This Iguazu Falls packing guide references products on my Amazon Store site. I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you. I hand-pick and recommend only products I am familiar with or comfortable recommending.
Experiencing the majesty of Iguazu Falls is nothing short of breathtaking. However, the experience can also be very uncomfortable if you aren’t prepared. When preparing for a trip to this breathtaking place, it’s essential to pack wisely to ensure an enjoyable experience. The extreme heat, water spray from the falls, and unrelenting insects can all ruin your visit if you aren’t prepared.
In this Iguazu Falls packing guide, I am going to give you all of the information you will need to visit the falls safely and comfortably. I review some of my basic packing tips, provide a list of essential clothing for both men and women and even cover some additional gear I would pack in your bag. By carefully considering what to pack, you can ensure that you will get the most out of your visit to the stunning Iguazu Falls.
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General Packing Guidelines |
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Choosing the Right Bag to Bring |
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Clothes to Pack for Iguazu Falls |
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Other Gear to Bring to Iguazu Falls |
General Packing Guidelines
Before I get into the specifics of clothing and other gear in this Iguazu Falls packing guide, I want to cover some general packing tips. These tips are important because they will ensure that you properly prioritize what you pack and what you don’t pack.
Mosquito Protection is Critical
One of the most essential pieces of packing advice that I can give you is to prepare for mosquito protection. Not only does this mean packing the proper insect repellent with you, but it also means taking additional steps to keep you safe from mosquito bites. There are many deadly mosquito-borne illnesses in this area of South America, including Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever. Not taking the proper steps to protect yourself can be deadly.
In addition to packing 100% DEET insect repellent, a great way to protect yourself from mosquito bites is to wear long clothing. This can be challenging when visiting Iguazu Falls because of the high heat and humidity the area gets. However, if you pack breathable shirts, it can be manageable. You don’t need to wear pants or even a long-sleeve shirt all the time. However, you will want to have them in case the mosquitoes are bad.
Another tip that I can give you is to treat your clothing with Permethrin before you travel. Permethrin acts like insect repellent for your clothing, making it more difficult for mosquitoes to land on your clothes and bite you through them. The best part is, that the treatment is odorless and doesn’t affect your clothing at all. Because it lasts for several washes, you will have an extended period of protection from mosquitoes.
Prepare to Get Wet
One thing that often gets overlooked by visitors to Iguazu Falls is the fact that you are almost guaranteed to get wet when visiting. Even if it doesn’t rain, there are several places on the walkways where large amounts of mist spray you. In fact, in a few of these places, you have the potential of getting completely drenched. If you have valuables that can’t get wet, you need to have a plan for keeping these items dry.
However, the walkways and the potential for rain are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to getting wet at Iguazu Falls. If you plan on taking a boat ride under the falls, you should plan on getting completely soaked. Take note, there are lockers where you can put your valuables and items that can’t get wet. However, you may want to consider bringing a swimsuit, shorts, sandals, and other clothing designed for wet conditions to wear while on the boat.
When I visited Iguazu Falls, I wore my swimsuit to the falls with a breathable t-shirt, a breathable long-sleeve shirt, and a safari hat. In my backpack, I had long pants that I could change into in the evening. I wore sandals to the falls, but you can wear athletic shoes and go on the boat ride barefoot if you would like.
Sun Protection is Important
The last packing tip that I was to share with you in this Iguazu Falls packing guide is to make sure that you adequately prepare for the intense sun. Chances are, you will be spending some long days outside exploring the falls. On some of the walkways there isn’t much shade, so not being prepared to deal with the intense sun can put you at risk of dehydration or heat stroke.
In addition to making sure you stay hydrated, you should also pack some sun protection gear when you visit Iguazu Falls. This includes good sunscreen, a quality pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes, and a hat that will provide your neck and face with protection. If you don’t own a safari hat, this would be a great time to invest in a good one. For those who are interested, I provide some of my recommendations in my recommended gear sections below.
Choosing the Right Bag to Bring
Before you start to pack for your trip to Iguazu Falls, you need to decide what type of bag you will bring. The best choice of bag will depend a great deal on where else you will be traveling, how long you will be traveling, and what you plan on doing on your trip. In this Iguazu Falls packing guide, I will review the three most popular bag choices and which situations are best for each choice.
Roller Bag Suitcase
One of the most popular bags travelers use nowadays is the roller bag. Fitted with wheels, these bags are easy to maneuver through airports, hotel lobbies, train stations, and other areas. This makes roller bags one of the most convenient bag choices. In addition to being very easy to transport, they come in various sizes and typically have more space than the other types of luggage you can bring.
Not to forget, many of today’s roller bags are equipped with advanced features that make them even easier to travel with. Features like separated compartments, piggyback clips (that allow you to clip on a second bag), zippers to expand their size, TSA security locks, and waterproof materials are some of the many wonderful features of today’s roller bags.
If you aren’t planning on visiting a remote location like the Amazon Rainforest or the Galápagos Islands before or after your visit to Iguazu Falls, then a roller bag is most likely the ideal bag for your trip. However, if you do plan on visiting one of these remote locations, you may want to explore using one of the other bag types that I outline in this guide instead.
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Duffle Bag
Another type of bag that you can choose to use for your trip is the traditional duffle bag. While these bags aren’t nearly as easy and convenient to transport as roller bags, they do have their advantages for certain types of trips. Most notably, they are far more flexible than a traditional roller bag. This makes it much easier to fit into smaller spaces.
For those who plan to visit remote places like the Amazon Rainforest or the Galápagos Islands, this can be a huge advantage. When you visit remote spots like this, getting there tends to involve travel on smaller planes, boats, and offroad vehicles. Fitting your luggage into the tight storage compartments of these vehicles can be a challenge. Having a flexible duffle bag makes it a lot easier to travel to these remote spots.
On the flip side, these bags lack the convenient features that most roller bags have. This includes security features, separated compartments, and so forth. So, unless you are visiting a remote destination that involves unconventional travel, a roller bag is definitely a better option.
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Travel Backpack
The final type of bag that I want to cover in this Iguazu Falls packing guide is the travel backpack. While these bags typically don’t have the storage capacity as the other types of bags I covered, they do have other significant advantages. For those who are visiting Iguazu Falls as part of a prolonged trip to many different destinations, these bags are ideal for those types of trips.
Travel backpacks are ideal for these situations because they are the easiest, cheapest, and most convenient to transport to multiple destinations. Not only are they easiest to carry around, but they can often be carried onto flights, which makes them a very cost-effective solution. In case it wasn’t obvious, this is why backpackers carry backpacks when they travel.
Now, if you are only planning on visiting Iguazu Falls or just a few destinations, these bags may not be the best option for you. You typically can’t pack as much as you can with a traditional roller bag or even a duffle. Furthermore, it is a bit more time-consuming to pack and unpack these travel backpacks. However, for a lengthy trip to many different destinations, travel backpacks are still the best option.
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Clothes to Pack for Iguazu Falls
This Iguazu Falls packing guide references products on my Amazon Store site. I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you. I hand-pick and recommend only products I am familiar with or comfortable recommending.
One of the most important pieces of advice that I can give you in this Iguazu Falls packing guide is the clothes that I would recommend you bring. After all, the clothing you wear will play a very big role in how comfortable and safe you are during your trip. I do realize that men and women often have different needs, so I have also split my recommended clothing list into a men’s and women’s section below.
Clothes for Men
In addition to having visited Iguazu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides, I have also traveled elsewhere in South America. This includes the Amazon Basin and the Andes Mountains. During these travels, I have learned some hard lessons on my own and from others on what clothes men should pack when visiting these wild destinations. I have compiled a list of the important items I recommend packing in this Iguazu Falls packing guide below.
Keep in mind, that I didn’t list some of the essential items for any trip, such as underwear. I also didn’t include the quantity of items to pack as that depends a great deal on the length of your trip. Hopefully, this list does help you pack the essential items that you will need to keep you comfortable on your trip.
Download the Iguazu Falls Packing Checklist for Men
Zip-Off Pants
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It can be very hot and humid at Iguazu Falls, so you won’t want to spend a lot of time in long pants during your visit. However, if you are out early in the morning or at night when the mosquitoes can be bad, you will be glad to have a pair. To make it easier to switch between pants and shorts, I recommend getting the convertible pants. They make packing for Iguazu Falls much easier. |
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Shorts
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When you aren’t out early in the morning or in the evening, you will definitely want to be in shorts in the Iguazu Falls area. It can get incredibly hot and humid, so shorts really are an essential piece of clothing. If you aren’t packing convertible pants to bring, I recommend packing at least a few pairs of shorts for your trip. |
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Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
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In addition to having shorts and\or zip off pants, it is also important to bring shirts with you that will keep you cool and protected. One of my favorite things to bring to warm climate destinations is breathable T-Shirts with SPF protection. Not only do these shirts keep you cool by allowing air to ventilate thru them, but they also have built in sun protection. If I were you, I would pack one of these shirts for each day you plan on traveling. If you’d like some recommendations, I have included a link to my top picks below. |
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Moisture Wicking Long Sleeves
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In addition to having a breathable short sleeve T-Shirt with SPF protection, I also recommend having a breathable long sleeve T-Shirt with you as well. These breathable long sleeve shirts can be surprisingly cool to wear and will protect you from bug bites and from the blistering sun when you are exploring Iguazu Falls. |
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Swimsuit
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Another piece of essential gear when visiting Iguazu Falls is a swimsuit. If you are planning on taking a boat ride under the falls, you will definitely be glad you have it. There is a place where you can change into your suit before boarding the boat if you would like. Otherwise, you can wear your suit during your entire visit to the falls. You get wet from the mist in various parts of the walkways, so having a suit on while in these spots can be a positive. Either way, having a swim suit when visiting Iguazu Falls is an absolute must. |
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Rain Jacket or Rain Poncho
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Another piece of gear that you will be happy have when you visit Iguazu Falls is a good rain poncho or rain jacket. Even if it doesn’t rain, you are definitely going to get wet from the mist when touring the falls. In fact, when you visit the Devil’s Throat and other areas, you have the potential of gettin drenched. When picking out a rain jacket or poncho to bring, I recommend looking for one that is breathable. If you don’t wear a breathable jacket in the heat and humidity, you will roast. I use the Patagonia Men’s Houdini Jacket and I absolute love it. |
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Versatile Sandals
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Having a good pair of versatile sandals is important when visiting Iguazu Falls. It can get scortching hot, so wearing shoes all the time can be very uncomfortable. Not to mention, you won’t want to be wearing athletic shoes or hiking shoes when you get near the falls or take a boat ride because they will get drenched. Wearing sandals to the falls is recommended as you won’t have to worry about your feet getting wet. |
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Sun or Safari Hat
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If you follow my blog closely, you’re likely aware of how fond I am of safari hats. Few pieces of gear do as much to keep you cool in hot and humid weather than these brilliant hats. They shade your face and neck, providing much needed sun protection to some of your body’s most sensitive parts. Having a good safari hat when you visit Iguazu Falls will help protect your face and neck from sun burn and will keep you cool when the sun is the most intense. If you are looking for a good sun or safari hat, I have included a link to my recommendations below. |
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Clothes for Women
To put together a list of essential clothing for women to pack for this Iguazu Falls packing guide, I spoke to several women that I know and trust. These women are adventure travelers who have spent time in South America. They shared with me their experiences and recommendations to share with you.
Once again, I didn’t list some of the essential items for any trip, such as underwear. I also didn’t include the quantity of items to pack as that depends a great deal on the length of your trip. Hopefully, this list does help you pack the essential items that you will need to keep you comfortable on your trip.
Download the Iguazu Falls Packing Checklist for Women
Shorts
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The weather is very hot in the Iguazu Falls area, so you will want to dress accordingly. This means you will want to consider bringing at least a few pairs of shorts with you on your trip. While sun dresses are good to bring for other occasions on your trip, you won’t want to wear one to the falls. You are likely to get very wet touring Iguazu Falls, so shorts are a better option. If you are looking for some new shorts to try for your trip, I have linked to my recommendations below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Pants or Zip-Off Pants
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While temperatures and humidity levels can be very high at Iguazu Falls, it makes sense to bring a pair of long pants with you. You will want to wear these when you are outside in the early mornings or in the evenings when the mosquitoes are bad. To help offset wearing pants in the heat, I would recommend bringing pants that are breathtable and moisture-wicking. In addition, to help streamline your packing, you can look into the hiking pants that zip off into shorts. These come in handy when you need to transition between shorts and pants and don’t have a place to change. |
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Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
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When you are traveling in warm, tropical locations, it is imperative that you dress appropriately for the hot weather. One of my favorite pieces of travel clothing for hot destinations is breathable T-Shirts with SPF protection. Not only do they allow air to pass thru them, which keeps you cool, but they also provide added sun protection. I recommend packing one of these shirts for reach day your traveling. If you’d like some recommendations, I have included a link to my top picks below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Moisture Wicking Long Sleeves
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On top of the breathable T-Shirts and tank tops that you bring, I would also suggest bringing a breathable long-sleeve shirt as well. These will give you protection against mosquitoes and will also help protect you from the strong sun when you are out exploring the falls. |
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Breathable Tank Tops
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In addition to T-Shirts, you may want to also bring some nice tank tops with you when you visit Iguazu Falls. While you won’t want to wear them in areas where mosquitoes are a risk, there will be times when it is very hot and you will be happy to have them. They keep you cool and let your arms get some extra sun. However, like with your shirts, I recommend paying special attention to the material your tank tops are made out of. I cannot stress enough how hot it gets in this region of the world, so you will sweat a lot while exploring. I recommend tops made of moisture-wicking and quick drying material. |
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Comfortable Sports Bras
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Staying comfortable while you travel starts with the clothes that you wear. And the base layer of your clothes is your undergarments. Making sure you have quality, comfortable undergarments for your travel is essential. This includes having some comfortable sports bras in your bag when you visit Iguazu Falls. |
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Swimsuit
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A good swimsuit is important when visiting Iguazu Falls. If you plan on taking a boat ride under the falls you will get absolutely drenched. So, having a swim suit to change into can keep your other clothes dry for the rest of your visit to the falls. If you are looking for some good recommendations, please see my link below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Rain Jacket or Rain Poncho
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Another piece of gear that you will be happy have when you visit Iguazu Falls is a good rain poncho or rain jacket. Even if it doesn’t rain, you are definitely going to get wet from the mist when touring the falls. In fact, when you visit the Devil’s Throat and other areas, you have the potential of gettin drenched. When picking out a rain jacket or poncho to bring, I recommend looking for one that is breathable. If you don’t wear a breathable jacket in the heat and humidity, you will roast. I recommend the Patagonia Women’s Houdini Jacket. I have the men’s version and I absolutely love how it keeps me dry without making me feel overheated. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Sun or Safari Hat
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One of the most effective pieces of gear to protect you from the sun is a good sun hat. When visiting Iguazu Falls, you will spend a lot of time out on the walkways. Some of these walkways have very little shade, so you will want to have sun protection with you. One of the best ways to do that is to have a hat designed to shield your head and neck from the sun. If you are looking for a good sun or safari hat, I have included a link to my recommendations below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Versatile Sandals
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The final piece of packing advice I have for you in this Iguazu Falls packing guide may be the most important. While having a good pair of walking or hiking shoes will come in handy on other occasions on your trip, I don’t recommend wearing these shoes to the falls. Even if you don’t take a boat ride under the falls, you are almost guaranteed to get wet while visiting Iguazu Falls. To avoid walking around in wet shoes, I advise wearing sandals when you visit the falls. While flip flops are great beach footwear, they don’t provide a lot of traction and the metal walkways can get slick when wet. I would recommend a pair of light weight, strapped sandals instead. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Other Gear to Bring to Iguazu Falls
This Iguazu Falls packing guide references products on my Amazon Store site. I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you. I hand-pick and recommend only products I am familiar with or comfortable recommending.
In addition to your clothing, there are some other pieces of gear that I strongly recommend that you carry in your bag when you visit Iguazu Falls. Some of these items are geared towards keeping you comfortable, some are intended to keep you safe, while others are items of convenience. You can review this list of other gear to pack in my Iguazu Falls packing guide below.
Sunglasses
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You are going to be in the sun a lot when exploring Iguazu Falls, so you will want to have a pair of good sunglasses with you. If you are looking for a new pair of sunglasses for your trip, I linked to my recommendations for you to review below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Sunscreen
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With the strong sun in the Iguazu Falls area, it will be very important to have proper sunscreen with you when you visit. You will be spending a lot of time on walkways with little shade at times, so protecting yourself from getting burned is important. If you are looking for some good sunscreen for your trip, I have linked to my recommendations below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Insect Repellant
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While the Iguazu Falls area is not in the Malaria zone, there are other illnesses carried by mosquitoes and other insects that you need to be worried about. This includes Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Zika, and Leishmaniasis. Because of these risks, it is important to be prepared. Not to mention, there are also tiny biting flies in the region that can leave fairly nasty little bites. Using insect repellant when you are outside for extended periods will keep you protected. |
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Travel Umbrella
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When you are out-and-about exploring the Iguazu Falls, you don’t want to be caught in the rain. One way to make sure you are always prepared is to have a travel umbrella with you. These small, easy to carry umbrellas will give you some protection if a storm moves in quickly. For some recommendations on good travel umbrellas to purchase, see my link below. |
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Dramamine
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One of the top things to do when visiting Iguazu Falls is to take a boat ride to get close to them. If you get motion sickness easily, you will want to make sure you pack Dramamine for your trip. I always make sure to have some in my bag if I think there is a chance I will be getting out on the water. |
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Water Shoes
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If you do plan on taking a boat ride under the falls, you won’t want to wear shoes you don’t want to get wet. While sandals will suffice, they can be hazardous when walking on wet boat decks. You may want to consider packing water shoes with you if you have t hem. These will give you extra traction while walking on slick surfaces and are designed to get wet. If you are looking for a pair for your trip, I have linked to some of my recommendations below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
International Power Adapter
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Before you travel to Iguazu Falls, you will need to be sure that you have the correct international power adapter with you so that you can keep your devices charged. Otherwise, you might be left stuck without a charged phone or camera. If you are in need of an international power adapter for your trip, I have provided a link to my recommendations below. |
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Portable Charger
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Once considered a luxury for travelers, I would almost consider a portable charger as a necessity when traveling these days. We have become so reliant upon our phones and other devices, and being able to charge them wherever and whenever we want is critical. To shop for some good quality portable chargers, please see my recommendations linked below. |
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Fanny Pack or Packable Day Pack
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When you are out exploring the beauty of Iguazu Falls, you need to keep your personal belongings safe and organized. You also don’t want to carry something big and bulky. This is where a small, packable day pack or fanny pack comes in handy. Here are my recommendations. |
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Waterproof Phone Protector
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For those who are planning on taking a boat ride under the falls, you will need to protect your phone from the water. You get absolutely drenched on these boat rides, so protecting your electronics is vital. These waterproof phone protectors allow you to take pictures with your phone without worrying about it getting wet. For recommendations, please see my link below. |
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Dry Bag
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In addition to keeping your phone safe from water, you may also want to keep some of your other gear dry. Your passport, wallet, and other delicate items are at risk of getting wet even if you don’t take a boat ride. Some of the walkways get you close to the falls where the spray can leave you drenched. Having a dry bag to keep your gear safe and dry is ideal. For recommendations on bags to get, please see my link below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
Beach or Travel Towel
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One thing that is certain when you visit Iguazu Falls is that you are going to get wet. How wet depends on which walkways you visit and whether you take a boat ride under the falls. Regardless, you will want to have a good towel with you when you visit the falls so that you can dry off. For some recommendations, please see my link below. |
| View Recommendations on Amazon.com | |
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