Is the Devil's Throat open? (closed from Aug 3, 2026)

Quick answer: The Devil's Throat (Argentine side) is closed from Monday, August 3, 2026. The concessionaire Iguazú Argentina, together with the National Parks Administration, will remove the walkways and railings of the circuit for about 40 days, as a precaution against the extraordinary flooding of the Iguazú River forecast for the coming months. The rest of the park stays open and the Brazilian side is not affected.

What closes and when

The closure applies only to the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) circuit, on the Argentine side (Puerto Iguazú). From August 3, 2026, crews begin progressively dismantling the floors and railings of the walkway leading to the Devil's Throat balcony, storing them somewhere safe. The initial estimate is about 40 days with no access, but the reopening date depends on the river level.

Why they are removing the walkways

The decision is preventive. Weather and hydrological projections tied to El Niño anticipate the chance of very high water, with the Iguazú River starting to rise significantly around September 10. Removing the structure beforehand keeps a historic flood from damaging or sweeping away the walkways, as has happened in past floods.

What stays open

The rest of Iguazú National Park operates normally: Upper Circuit, Lower Circuit, the Ecological Jungle Train, Green Trail, Macuco Trail and park services. In other words, you still see most of the falls up close — only the Devil's Throat balcony itself is off-limits during the closure window.

On the Brazilian side (Foz do Iguaçu), nothing changes: the Cataratas Trail and the walkway that pushes out over the river, facing the Devil's Throat, stay open. In this period, the Brazilian side is the best way to see the Devil's Throat — head-on, from across the canyon.

When it reopens

There is no fixed date. Reinstalling the walkways only begins once forecasts show the river has returned to a safe level, and the rebuild takes about 60 days. Adding the flood window (September/October) and the reassembly time, a likely reopening falls in late 2026. Before planning your trip, check the latest status.

What to do instead

If the Devil's Throat is your focus and your date falls in the closure window, you have two options: see the Throat from the Brazilian side (head-on, from the deck past the panoramic elevator) and enjoy the Upper and Lower Circuits on the Argentine side, which stay open and show dozens of falls up close. To pick the best day and time, check the crowd forecast at /en/lotacao and the day's conditions at /en/cataratas-hoje.