Iguazu Falls · Month comparison

February vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs February at #11. Shoulder month: pleasantly cool (23C/13C), 30% off summer hotel rates, river flow tapering but still strong.

February high water flooding the Iguazu River viewing boardwalks

February

#11 of 12 months

Worth considering

Carnaval week (mid-Feb) pulls Brazilian visitors to Foz; otherwise the wettest, hottest month.

  • Brazilian Carnaval atmosphere in Foz do Iguaçu nightclubs and Vila A
  • Maximum waterfall flow continues from January
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
FactorFebruaryMay
Weather score
4
8
Value score
4
8
Crowd score
4
7
Events score
4
4
Atmosphere
9
8
Avg high temp32°C23°C
Monthly rain170mm110mm
Daily sunshine6.5hrs6hrs

February trade-offs

  • Heaviest rainfall month on record — full-day washouts possible
  • Boardwalks under Devil's Throat occasionally closed on river surges
  • High humidity makes the 4km San Martin Island walk exhausting

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
Scores compare months within Iguazu Falls. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →