Most people come to Iguazu to see the falls. Obviously. It is the MAIN ATTRACTION. And is awesome in its own right.

But there are plenty of things to do in Iguazu that have nothing to do with waterfalls. If you have more than a day or two here, you’ll want to include them. Same if you’re looking to break up the time between falls visits on both sides. It all sits outside the national parks. But it is still, in my view, an excellent way to spend your time.

Here’s everything else worth doing, across all three countries that share this tri-border area!

And if you’re wondering which side of Iguazu Falls is better, check out my Brazil vs Argentina Falls Guide.

The best things to do in Iguazu at a glance

If you’re short on reading time, these are the things to do in Iguazu I’d actually prioritise:

• Cross into Paraguay for the three-border viewpoint and Saltos del Monday
• La Casa de Botellas on the Argentinian side, a house built from recycled bottles
• Parque das Aves on the Brazilian side, if wildlife is your thing
• Itaipu Dam, the second-largest hydroelectric dam on earth
• Foz do Iguaçu town, mainly for the mosque

Now the detail on each.

Cross into Paraguay

Iguazu sits on a tri-border, and crossing into Paraguay is easier than you might expect. Most locals go over to Ciudad del Este, the closest Paraguayan city, for the duty-free shopping malls. Because there are loads of them, and apparently value added tax in Brazil is high and in Paraguay it isn’t. Go figure.

Fair warning, the city itself is a bit rough around the edges. Our driver locked the doors and asked us to put away phones. And it does not really have an array of things to do or see, places to eat etc. It is more a shopping or transit spot, for tourists at least.

What you can put into your Paraguay itinerary

• The three-border viewpoint. Best visited around sunrise or in the early morning. There’s a large monument marking the Paraguay side, so you get the classic “I was in Paraguay” photo. You also look out across the river at both the Brazil and Argentina sides. When the light turns golden, it’s genuinely beautiful.

• Saltos del Monday. A waterfall about a 30-minute drive further from the border point. It is nowhere near the scale of Iguazu. But it’s the known thing to see on the Paraguayan side, and it’s far quieter. I didn’t make the trip, as I wanted to squeeze in other things on the Brazil side. Guides rate it as a lovely stop though.
• Catedral San Blas. This isn’t worth the trip on its own. But if you’re already there and want to see something beyond the malls, this is it. Architecturally, it’s interesting. It curves upward in a boat-like shape, which is unique. Unfortunately, a recent fire meant as of mid-2026, quite a bit of it is closed. But from outside it is still a nice spot to see. Also, if you’re interested, the city celebrates San Blas, its patron saint, every 3 February.

Paraguay Tour Options

If you’re heading back to Brazil the same day, an organised tour is the easiest option. They handle the logistics for you, plan the stops, sort the pickup times to best avoid traffic, etc. This Paraguay day tour covers Saltos del Monday and the three-border landmark, and also has a stop on the Paraguay side of the Itaipu dam (see below!). It’s an easy way to arrange this trip. And no shopping malls involved. AND they can pick you up either from the Brazil or Argentina side.

One thing worth knowing. If you cross into Paraguay and back on the same day, the border process can be surprisingly casual (could be passport dependent – everyone on this trip did not need a visa for Paraguay). On my crossing, nobody took our passports, just a list of our details including passport number and nationality, and there was no stamp at all. Obviously if you’re crossing into Paraguay and then remaining there, you’d need to do full immigration. But for a same-day trip, it meant one less page used in an already-crowded passport. Always check your own passport requirements before entering – I assume if you need a visa for Paraguay you cannot do this.

Visit the Argentinian House of Bottles

On the Argentinian side, roughly halfway between the border crossing and the falls, sits a genuinely strange stop worth making. A family built La Casa de Botellas (The House of Bottles) almost entirely from recycled plastic bottles, tetra-pack cartons, and old CD cases.

They now use it to teach people how to build housing from collected recyclable materials. The idea started small. It aimed to help Brazilian families build better makeshift housing instead of tin or wood shelters. The concept has since taken this pioneering family to other countries to share the same building method.

Entry costs $10 per person, and that money goes directly toward supporting their work. It’s a quick stop, but a genuinely unique one. It’s nice to put a few dollars toward something with real purpose behind it. Also it is cool to see how they made A WHOLE HOUSE out of recyclable materials.

If you’re visiting the Argentina side of the falls from Brazil, this is an easy stop on the way there or back. It only takes 10 minutes. If you’re staying on the Argentina side, you have even more reason to go.

Visit Brazil’s Parque das Aves (Bird Park)

Parque das Aves sits directly opposite the entrance to the Brazilian national park. It’s a sanctuary rather than a zoo and is home to more than 1,300 birds, with roughly 143 species. Many of them arrived as rescues, and stayed as they can’t survive alone in the wild.

If wildlife is part of why you’re in Iguazu, this is a great stop to make. Think entering enclosures with birds flying around, toucans and macaws up close, and photography shots for days. There’s a huge variety here. You’ll struggle to see most of these birds while wandering the national parks.

Tickets cost around R$90 (roughly $20), and it’s a separate ticket from the national park. It’s an easy stop after visiting the Brazil side of the falls, given it is right by the entrance. Some Brazil-side tours include it as part of the package, check that out here!

Tour the Itaipu Dam (and look for capybaras)

I hadn’t planned to visit Itaipu Dam until someone mentioned capybaras sometimes turn up around the site. Because I am, unashamedly, obsessed with capybaras. So that was enough to get me there. I did spot a couple, albeit from a distance. But it obviously sent me reeling (I just love them so much…).

The dam itself turned out to be far more interesting than I expected.

A few facts worth knowing:

• Itaipu is the world’s second-largest hydroelectric dam by installed capacity, behind only the Three Gorges Dam in China.
• It’s a joint project between Brazil and Paraguay. It currently supplies around 85-90% of Paraguay’s electricity, alongside roughly 8-15% of Brazil’s. Figures obviously vary, but this is what I heard several times.

I found it genuinely wild that something powers that much of two countries. And it sits quietly next to one of the most incredible natural wonders on earth. And… barely anyone talks about it? I honestly knew nothing about it before going. I’d have skipped it too (because dams aren’t really my thing) if not for the capybara mention. I’m low key ashamed of that. From now on I’ll include dams in my possible list of activities if I happen to be near a famous one… anyway.

You can visit from either the Brazilian or Paraguayan side. I went from Brazil.

A note though. You can’t just wander in, have a quick look at the dam, and leave after ten minutes. The only way to see it is via a paid bus tour, which costs around $10. A bus drives you around the site, stopping at a few points for photos. It sounds restrictive, but I was glad I committed to the full tour rather than trying to see it quickly. If you love architecture and engineering the way I do, this is well worth the 1.5 hours. It’s the same instinct that took me to Brasilia. Read more here about the architectural wonders I saw in Brasilia.

Explore Foz do Iguaçu town (Brazil)

If you’re staying on the Brazilian side but not inside the national park, you’ll likely base yourself here. I stayed inside the park itself, at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. So I skipped the town other than a quick drive through. Several guides recommended it though, as a short but worthwhile stop.

The main draw is the Omar Ibn Al-Khatab Mosque, the largest mosque in Brazil. The local Arab community built it, and it opened in 1983. The architecture draws on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and guides run tours in several languages. Beyond that, the town itself doesn’t have a huge amount to offer. Most visitors treat it as a base rather than a destination.

Fitting these things to do in Iguazu around the falls

If you’re short on time, prioritise the falls themselves first, on both sides if you can. Everything in this post is genuinely worth doing if you have an extra day or two. But none of it should come at the expense of the main event.

For the full breakdown of which side of the falls to prioritise, read my Iguazu Falls Brazil vs Argentina side comparison. And if you’re considering staying inside the national park itself, see my review of the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas.

FAQ: Things to do in Iguazu

What are the best things to do in Iguazu besides the falls?

Crossing into Paraguay, touring the Itaipu Dam, Parque das Aves (Brazil), and La Casa de Botellas on the Argentinian side.

How many days do you need at Iguazu?

Two days covers both sides of the falls properly with some additional stops. Add a third day for Paraguay and/or Itaipu.

Can you visit Paraguay from Iguazu Falls in one day?

Yes, easily. Most tours run six to eight hours from Foz do Iguaçu (city on Brazil side) or Puerto Iguazú (city on Argentina side).

Do you need a passport stamp to cross into Paraguay?

Depending on your passport, you may not for a same-day return trip. Nobody stamped my (British) passport. May be different if you need a visa to enter Paraguay. If you’re continuing into Paraguay rather than returning same day, you’ll need full immigration.

Is Ciudad del Este worth visiting?

Yes – if you want duty-free shopping, you want to tick off Paraguay (country counters among us – welcome) or you’re passing through anyway. Go for Saltos del Monday and the three-border viewpoint instead of prioritising the city though.

Is Parque das Aves worth it if you’re short on time?

Yes, and it only takes about an hour or two. It sits opposite the Brazilian park entrance, so it slots in around your Brazil side falls visit.

Are there things to do in Iguazu when it rains?

Parque das Aves still works well, because the aviaries offer shelter and the birds stay active. The Itaipu bus tour keeps you dry too.

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