy Wu (who I don't recommend) so if you can do Iguassu on your own, and certainly others on the cruise did, then go and do it.

 

Be aware, on the internal flights, you can be charged for overweight baggage.....one case at 23kg is included.... it's quite random if and who is charged.....

 

My whole adventure is in my blog in my sig below.

The highlight was taking the helicopter over the falls. $130pp from the Brazil side.

Phenomenal.

 

 

It looks like you were there when the water was low. When we were there, we were blessed with gushing water all along it. Truly amazing. We had friends that were there during a drought and there was less flow than when you were there. I guess it is just luck. It is still amazing whenever you go.

[Newbcruiser1]

Following along!

 

Planning a solo around the horn cruise this December, ending in Buenos Aires on Dec 23rd. I would have LOVED to see the falls but not sure if this trip is the time to do it when I'm solo. I would prefer an organized tour since I will be alone (young woman with zero Spanish skills), and am unsure where to even start looking... I also think Christmas may be a bad time to visit.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Disclaimer - I don't anticipate this being my only trip to South America as I am hoping to do Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands at some point in the future (on separate trips, of course).

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[NorbertsNiece]

It looks like you were there when the water was low. When we were there, we were blessed with gushing water all along it. Truly amazing. We had friends that were there during a drought and there was less flow than when you were there. I guess it is just luck. It is still amazing whenever you go.

 

Got absolutely drenched on the Argentine side..... the whole experience was so unique.

I didn't walk all the way down and am happy not to have..... there was torrential downpour at that time!

Was pretty much waterfalled-out by then.....

 

Loved the wildlife

 

 

[debshomespun]

We cruised the Infinity in Jan/2016, 14 nights to Brazil and Rio for Carnival. Before our cruise, we spent 6 nights in Buenos Aires. While there, we did a side trip up to see Iguazu Falls. It was definitely a sight to see. We also booked through 01 Argentina with Pablo Polito. We found a great price ($940. US$ per couple, air/hotel/transportation/tour of both Argentine & Brazilian sides). Their link is here: http://www.01argentina.com/sitio/eng/tours/iguazu_falls.htm. We opted to stay at a 3* hotel, the St. George. The hotel was wonderful with a great pool. Their buffet breakfast had many items to choose from. We flew in on day 1, and had the afternoon to do what we wanted. On day 2, we toured the Argentine side. We had free time also to look around at the falls. We did the water boat under the falls on our own, and really enjoyed it. The next morning, we went to the Brazilian side to tour. We all had our Brazilian Visa's as our cruise was going to Brazil. We loved our time in Iguazu and it is one of the most sensational places to see. Definitely worth the time and effort. All transportation was included in our price, other than from our hotel in BA to the airport and back.

 

Celebrity was selling their own excursion, fly up in morning, view the falls, and fly back that same evening, all for a whopping $1100.00! pp!! 1/3 the time there and 2.5 times more in price.

[dg33]

To all of my responders, thank you, thank you! I think we will try to go independent and you have all given me so much information.

Happy Sailing and thanks again!

[SPacificbound]

We went to Iguazu Falls in 2014, absolutely amazing!

 

I booked with Pablo Polito at 01Argentina .com

 

He took care of all of the transfers between hotels and airports plus we had a guide so we could go the quickest way for the best views.

 

We also stayed at the Sheraton in the park in a falls view room. To date it is one or our most memorable trips.

Edited March 19, 2017 by SPacificbound
add info