Iguazu Falls access shifts for Foz marathon on 27 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:43 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Iguazu Falls will be affected by the 16th Foz do Iguacu International Marathon on 27 September 2026, with general visitor access beginning at noon at the Brazilian park (Cataratas do Iguaçu). The change concerns the waterfall area in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, where race routes finish or pass through the national park.
Foz marathon changes Iguazu Falls access on 27 September
The 16th Foz do Iguacu International Marathon is scheduled for 27 September 2026. The event is organised by Sesc-PR, and the park operator Urbia+Cataratas says the visitor schedule has been adjusted to support safety and operations while the race is taking place.
A 10-kilometre race route runs entirely inside Iguacu National Park from the park entrance towards the falls. The 21-kilometre relay and 42-kilometre marathon finish near the waterfall area, linking the sporting event directly with the principal visitor zone.
Race spectators have separate early access arrangements, while regular tourism resumes from noon. The operator's visitor schedule for 27 September gives the date, venue and revised opening arrangement.
How the marathon meets a UNESCO waterfall landscape
The falls lie inside Iguacu National Park, which is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and recognised as a World Heritage property. The protected area is in Parana state in southern Brazil, close to the meeting point of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
UNESCO describes the waterfall system as extending for nearly three kilometres, with vertical drops reaching up to 80 metres. The site is part of a protected Atlantic Forest landscape, so the race route approaches a natural area managed for both conservation and tourism.
That relationship gives the 27 September schedule a specific practical effect: the marathon occupies routes connected to the falls before ordinary sightseeing begins. Once general access starts at noon, visitors are directed into a park whose main attraction remains the waterfall system rather than the race itself.
The main Cataratas trail is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and leads from the visitor centre towards panoramic viewpoints and the final walkway. Its route through forest and beside the river means that the altered morning operation is tied to the physical geography of the park, not simply to an event in the city.
Visiting Iguazu Falls: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The 16th Foz do Iguacu International Marathon takes place on 27 September 2026, with routes finishing in or near Iguacu National Park and the falls area.
- Regular tourist access at the Brazilian park starts at noon on 27 September 2026 and runs through the stated regular entry period until 4pm. Early arrangements apply to race athletes and spectators.
- The venue is Iguacu National Park near Foz do Iguacu in Parana, Brazil. The park's visitor centre provides the starting point for the main route to the waterfall viewpoints.
- The principal Cataratas trail is approximately 1.5 kilometres long, while the waterfall system extends for nearly three kilometres. Visitors should expect a natural trail, forest setting, river viewpoints and changing ground conditions.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
The revised schedule means that travellers arriving on 27 September 2026 should plan for the noon opening rather than the park's usual morning visitor access.
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Frequently asked questions about Iguazu Falls
When does the Foz marathon take place at Iguazu Falls?
The 16th Foz do Iguacu International Marathon takes place on 27 September 2026, with routes reaching Iguacu National Park and the falls area.
What has changed at Iguazu Falls?
Regular tourist access at the Brazilian park begins at noon on 27 September 2026 because of the marathon's routes and finishing areas.
Where is Iguazu Falls and how do you get there?
Iguazu Falls is inside Iguacu National Park near Foz do Iguacu in Parana, Brazil, close to the borders with Argentina and Paraguay.
