Iguazu Falls · Month comparison

December vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs December at #10. Shoulder month: pleasantly cool (23C/13C), 30% off summer hotel rates, river flow tapering but still strong.

December summer-flow Iguazu Falls Devil's Throat with maximum mist plume

December

#10 of 12 months

Strong option

Christmas-New-Year crush — Brazilian and Argentine domestic tourists hit peak alongside maximum water and humidity.

  • ↑Falls roar at maximum — Devil's Throat single sheet of water
  • ↑Festive atmosphere in Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú
May cooler-light Iguazu Falls Devil's Throat from above

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Shoulder month: pleasantly cool (23C/13C), 30% off summer hotel rates, river flow tapering but still strong.

  • ↑Hotel Loi Suites Iguazu from USD 180 vs USD 280+ in January
  • ↑Argentine Park Upper Trail cool enough for full-day walking
FactorDecemberMay
Weather score
5
8
Value score
3
8
Crowd score
3
7
Events score
6
4
Atmosphere
9
8
Avg high temp32°C23°C
Monthly rain165mm110mm
Daily sunshine7hrs6hrs

December trade-offs

  • ↓Christmas to Jan 5 — Sheraton sold out, prices peak
  • ↓Heavy thunderstorms 4-5 afternoons/week
  • ↓32C plus humidity grinds physical activity

May trade-offs

  • ↓Evenings can drop to 10C — bring layers
  • ↓Some cataracts already visibly thinning vs Feb
  • ↓Boat tours (Macuco) suspend on cold/cloudy days
See all 12 months for Iguazu Falls →December in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Iguazu Falls. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →