The two most visited places in Brazil by international visitors are Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguaçu, and people often travel by bus to Foz do Iguaçu from Rio de Janeiro to visit the amazing Iguassu Waterfalls. Foz do Iguacu is located on the western side of the State of Paraná, sharing its border with Argentina (Puerto Iguazu) and Paraguay (Cuidad del Este).

There are two companies offering overnight buses from Rio de Janeiro to Foz do Iguaçu or if you want to explore on the way or cannot find the availability for a direct bus, you can use an alternative route where it is necessary to change buses. 

Direct Bus from Rio to Foz do Iguaçu

BUS COMPANIES

There are currently 2 bus companies servicing this route:

• Pluma Internacional 

• Catarinense 

They both have several departures daily from the Rodoviaria Novo Rio (main bus terminal).  From Rio to Foz do Iguaçu the bus journey time is between 23 - 26 hours depending on which bus you book, and that is only if the road and traffic conditions are good. The bus crosses the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Paraná before arriving at the Rodoviaria Internacional de Foz do Iguacu (main bus terminal). 

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Origin City = Rio de Janeiro - RJ (TODOS)

Destination City = Foz do Iguaçu - PR (TODOS)

It is recommended to arrive at least 40 minutes before the scheduled departure of your bus, so as you can collect your ticket and also to have time to find out which platform your bus will depart from. Once the bus arrives at the platform you need to take your own check luggage to the attendant at the back of the bus who will give you a ticket for each bag stored beneath the bus. Remember to keep this ticket in a safe and easy to find place, because you will need it to collect your bag on arrival.

Before entering the bus your passport will be reviewed and your name checked against the passenger manifest. The bus itself will have 2 drivers taking turns at the wheel, but there will not be any onboard attendant. There is no food or drinks supplied on the bus but it stops every 2 to 4 hours at locations where you can grab a bite to eat, and we recommend you take snacks and water. The bus has onboard W/C but also take advantage of the rest stops to use the facilities when you can. It is also recommended to take something warm with you in case the onboard air-conditioning is too strong. 

Alternative Routes from Rio de Janeiro to Foz do Iguaçu

If you cannot get the direct bus from Rio to Foz do Iguacu then we would suggest you take one of these alternative routes:

1. Bus from Rio to Sao Paulo (approx 6hrs) then change for a Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguacu bus (approx. 16 Hrs)
    

2. Bus from Rio to Curitiba (13 Hrs) then change for a Curitiba to Foz do Iguacu bus (approx. 10 Hrs)

Frequently Asked Question

Q1. How long is the bus trip from Rio de Janeiro to Foz do Iguacu?

The bus travels 1,477 km (917 Miles) and takes 25 hours on average to get from Rio to Foz do Iguacu. The fastest bus is usually the early departure with the Pluma company which averages 23 hours, but most take over 24 hours. 

Q2. Which is the best bus to take from Rio to Foz do Iguacu?

If within your budget, the most comfortable are the full bed bus operated by the Catarinense company, but these are also the most expensive.  When making your booking look for the ´Leito´ class bus because these have the most recline. These seats fill up the quickest so reserve them well in advance.

Q3. Where does the bus from Rio to Foz do Iguacu depart from?

All the buses that do this route depart from the Rio Novo Bus terminal near downtown Rio de Janeiro. It is not the best area of the city, so make sure you read our guide for getting to the Rio Novo Bus Station.

Q4. Where does the bus from Rio to Foz do Iguacu arrive?

There is only one intercity bus station in Foz do Iguacu, which is called the Rodoviária de Foz do Iguaçu and the bus from Rio terminates here.  See our guide about where in the city this terminal is located, plus how to get public transport and taxis from there.  You can also get from there the terminal to Argentina and Paraguay on local city buses.