Boat Ride Under Iguazú Falls: Gran Aventura or Macuco Safari?
4 min read
Pick the boat on the side of the falls where you are spending your day: Gran Aventura if you are on the Argentine side, Macuco Safari if you are on the Brazilian side. Both are short, wet rides that end at the base of the falls. Neither replaces the walkways, and they are sold as parts of longer tours.
Macuco Safari, Brazilian side
The operator describes three stages: a 2-kilometre ride through the forest in electric vehicles, a walk, and the boat. Departures leave every 20 minutes, daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and the park ticket for the Brazilian national park is not part of the Macuco ticket (Macuco Safari). The Brazil Iguazú Falls and Macuco Safari boat tour costs €155.99, takes 6 to 8 hours and is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 523 reviews. Its page lists hotel pickup in Foz do Iguaçu, the national park entry tickets and the Macuco boat ticket, with groups of up to 15 people. It describes a 500-metre walk to the river and a Zodiac riverboat; the page suggests the right side of the boat for views and photos. Ask the operator about age and health limits before you book.
You can also add the boat on the day to a Brazilian-side tour. The page of the one-day tour of both sides says the Macuco ride is not included, is booked with the guide on the day, and leaves less time for lunch.
Gran Aventura, Argentine side
On the Argentine side the ride is a truck trip through the forest followed by a boat to the falls. The Gran Aventura boat and Argentinian falls tour takes 12 hours and costs €151.53, in a shared group of up to 48. The speedboat ride from Foz do Iguaçu takes 9 hours for €180.05, with groups of up to 15 and the Devil’s Throat, Upper Circuit and boat in the description. Because the Devil’s Throat circuit is closed at the moment (see our Devil’s Throat guide), ask what replaces it. A third option, the Argentinean falls excursion with Gran Aventura from Puerto Iguazú, takes 8 hours and costs €123.01. Its page, like that of the 12-hour tour, also lists the Devil’s Throat, so ask the same question there.
The three Gran Aventura pages do not agree on who is excluded. The 12-hour tour and the speedboat ride list children under 12 and people with back problems; the 8-hour excursion lists no age but names back problems, mobility impairments, heart problems, wheelchair users and motion sickness. The 12-hour tour also lists pregnant women and recent surgery, and says the boat can be suspended in bad weather, in which case the boat portion is refunded and only the Argentine falls part is charged. Ask the operator before you book if anyone in your group is close to one of these lines.
| Tour | Boat | Duration | Not suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil falls and Macuco Safari | Macuco Safari | 6 to 8 hours | Ask the operator |
| Gran Aventura and Argentinian falls | Gran Aventura | 12 hours | Under 12, pregnancy, back and heart problems, wheelchair users, recent surgery |
| Speedboat ride from Foz do Iguaçu | Great Adventure boat | 9 hours | Under 12, back problems, hearing impairment |
| Argentinean falls with Gran Aventura | Gran Aventura | 8 hours | Back, heart, mobility, motion sickness, wheelchair users |
Who should choose what
Choose Macuco if you want the shortest day and fewer exclusions on paper. Choose Gran Aventura if you are already spending a day in the Argentine park and can accept the exclusions. Skip both if you do not want to get soaked or have a back condition.
Our recommendation
For most visitors based in Foz do Iguaçu, the Macuco Safari combination is the simpler day. More boat options are on the Iguazú boat tours page.
